Release from 10.01.2025
In Round 40 of the win2day ICE Hockey League, the Steinbach Black Wings Linz defeated EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV in a direct clash, pushing them out of the Top 6. Meanwhile, HC Pustertal ended EC-KAC’s impressive nine-game winning streak. League leaders Hydro Fehérvár AV19 secured a vital away win in a Top 6 matchup against Moser Medical Graz99ers. Additionally, the Pioneers Vorarlberg celebrated an away win in the West Derby and, like EC Red Bull Salzburg and the spusu Vienna Capitals, picked up three points.
Black Wings Push Villacher Eagles Out of the Top 6
The Steinbach Black Wings Linz secured a commanding 5-1 victory in the direct battle for a Top 6 spot against EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV. Following their record-setting run, the Eagles suffered their third consecutive defeat. Early in the game, the VSV seemed to have recovered well from their recent 0-8 derby blowout and looked like the more dangerous team. However, Graham Knott opened the scoring on the power play. While the Villach team managed to equalize – also on a power play – in the second period, Brian Lebler turned the tide decisively for the Black Wings. The captain of the Upper Austrian side struck twice within a minute, making it 3-1. Linz ultimately capitalized on three power-play goals in total, claiming a 5-1 victory and climbing to fifth place in the standings.
Fehérvár Defends Top Spot
League leaders Hydro Fehérvár AV19 fought hard on Friday night, live on ORF Sport+, to earn a victory in a Top 6 showdown against Moser Medical Graz99ers, maintaining their position at the top of the standings. In a fiercely contested opening period, the visitors from Hungary displayed greater composure, building a 2-0 lead by the 25th minute. The Graz team, however, rallied in the middle frame, taking control and equalizing with a double from Marcus Vela. Four minutes before the final buzzer, Chris Brown put the Red Devils back in front. Graz’s high-risk push in the final moments resulted in two more goals for Fehérvár, sealing a 5-2 final score. With this win, Fehérvár completed a “regular-season sweep” of the 99ers, winning all four matchups without dropping a single point.
Pustertal Ends EC-KAC’s Winning Streak
After nine consecutive wins, the EC-KAC’s streak came to an end on Friday night against HC Pustertal. Early on, it appeared that the Klagenfurt team might extend their run, building a 3-1 lead by the 37th minute in Bruneck. However, two power-play goals – one late in the second period and another early in the final frame – brought the hosts back level. Tommy Purdeller then secured the win for Pustertal with his goal in the 43rd minute. After two straight losses, the South Tyrol team returned to winning form.
Pioneers Win West Derby
The Pioneers Vorarlberg extended their winning streak to three games with a strong performance in the West Derby against HC TIWAG Innsbruck. Following a scoreless opening period, Oskar Maier broke the deadlock early in the second frame. Despite sustained pressure from Innsbruck, the Pioneers, led by an outstanding David Madlener in goal, held their lead. In the third period, Luca Erne doubled Vorarlberg’s advantage before Innsbruck finally broke through on the power play. The Pioneers, however, stood their ground and secured a 3-1 victory.
Wins for Capitals and Red Bulls
The spusu Vienna Capitals celebrated a 4-2 home win against Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey. The Italians surprised the hosts early, taking the lead just two minutes into the game. However, the Capitals responded quickly, with Jeremy Gregorie and Leon Widhalm flipping the script within the first four minutes. Asiago managed to tie the game with a power-play goal in the closing seconds of the first period, but the Capitals regained control in the second frame. Goals by Armin Preiser in the middle period and Mathias Böhm in the final frame secured the 4-2 win for Vienna.
The EC Red Bull Salzburg edged Olimpija Ljubljana in a tight 2-1 road victory on Friday night. Peter Schneider opened the scoring for the reigning champions in a balanced first period, but Ljubljana equalized with a power-play goal later in the same frame. In the second period, Lucas Thaler restored Salzburg’s lead with a shorthanded goal. Goalie Atte Tolvanen and the Red Bulls locked down defensively in the third period, holding onto the narrow lead. With the win, Salzburg climbed to fourth place in the standings, narrowing the gap to the third-placed Foxes to six points.
win2day ICE Hockey League, Friday, 10.01.2024:
Moser Medical Graz99ers – Hydro Fehérvár AV19 2:5 (0:1,2:1,0:3)
Referees: SIEGEL, STERNAT, Hribar, Riecken.
Goals G99: Vela (33.;38.),
Goals AVS: Magosi (11.), Hari (25.), Brown (56.), Berger (60./en), Ambrus (60.)
spusu Vienna Capitals – Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey 4:2 (2:2,1:0,1:0)
Referees: FICHTNER, KAINBERGER, Gatol-Schafranek, Moidl.
Goals VIC: Gregoire (4.), Widhalm (4.), Preiser (26.), Böhm (53.)
Goals ASH: Turnbull (2.), Gennaro (20./pp1),
Steinbach Black Wings Linz – EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV 5:1 (1:0,2:1,2:0)
Referees: HUBER A., SMETANA, Weiss, Wimmler.
Goals BWL: Knott (16./pp1), Lebler (31.;32./pp1), St-Amant (41./pp1), Stuart (60./en)
Goals VSV: Hancock (26./pp1),
HC TIWAG Innsbruck – Pioneers Vorarlberg 1:3 (0:0,0:1,1:2)
Referees: NIKOLIC K., NIKOLIC M., Pardatscher, Zacherl.
Goals HCI: Rassell (49./pp1),
Goals PIV: Maier (23.), Erne (48.), Macdougall (54.)
Olimpija Ljubljana – EC Red Bull Salzburg 1:2 (1:1,0:1,0:0)
Referees: GROZNIK, OFNER, Muzsik, Vaczi.
Goals OLL: Cerveny (16./pp1),
Goals RBS: Schneider (11.), Thaler (28./sh1)
HC Pustertal – EC-KAC 4:3 (0:1,2:2,2:0)
Referees: PIRAGIC, SCHAUER, Mantovani, Zgonc.
Goals HCP: Findlay (24.), Akeson (40./pp1), Conci (41./pp1), Purdeller (43.)
Goals KAC: Hundertpfund (15.), Mursak (35./sh1), Peeters (37.),
Foto (c) BWL/Draxler