Release from 22.09.2018
Four facts prior game day 5 on Sunday:
>The autumn 2018 will start with five Erste Bank Eishockey Liga games on Sunday. There will be fights for points in Bozen, Graz, Salzburg, Sisak (CRO) and in Villach.
>The game between Champion HCB Südtirol Alperia and EC-KAC will be broadcasted live by www.servushockeynight.com on Sunday (17:30).
>Bottom club EC Red Bull Salzburg and EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz will be in a fight for their first season-win in the Mozart City on Sunday (16:00).
>KHL Medvescak Zagreb will play their home-game against the Vienna Capitals in Sisak (CRO) on Sunday.
Sun, 23.09.2018: EC Red Bull Salzburg – EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz (16:00)
Referees: K. NIKOLIC, STERNAT, Nothegger, Pardatscher.
>EC Red Bull Salzburg and EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz will be in a fight for their first season-win in the Mozart City on Sunday (16:00). Each team has been defeated in all games so far. The Mozart Citizens haven’t even collected a point as the only team and are on the bottom of the table.
>Each team has lost their last match against Champion HCB Südtirol Alperia by one goal difference at home. EC Red Bull Salzburg has been defeated 1:2 by the Foxes last Sunday, while the Upper Austrians have lost against the Italians (2:3/SO) on Friday.
>Each team has had problems to score so far: The Mozart Citizens have netted just three goals from 80 shots out of their first two games (scoring-efficiency: 3.75%), while the Black Wings have potted just six goals from 100 shots out of their first three matches (scoring-efficiency: 6,00%).
>EC Red Bull Salzburg has won two straight clashes with the Upper Austrians, scoring four goals each game. The Black Wings have earned their last victory in Salzburg on November 30th 2017.
>The Black Wings have been convincing in Penalty Killing so far. The Upper Austrians played shorthanded 16 times so far and have allowed no goal (PK%: 100,00).
Quotes:
Mario Huber, forward EC Red Bull Salzburg: „We have practiced well and intense lately. We have to play in our system and be more effectiv in front of the net. It’s time for our first win!“
Marco Brucker, forward EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz: „We can beat each team. We have only missed some luck lately.“
Sun, 23.09.2018: KHL Medvescak Zagreb – Vienna Capitals (Sisak, 17:30)
Referees: BABIC, SMETANA, Kaspar, Nagy.
>KHL Medvescak Zagreb will play two games within just 24 hours this weekend. The Croatians will play their „home-opener“ against the Dornbirn Bulldogs in Sisak (CRO) on Saturday (17:30) and will face the Vienna Capitals in the same arena just 24 hours later. About 2.000 fans can follow the games in the ice-arena in Sisak. The Bears will play three home-games there, because of works in the Dom Sportova in Zagreb.
>The Vienna Capitals have been convincing so far. The Caps have been successful in all three games and were on fire as well. Rafael Rotter and Co. have already netted 15 goals. On Friday, the Caps were on fire and beat HC TWK Innsbruck „die Haie“ at home 8:2, earning the top-position in the EBEL as well.
>KHL Medvescak Zagreb has been defeated in their first two games in Szekesfehervar (2:5) and Villach (2:3/OT).
>The Vienna Capitals will travel with good memories to Croatia. Rafael Rotter and Co. have been successful in five consecutive meetings with the Bears.
>KHL Medvescak Zagreb is coached by Aaron Fox since this season. As a player, the 42-year old US-American went for goals and points for the Vienna Capitals from 2007 until 2009. Vienna's Head Coach Dave Cameron has connections to Zagreb as well, his son Connor coached the Bears last season.
Quotes:
Markoantonio Belinić, Vice President and Director of Hockey Operations of KHL Medvescak Zagreb: “Sisak is the first step in the further development of ice sports in Croatia, so I consider Sisak to be a model for other cities in Croatia to spread ice sports. I am very happy that Sisak will return to top hockey and Siščani will have the opportunity to enjoy it. This is just the beginning of a joint collaboration and we will return to Sisak with some other events and matches not only this season but also next season.”
Dave Cameron, Head Coach of Vienna Capitals: “We are only looking on us. The plan is to get better and better game by game. The team played really good against Innsbruck, especially in period 2. Now, we are looking forward to the next win!”
Sun, 23.09.2018: Moser Medical Graz99ers – HC Orli Znojmo (17:30)
Referees: FICHTNER, STOLC, Nemeth, Soos.
>HC Orli Znojmo is back in hockey-buisness after a nine days break on Sunday. The Czechs, who have lost their season-opener in Villach 3:4/OT, will travel to Graz. The Styrians have been convincing lately, earning two straight wins against HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ (6:3) and EC Panaceo VSV (4:2), scoring ten goals.
