Release from 30.03.2023

Bolzano and Salzburg go on tour with series lead

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On Friday the fourth semifinal games in the win2day ICE Hockey League will take place. The top-seeded teams from HCB Südtirol Alperia and EC Red Bull Salzburg are currently leading in their series with 2:1, both will now play away again. While Bolzano's road game at the spusu Vienna Capitals will be livestreamed, PULS 24 will show the game between EC-KAC and the defending champions from Salzburg.

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win2day ICE Hockey League, 4th semi-final:
Fri, 31.03.2023, 19:15: spusu Vienna Capitals - HCB Südtirol Alperia
Referees: HRONSKY, STERNAT, Bärnthaler, Durmis | >> PPV-LIVESTREAM <<
Standings in the "best-of-7" semi-final series 1:2

The spusu Vienna Capitals earned their first win in the semifinal series against HCB Südtirol Alperia on Tuesday. Despite some absences, head coach Dave Barr's team managed to win 2:1 away from home and cut the deficit to 1:2 in the "best-of-7" series. Bernhard Starkbaum, who was in goal in the first two quarterfinal duels against Innsbruck and then served as backup six times, secured the victory for his team on his comeback with 29 saves. Despite the defeat, Bolzano travels to the Austrian capital with self-confidence. Because the "Foxes" won the last four appearances in the STEFFL Arena and showed strong nerves. Three games were decided with a one-goal difference, once an empty netter provided the final two-goal advantage. Bolzano was 2:1 ahead in both the 2018 and 2021 semifinals against Vienna, ultimately deciding the series in five and six games. HCB coach Glen Hanlon will not be able to determine the lineup until game day, with Mitch Hults and Mike Halmo being questionable. For the Viennese, Rafael Rotter is not available due to a suspension.

Fri, 31.03.2023, 19:30: EC-KAC - EC Red Bull Salzburg
Referees: M. NIKOLIC, ZRNIC, Konc, Riecken | >> STREAM ON PULS 24 <<
Standings in the "best-of-7" semifinal series 1:2

The course of the semifinal series between Salzburg and the KAC so far could hardly have been predicted. After a clear 5:1 opening victory, the Red Bulls lost 2:6 in Klagenfurt two days later, only to win again 5:1 at home. Now the series moves back to Klagenfurt, where the home side has won its last six postseason games against the reigning champions. The KAC has trailed 2:1 in a "best-of-7" duel 13 times so far, but still managed to decide the series in its favor in six of those cases. Also positive from Klagenfurt's point of view, they won the fourth meeting in nine of 13 times when trailing the series 1:2. In their club history, the Salzburg side has been ahead 2:1 in the "best-of-7" format 16 times so far, and twelve times the Red Bulls also prevailed at the end of the series. Daniel Obersteiner returns to the KAC lineup on Friday, while Nick Petersen is questionable.



Metzler stays with Pioneers | Departures in Villach
22-year-old Julian Metzler will continue to play for the BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg next season. In his first season in Feldkirch, the forward recorded 14 points in 46 appearances.

The EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV announced some departures. Captain Derek Joslin, Simon Despres and Nicolas Mattinen will no longer play for the Eagles next year. Also Jamie Fraser, who already retired in the spring of 2022 and supported the team again in the final weeks of the season, will not stay in Carinthia.