Release from 22.02.2017
Very close fight for the playoff tickets in qualification rounds and tough battles for the best positions in master round. Two rounds to go till the decision is made. In master round among the top 4 everything is possible. And also the qualification round the race for the tickets is still open.
HC Pustertal Wölfe – Rittner Buam
The top duel between HC Pustertal and Rittner Buam could already be the predecisive duel for the first place and the first right to the pick. The Rittner Buam can already fix the first place with three points. But if Pustertal manages to capture the full three points, they come into the best position to end master round on the first place. Pustertal already won the first duel of the master round against Ritten in shoot-out. In the regular season both teams won their home game.
Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey – HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice
The top four teams of the master round are very close to each other and between the first and the fourth place is everything possible. With equal points Migross Supermercati Asiago and HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice are currently on the third and fourth place. The home advantage in the quarter finals is already fixed for both teams, but both aim to capture the right to pick their opponent. The winner of this duel makes a big step to the third place at least. Also the second place already after this round is not unrealistic. The first duel in master round went to asiago by 3:2. But Jesenice recently found good rhythm, as they beat the leader of the league for two consecutive time (first Ritten, then Pustertal).
S.G. Cortina Hafro – Red Bull Hockey Juniors
Last chance for Red Bull Hockey Juniors to keep playoff dreams alive. A single point of Cortina would already be enough to grab the one and only playoff ticket of the qualification round A. Salzburg would need a full success to create a distance duel for the ticket in the very last round. The first duel went with 5:2 to Cortina. Cortina lost only one single game in the qualification round so far – and this happened against the last placed team Bregenzerwald. Salzburg recently booked two consecutive wins.
HC Fassa Falcons – HC Gherdeina Valgardena.it
It is definitely the last game of the season for the HC Fassa Falcons. They will end the season on the fourth place of the qualification round A. The HC Gherdeina still have two games left, but are also already out of the race for the playoff ticket. Still both teams want to celebrate a positive season ending.
WSV Sterzing Broncos – EK Zeller Eisbären
In qualification round B still three teams have the possibility to advance to the playoffs. Two of these teams are facing each other on Thursday. The WSV Sterzing Broncos are currently trailing by one point to the leader and the Zeller Eisbären are trailing by two points. In the last round on Saturday it could come to the big-showdown between Neumarkt and Sterzing. But with a win of Zell, the Austrians also can get into act from distance in the last round.
Sky Alps Hockey League | Master Round:
23.02.17: HC Pustertal Wölfe – Rittner Buam (20:30)
Referees: CESCHINI, PICHLER, De Toni, Manfroi
23.02.17: Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey – HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice (20:30)
Referees: FERRINI, SUPPER, Biacoli, Rinker
Sky Alps Hockey League | Qualification Round A:
23.02.17: S.G. Cortina Hafro – Red Bull Hockey Juniors (20:30)
Referees: BENVEGNU, RUETZ, Basso, Tschrepitsch
23.02.17: HC Fassa Falcons – HC Gherdeina Valgardena.it (20:30)
Referees: BAJT, BULOVEC, Markizeti, Rezek
Sky Alps Hockey League | Qualification Round B:
23.02.17: WSV Sterzing Broncos – EK Zeller Eisbären (19:30)
Referees: LEGA, STERNAT, Moisi, Waldthaler
Foto: (c) Max Pattis