>Colton Yellow Horn and Andre Lakos, who have been key-players in Znojmo during the last year, will welcome their former team-mates with the 99ers for the first time on Sunday.
>The home-team has left the ice as the winner in eight straight meetings. The Czechs have earned their last win in Graz on December 9th 2016 or 652 days ago.
>Each team has been convincing in Power Play situations so far. The Czechs are leading this statistics, having scored two goals out of four Power Plays (PP%: 50,0). The 99ers have potted most Power Play goals so far (4). The Mur Citizens have netted four goals out of 15 Power Play situations so far (PP%: 26,7).
>HC Orli Znojmo has the youngest team in the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga (age Ø: 24,41).
Quotes:
Andre Lakos, defenseman Moser Medical Graz99ers: „We want to make a step forward in each game. We are on a good way right now!“
Patrik Nechvatal, goalie HC Orli Znojmo: „We are well preparted and we know, what we have to do. Hockey is fun.“
Sun, 23.09.2018: EC Panaceo VSV – Dornbirn Bulldogs (17:30)
Referees: GRUBER, PIRAGIC, Hribar, Rezek.
>EC Panaceo VSV will already play their third home-game against the Dornbirn Bulldogs on Sunday. The Eagles have been convincing at home so far, earning overtime-wins against HC Orli Znojmo and KHL Medvescak Zagreb.
>While Nikolas Petrik and Company have been defeated for the first time this season in Graz on Friday (2:4), the Dornbirn Bulldogs will play their second game within 24 hours in Villach on Sunday. The Vorarlberger are in action prior on Saturday in Sisak against KHL Medvescak Zagreb.
>Last season, the Dornbirn Bulldogs have won the first season-meeting in Villach (on November 24th 2017).
>The home-team has earned the win in three consecutive meetings.
>Dornbirn‘s and Villach‘s Special Teams could not convince so far.
Quotes:
Niki Petrik, Catain EC Panaceo VSV: „Dornbirn started well into the season. The Bulldogs have several new players in their roster. So, we do not know much about them. We want to play our game.“
Dave MacQueen, Headcoach Dornbirn Bulldogs: „We want to carry the momentum into the next games. Villach is a difficult place to play. We have to play compact.“
Sun, 23.09.2018: HCB Südtirol Alperia – EC-KAC (17:30, www.servushockeynight.com live)
Referees: M. NIKOLIC, ZRNIC, Sparer, Zgonc.
> The game between Champion HCB Südtirol Alperia and EC-KAC will be broadcasted live by www.servushockeynight.com on Sunday (17:30)..
>Bozen has won all three games against Austrian clubs (Graz, Salzburg, Linz) this season so far and has allowed only five goals. EC-KAC got points from both games in Salzburg (4:2-win) and in Szekesfehervar (2:3/S0) and has allowed just five goals too.
>HCB Südtirol Alperia has won three consecutive meetings with EC-KAC.
>Defenseman Robin Gartner will return with the Austrians for the first time to Bozen on Sunday. The Swede has earned the title with the Foxes in April.
>EC-KAC was convincing in Power Play situations so far. The Red Jackets have already netted three goals from eight Power Plays (PP%: 37.5). The Italians netted one goal out of 12 Power Plays (PP%: 8,3).
Quotes:
„The fans can look forward to another great match. KAC has several new players, among others former Bozen defenseman Robin Gartner“, was to hear from Bozen.
Petri Matikainen, Headcoach EC-KAC: „We have to improve our efficiency in front of the opponent’s net. Bolzano is a high quality ice hockey team and it will probably been a hard game in front of the title holder’s enthusiastic fans.’
Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, round 4:
Sun, 23.09.2018: EC Red Bull Salzburg – EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz (16:00)
Referees: K. NIKOLIC, STERNAT, Nothegger, Pardatscher.
Sun, 23.09.2018: KHL Medvescak Zagreb – Vienna Capitals (Sisak, 17:30)
Referees: BABIC, SMETANA, Kaspar, Nagy.
Sun, 23.09.2018: Moser Medical Graz99ers – HC Orli Znojmo (17:30)
Referees: FICHTNER, STOLC, Nemeth, Soos.
Sun, 23.09.2018: EC Panaceo VSV – Dornbirn Bulldogs (17:30)
Referees: GRUBER, PIRAGIC, Hribar, Rezek.
Sun, 23.09.2018: HCB Südtirol Alperia – EC-KAC (17:30, www.servushockeynight.com live)
Referees: M. NIKOLIC, ZRNIC, Sparer, Zgonc