Release from 02.02.2018
Nine games are on the schedule this weekend. Many of these games are direct duels for a playoff-ticket. Five teams between the sevenths and elevenths place are only separated by five points.
Alps Hockey League, 03.02.2018:
Red Bull Hockey Juniors - EC KAC II 19:15
EC Bregenzerwald - HC Neumarkt Riwega 19:30
EHC Alge Elastic Lustenau - Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey 19:30
EK Zeller Eisbären - EC 'Die Adler' Stadtwerke Kitzbühel 19:30
FBI VEU Feldkirch - HC Gherdeina valgardena.it 19:30
Rittner Buam - HK SZ Olimpija 20:00
S.G. Cortina Hafro - HC Pustertal Wölfe 20:30
HC Fassa Falcons - HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice 20:30
WSV Sterzing Broncos Weihenstephan - Red Bull Hockey Juniors 19:30
Red Bull Hockey Juniors - EC KAC II 19:15
Referees: DURCHNER, LENDL, Oberhuber, Riesinger
The Red Bull Hockey Juniors are still climbing the standings in their intense schedule they had the last weeks. Currently wins are changing with defeats play by play. Last game they got defeated by the Rittner Buam after already leading. Currently they are still trailing by four points to the important eights place and still have four games more on the schedule. If the Juniors want to reach die playoffs the game against the EC-KAC II is a must-win, as the KAC is currently on the last place.
EC Bregenzerwald - HC Neumarkt Riwega 19:30
Referees: KUCHER, PODLESNIK, Bedynek, Kontschieder
The EC Bregenzerwald dropped from the playoff spots in the past round as they lost against Kitzbühel. The HC Neumarkt cannot reach the playoffs anymore. Neumarkt lost the past seven games and is currently on the 15th place. Bregenzerwald won two out of the past three games and has now the same number of points like Cortina on the eights place.
EHC Alge Elastic Lustenau - Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey 19:30
Referees: RUETZ, SUPPER, Kainberger, RINKER
Asiago is currently the team to beat in Alps Hockey League. They won the past 17 games and build a quite comfortable lead in the league. Lustenau still has the possibility to qualify for the playoffs, but they need to start an intense race to catch up now. A win against the leader of the league would be a good start for this tough plan.
EK Zeller Eisbären - EC 'Die Adler' Stadtwerke Kitzbühel 19:30
Referees: BAJT, BULOVEC, Arlic, Snoj
The EK Zeller Eisbären still have realistic chances to qualify for the playoffs. For Kitzbühel a Herculean task has to be achieved to still qualify. With seven games left they need to catch up 13 points. Currently Kitzbühel is only looking game by game, with great success so far, as they won the past three games. The Eisbären won four games in a row, before they hat to take a defeat against Jesenice.
FBI VEU Feldkirch - HC Gherdeina valgardena.it 19:30
Referees: KUMMER, OFNER, Kalb, Tschrepitsch
Feldkirch is on the best way to qualify for the playoffs. Currently they have an 10 points advantage to the ninths place, so they seem to be in comfortable position to qualify. For Gherdeina a qualification is not possible anymore. They are on its own in the standings, as the higher ranked team has an advantage of nine points and also the next lower ranked team is trailing by nine points. Feldkirch one six out of the past seven games and aims to book the playoff ticket in the coming weeks.
Rittner Buam - HK SZ Olimpija 20:00
Referees: LAZZERI, LEGA, Rigoni, Terragni
It is the top duel of this round. The Rittner Buam are currently on the second place and aim to reduce the gap to Asiago. Ljubljana is on the sixths place and needs further points to qualify for the playoffs. Ljubljana won the past three games. The Buam lost three games ago against Asiago and booked two wins after that. The first duel of the season was decided by Ritten with 2:0.
S.G. Cortina Hafro - HC Pustertal Wölfe 20:30
Referees: MISCHIATTI, PIANEZZE, Bedana, De Zordo
Cortina captured the eights place in the past round. But they still need points urgently to keep that eights place. Also the HC Pustertal didn’t fix the spot in Playoffs yet. But they do have a good advantage to the ninths place. Pustertal lost four consecutive games, before they ended their losing streak in the past round. The two teams faced already five times this season. Cortina won three out of the five games.
HC Fassa Falcons - HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice 20:30
Referees: MOSCHEN, VIRTA, Cristeli, Giacomozzi
Jesenice already qualified for the playoffs and the Fassa Falcons have no chance anymore to qualify. Fassa already celebrated on win against the Slovenian Team this season. In December they booked a clear 7:2 success. Fassa aims to repeat this kind of surprise.
Alps Hockey League, 04.02.2018
WSV Sterzing Broncos Weihenstephan - Red Bull Hockey Juniors 19:30
Referees: WALLNER, WIDMANN, Bärnthaler, Martin
The Red Bull Hockey Juniors absolve their second game this weekend on Sunday. It is a very important game of two direct competitors for the playoffs. Currently the broncos have a five point advantage. But the Juniors still have four game on the schedule.