Release from 17.08.2017
From Friday until Sunday ten Pre Season games are on the schedule. The Tyrolean teams – HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ and HCB Südtirol Alperia – will play their first friendly games. New at Bozen is Forward Morten Poulsen (DEN). Plus: Good start into the season for KHL Medvescak Zagreb and the Moser Medical Graz99ers…
99ers face French teams
The Moser Medical Graz99ers won their first friendly game against Stavanger Oilers at Maribor 4:3. Their Special Teams worked already really well, the Styrians scored twice shorthanded and once in Power Play. Besides all four goals were scored by imports: Justin Buzzeo (7./sh), Brock Higgs (7./sh), Ken Ograjensek (33.) and Kurtis McLean (41./pp) were successful. Next the Mur Citizens will play twice against French teams: On Friday Florian Iberer and Co. will face again in Slovenia French Champion and CHL-participant Rapaces de Gap and on Saturday HC Lyon. The Styrians and GAP meet already last season in the Pre Season, in those days the Austrians won 4:3 after Shoot Out. Against Lyon, that played during this Pre Season already against the EBEL-teams EC VSV (2:4-defeat), EC-KAC (4:3-win), KHL Medvescak Zagreb (1:2-defeat) and Champion UPC Vienna Capitals, the 99ers will play for the first time.
Haifest first highlight at Innsbruck
With the „Haiefest“ starts the new hockey-season at Innsbruck on Friday. Exactly 3 weeks before the beginning of the new Erste Bank Eishockey League-season the Tyroleans will face in their first test HC La Chaux-de-Fonds. The Swiss club finished 2016/17 the regular NLB season on place 2 and reached then the semis. While Innsbruck opens the PreSeason, the Swiss NLB-club has played already three friendly games during this summer. The Forwards Andrew Yogan, Mitch Wahl and Jesse Mychan, the defensemen Jeremie Blain, Sacha Guimond and the goalies Patrik Nechvatal and Rene Swette will make their debut for the Tyroleans.
On Sunday follows then for the Tyroleans their first road-game at SC Riessersee. The Germans, who finished the last DEL/2 season on place 9, lost their first test 2017 against Tölzer Löwen already 2:3, but they have won the last two clashes with Innsbruck.
Dornbirn Bulldogs face German teams
The Dornbirn Bulldogs continue their Pre Season this weekend with friendly games against the German teams ESV Kaufbeuren (Fri/A) and EHC Freiburg (Sun/H). The last match against a German DEL/2 club was a big success for the west-club: On Sunday the Vorarlberger beat Ravensburg Towerstars 8:2. Dustin Sylvester, Jerome Leduc, Jamie Arniel, Ziga Pance, Kevin Macierzynski, Martin Grabher Meier, Philipp Pöschmann and Marcel Wolf were successful! But take attention: Kaufbeuren with former Bulldog Charlie Sarault and Freiburg finished the last season better then the Towerstars. Try Out Scott Timmins makes his debut for DEC.
New arrival at Bozen before the first test
Before the first test at WSV Sterzing Broncos Weihenstephan HCB Südtirol Alperia added Forward Morten Poulsen to their roster. The 28 Years old Denish Forward is already best known in the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, he played already two years ago for the Moser Medical Graz99ers and scored in those days 31 points (14G/17A) from 54 games. The past season Poulsen spend with the Pelicans and made 15 points from 54 games. Besides Poulsen Bozens Headcoach Pat Curcio has eleven new players available. With the Broncos, who play in the Alps Hockey League, are Hannes Oberdörfer, who played last season still for the Foxes, and Headcoach Ivo Jan, who worked already at Ljubljana and Graz.
Carinthians teams in action at Maribor
The Carinthian teams – EC-KAC and EC VSV – will be in action on Saturday and will face Champions in Maribor: Villach meets French Champion Rapaces de Gap and Klagenfurt in their last test before the start of the CHL Norwegian Champion Stavanger Oilers. Both Carinthins have won their first friendly game, but lost then their second game in the Pre Season a few days ago.
Caps with last games before the CHL
UPC Vienna Capitals are guest at Slovenia. The Champion faces today at Maribor the Hockey Club Lyon (FRA) and on Friday Norwegian Champion Stavanger Oiler with the former Caps Tony Romano and Josh Suares. For Vienna it is the last test before the start of the Champions Hockey League next week.
Successful start for KHL Medvescak Zagreb, Shut-out for Schwarz
KHL Medvescak Zagreb started their PreSeason on Wednesday with a 2:1-win over Hockey Club Lyon at Maribor. For the Bears scored the new arrivals Mike Boivin and Jozef Balej. Their next friendly game the Croatians will play on Sunday, August 27th 2017 at EC VSV.
HC Orli Znojmo was the chief on the ice at HC ZUBR Prerov and celebrated in the end a clear 5:0-win. Goalie Marek Schwarz celebrated the first Shut Out 2017/18.
Results friendly games:
Wed, 16.08.2017: KHL Medvescak Zagreb - Lyon Hockey Club 2:1 (1:0,0:1,1:0)
Goals Zagreb: Boivin, Balej
Wed, 16.08.2017: HC ZUBR Prerov - HC Orli Znojmo 0:5 (0:2,0:2,0:1)
Goals Znojmo: Stehlik (3.), Novak (18./SH), Cip (30.), Spacek (40.), Nemec (46./PP)
Wed, 16.08.2017: Stavanger Oilers - Moser Medical Graz99ers 3:4 (0:2,3:1,0:1)
Goals Graz: Buzzeo (7./sh), Higgs (7./sh), Ograjensek (32.), McLean (41./pp)
The next friendly games:
Thu, 17.08.2017: HC Slava Praha - HC Orli Znojmo (15:30)
Thu, 17.08.2017: UPC Vienna Capitals - Lyon Hockey Club (Maribor, 16:00)
Fri, 18.08.2017: HC TWK Innsbruck "Die Haie" - HC La Chaux-de-Fonds (SUI/NLB) (Haifest, 19:15)
Referees: BERNEKER, M. NIKOLIC, Krausz, Nothegger
Fri, 18.08.2017: ESV Kaufbeuren (DEL/2) - Dornbirn Bulldogs (19:30)
Fri, 18.08.2017: Rapaces de Gap - Moser Medical Graz99ers (Maribor, 19:30)
Fri, 18.08.2017: Stavanger Oilers - UPC Vienna Capitals (Maribor, 16:00)
Sat, 19.08.2017: WSV Sterzing Broncos - HCB Südtirol Alperia (20:00)
Sat, 19.08.2017: Lyon Hockey Club - Moser Medical Graz99ers (Maribor, 13:00)
Sat, 19.08.2017: EC-KAC - Stavanger Oilers (Maribor, 19:30)
Sat, 19.08.2017: EC VSV - Rapaces de Gap (Maribor, 16:00)
Sun, 20.08.2017: SC Riessersee - HC TWK Innsbruck "Die Haie" (17:00)
Sun, 20.08.2017: Dornbirn Bulldogs - EHC Freiburg/DEL2 (20:00)
Referees: M. NIKOLIC, STOLC, Kalb, Schauer