Release from 25.01.2023

Duel of the last undefeated teams in Master Round

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On Thursday the last undefeated teams will meet in the Master Round. The Rittner Buam SkyAlps could draw level on points with the current league leader S.G. Cortina Hafro. In the two Qualification Round hingen the EK Die Zeller Eisbären as well as the Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel want to extend their lead in the standings.

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Alps Hockey League, 26.01,2023:

Master Round:
19:15 Red Bull Hockey Juniors - Hockey Unterland Cavaliers
Referees: LEHNER, RUETZ, Eisl, Reisinger

The Hockey Unterland Cavaliers are already facing their fourth game in the Master Round. After the defeat in the opener against the Rittner Buam SkyAlps the league newcomer celebrated a quite surprising success against HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice. Santeri Haarala was particularly convincing with two goals and an assist. The Juniors were narrowly defeated by current leader S.G. Cortina Hafro at the start of the Master Round and are now facing their second game in the Intermediate Round. If the Juniors don't want to lose the connection to the other teams, the Salzburgers have to score on Thursday. In the previous encounters between these two teams, the home team prevailed in each case.

20:00 Rittner Buam SkyAlps - S.G. Cortina Hafro
Referees: LAZZERI, LEGA, Basso, De Zordo,

Both the Rittner Buam SkyAlps and the S.G. Cortina Hafro had a perfect start into the Master Round. While the Buam recorded a commanding victory over the Hockey Unterland Cavaliers in their only game so far, Cortina Hafro moved to the top of the table after victories over Jesenice and Red Bull Hockey Juniors. So the only two still undefeated teams in the Master Round will meet. If the team from Ritten can take three points again, they would already draw level with Cortina in terms of points. In the two previous encounters between these two teams, the Buam won narrowly in each case - once it took a penalty shootout.

Qualification Round A:

20:00 Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan - EK Die Zeller Eisbären
Referees: HOLZER, MOSCHEN, Fleischmann, Spiegel

The Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan welcome the leader of the Qualification Round on Thursday. EK Die Zeller Eisbären not only started the intermediate round with the maximum number of bonus points, but also celebrated an opening win against Steel Wings Linz. However, this had to be fought hard, as the Polar Bears were already trailing 1:3. The Broncos, on the other hand, were narrowly beaten by HC Gherdeina in their first and so far only game. After a 3:1 lead of Sterzing, especially some penalties in the middle third brought the turnaround.

20:30 HC Gherdeina valgardena.it - Steinbach Steel Wings Linz
Referees: BENVEGNU, BULOVEC, Jeram, Pace

HC Gherdeina turned the match against Wipptal Broncos after the opening loss against SHC Fassa Falcons and pushed them out of the top-3. Bradley Mc Gowan initiated the turnaround with two powerplay goals when trailing 1:3. The Steinbach Steel Wings Linz also had the experience of giving away a supposedly safe lead in their opening game in the Qualification Round, when they were defeated by Zell after a 3:1 lead. The Upper Austrians then lost their second game in the Intermediate Round even more narrowly against SHC Fassa Falcons, in which they only lost out in overtime.

Qualification Round B:

20:00 EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel - EC-KAC Future Team
Referees: SCHAUER, WIDMANN, Rinker, Telesklav

In Qualification Round B, the current league leader will face the last-placed team on Thursday. After EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel entered the Intermediate Round with the maximum number of bonus points, they promptly followed up with a win against HC Meran/o Pircher. However, this was followed by a shootout loss against EHC Lustenau. The EC-KAC Future Team also had to admit defeat in a penalty shootout in their opening game. In the two previous meetings between Kitzbühel and KAC, the Eagles prevailed twice.

20:30 HC Meran/o Pircher - EHC Lustenau
Referees: BAJT, STEFENELLI, Arlic, Bergant

HC Meran/o Pircher had to admit defeat to the Kitzbühler Adler at the start of the intermediate round. The decisive factor was a weak period in the third period, when they conceded seven goals within seven minutes. EHC Lustenau also played their only match in the intermediate round so far against Kitzbühel, but had a much better end. The Vorarlberg side celebrated a shootout victory, in which Kevin Puschnik provided the decisive penalty.

Foto: (C) Max Pattis