Release from 22.09.2020

Final countdown for a new era

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On Tuesday, the final countdown to the season start of the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League was heralded in the studios of the new TV partner PULS 24. Already on Friday the 2020/21 season starts with five games. It is the start of a special season.

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199 days after the playoffs 2020 had to be cancelled prematurely, a new era begins on Friday. After intensive months and meticulous preparations, the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League is starting its premiere season with eleven teams from four countries.

"It was and is a very challenging time for us. On March 10th, as the first league, we showed responsibility and stopped playing. From that date on, the clubs and the league organization began to work together to develop a concept that will now make a new season possible," said league president Jochen Pildner-Steinburg at the season kick-off event in the PULS 24 studio. The new TV partner shows up to 45 matches live and exclusively on free TV and online.

The ICE start on Friday is made possible by the fact that the league is moving closer together: "All the clubs and the league organization have cooperated perfectly. We have coordinated almost weekly to solve problems together. I hope that we can play the season without major interruptions. We will do everything in our power to make this happen - we owe it to the fans as well. In addition, we also want to send a signal that it is definitely possible to present ice hockey to the spectators in these difficult times".

"Return to Play" enables resumption of league operations
The "Return to Play" concept, which was already started in May, formed the basis for the return to training and competition. In the preseason, the security concepts of the clubs were put to the test for the first time. Now the transition to championship operations is also to be successful. According to current regulations, a maximum of 1,500 spectators are allowed to watch the respective matches in Austria. In addition, a 32-page addendum for the Gamebook was developed, which regulates possible restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

"Our concept is fundamentally based on three important factors: it includes a holistic prevention concept, health and safety for all players and a fan concept. On the basis of these pillars, together with the managers of the clubs, we have considered all conceivable situations and defined possible procedures in order to be able to present as much ice hockey and as many games as possible," explains league manager Christian Feichtinger.

Slovakian team participates for the first time
With the iClinic Bratislava Capitals, a team from Slovakia will participate in the championship for the first time. Due to the withdrawal from HC Orli Znojmo the mode remained the same. The top five teams reach the pick-round after phase one of the regular season (220 games in 44 rounds) and receive 4-2-1-0-0 bonus points for the intermediate stage. In the qualifying round the remaining six teams fight for the last three remaining playoff tickets and receive 8-6-4-2-1-0 bonus points. In the intermediate stage, the teams meet each other twice.

The intermediate round, as well as the number of rounds in the playoffs, leave a margin in the 75-day season schedule, explains Feichtinger. "We have a framework schedule that has variables. At the beginning, in the middle of December, we will probably be able to estimate the extent to which the league can be played in its entirety".

League newcomer Bratislava opens the season on Friday with a home game against HCB Südtirol Alperia. The team from Bolzano entered the playoffs as the top-seeded team and more than six months later they are again among the top favorites. In a championship poll among fans, the HCB received the most votes with 21 percent, followed by the EC-KAC (18%) and the EC Red Bull Salzburg (17%).

In the first of around 50 live games on Sky Sport Austria, the Salzburg side will host the EC GRAND Immo VSV on Friday. At the premiere on PULS 24, the EC-KAC and the Black Wings 1992 will meet again. Both duels are a quick reunion, as the teams also faced each other in the respective quarter-final series. The first matchday will be rounded off with Moser Medical Graz99ers against Hydro Fehérvár AV19 and HC TWK Innsbruck against the Dornbirn Bulldogs. The spusu Vienna Capitals are not in league action, the Viennese will enter the championship on Sunday with the first derby against Bratislava. Here is an overview of the first round matches.

Bet-at-home ICE Hockey League | 1st round on Friday, September 25:
iClinic Bratislava Capitals – HCB Südtirol Alperia (17.30)
Moser Medical Graz99ers – Hydro Fehérvár AV19 (19.15)
HC TWK Innsbruck “Die Haie“ – Dornbirn Bulldogs (19.15)
EC Red Bull Salzburg – EC GRAND Immo VSV (19.15 | LIVE at Sky Sport Austria)
EC-KAC – Black Wings 1992 (19.30 | LIVE at PULS 24)