Release from 02.10.2020
© Optic Rapid / Foppa / HCP
On Saturday the fifth season of the Alps Hockey League starts with Return-2-Play games, which are played in four groups with four teams each. The first duels will be tough. Among others, the derbys HK SZ Olimpija Ljubljana against HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice and EC Bregenzerwald against EHC Lustenau will be played. Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey will miss the season opener. The Italians are currently in quarantine due to positive Covid-19 cases and cannot play at the start of the season.
Sat., October 3rd, 17:30: HK SZ Olimpija Ljubljana - HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice
Referees: BULOVEC, REZEK, MIKLIC, SNOJ.
The new season starts with a derby for HK SZ Olimpija Ljubljana and HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice. In the preseason both teams already met twice. In both games Jesenice was successful. In the last AHL season both teams were victorious twice each. At the end of last year's season Jesenice was on third place in the table, followed by Ljubljana on fourth place. At HKO there were some changes in the squad compared to last season. Seven Slovenian players and one Finn have joined the 2019 AHL Champion. Meanwhile goalkeeper Zan Us moved to Jesenice.
Sat., October 3rd, 18:30: HC Gherdeina valgardena.it - S.G. Cortina Hafro
Referees: LAZZERI, PINIE, BASSO, PIRAS
The HC Gherdeina valgardena.it meets the S.G. Cortina Hafro in its first Return-2-Play match, which finished second at the end of last season. While Val Gardena lost all three games in the Preseason, Cortina was successful in both test matches. In the past season both teams met twice. Cortina was successful with 5:2 each time. SGC won nine of the twelve games against GHE in the Alps Hockey League.
Sat., October 3rd, 19:00: Steel Wings Linz - EC-KAC II
Referees: DURCHNER, FICHTNER, KAINBERGER, WIMMLER
In the match between the Steel Wings Linz and the EC-KAC II, the two farm teams of the AHL will meet. While the Steel Wings only won one game in their first AHL season, the Klagenfurt team ended the season in fifth place in the Qualification Round A. The two direct duels in the last season were clearly won by the KAC II (5:0, 5:2). Compared to the season 2019/20, Linz has reported some squad changes. Four players of the Vienna Capitals Silver were signed.
Sat., October 3rd 19:30: Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan - Rittner Buam
Referees: GIACOMOZZI, VIRTA, MANTOVANI, RIGONI
The first champion of the Alps Hockey League, the Rittner Buam, will meet the Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan in their first game of the season. Last season Ritten won both games against the WSV. Overall, RIT was victorious in six of eight duels. The „Buam“ had three painful leavings this summer. Alex Frei transfered to Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey, Thomas Spinell ended his career and Randy Gazzola returned to North America. Sterzing reported five new signings.
Sat., October 3rd, 19:30: EC Bregenzerwald - EHC Lustenau
Referees: HUBER A., SCHAUER, HUBER J., MARTIN
In the first Vorarlberg Derby of the season, the EC Bregenzerwald will meet the EHC Lustenau. The guests from Lustenau ended the past season below expectations. In the end they finished fourth in Qualification Round A. The ECB finished the Qualification Round B in fifth place. Both duels of the past season were won by Lustenau. At Bregenzerwald the EHC even won with 9:2. Both Bregenzerwald and Lustenau signed new players in the summer. In addition, the captain of ECB, Jürgen Fussenegger, ended his career.
Sat., October 3rd, 19:30: VEU Feldkirch - EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel
Referees: BERNEKER, RUETZ, RINKER, TSCHREPITSCH
The VEU Feldkirch faces the EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel in the first Return-2-Play game. Feldkirch won the Qualification Round B last year and would have qualified for the playoffs. Kitzbühel was in the same group as the VEU and finished in third place. In three of four direct duels, the Vorarlberg side were able to prevail last season. With Robin Soudek, Feldkirch has lost one of his most important players. The Czech scored 63 goals and 55 assists in two years with the VEU. Among others, four new players from Sweden have joined the squad at Kitzbühel.
Sat., October 3rd, 20:00: HC Pustertal Wölfe - Red Bull Hockey Juniors
Referees: LEGA, MOSCHEN, BEDANA, DE ZORDO
The HC Pustertal Wölfe finished the past season at the top of the Master Round and would have started the playoffs as top placed team. The Red Bull Hockey Juniors were the top placed team in Qualification Round A and would have qualified for the playoffs too. In the H2H, Pustertal won both duels with the Red Bull Hockey Juniors last season. The South Tyroleans signed five new players, Salzburg signed two new players. In addition, RBJ has recruited some players from their junior teams.
Asiago games due to covid-19 postponed
In accordance with the authorities and the league organization the team of Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey is currently in quarantine due to positive Covid-19 cases. As a result, the first five scheduled return-2-play games had to be postponed. Due to the narrow season schedule the Board of Governors decided to play Asiago’s return-2-play phase with only one game each, instead of two legs, as planned and carried out in the other groups. The Italian club faces Fassa, Gherdeina and Cortina in the first phase of the regular season only once. The points will be awarded according to the classical scheme (3-2-1-0). The new dates will be announced on a later date.
Copyright: Optic Rapid