Release from 09.10.2020
The return 2-play phase of the Alps Hockey League will continue in the 2020/21 season. Already on Saturday the first games of the second duels are schedued. Winners will clash twice - in the "Große Vorarlberg Derby" the EHC Lustenau hosts the VEU Feldkirch, in Klagenfurt the EC-KAC II takes on the reigning AHL champion HK SZ Olimpija Ljubljana.
The team of S.G. Cortina Hafro is currently in quarantine due to positive Covid-19 cases and cannot play. The games of Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey, originally scheduled for Saturday, was cancelled on October 1st for the same reason.
Sat, 10.10.2020, 18.00: HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice – Steel Wings Linz
Referees: FAJDIGA, REZEK, Pagon, Snoj.
With HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice hosting the Steel Wings Linz two loser of the first return-2-play battle open Saturday’s hockey night in the AHL. While Jesenice’s past game against Ljubljana ended on a draw, Linz lost both legs against Klagenfurt. Since the Upper Austrians are part of the multinational league, they did not win one road-game, losing past season’s game in Slovenia 0:6. The “Red Steelers” have a strong home streak available, taking only three goals against in the past four games, winning three of them.
Sat, 10.10.2020, 19.00: EC-KAC II – HK SZ Olimpija Ljubljana
Referees: FICHTNER, WIDMANN, Holzer D., Legat.
The other game of R2P group B takes place in Klagenfurt, as the EC-KAC II plays HK SZ Olimpija Ljubljana, after both teams grabbed three points in the first duel. While the Slovenian side won its clash with Jesenice 8:3 on aggregate with Mark Sever scoring in both games, the Austrians defeated Linz overall 7:2. Markus Pirmann scored three goals to give the EC-KAC a successful start into the new season. Klagenfurt only once won a home-game against the dragons, 5:4 after shootout on March, 3rd 2018.
Sat, 10.10.2020, 19.15: Red Bull Hockey Juniors – Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan
Referees: DURCHNER, PODLESNIK, Bedynek, Weiss.
The Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan surprised in their first duel: with the 5:2 road-win at the Rittner Buam they not only took their first victory in Ritten since six years (30.9.2014), but also clawed the first three points of the season. The Red Bull Hockey Juniors showed morale against the HC Pustertal - and their offensive strength, all six goals of both duels were scored by different players. After the first duel with first and second leg, the "Juniors" had the worst penalty killing in the league (66.7%).
Sat, 10.10.2020, 19.30: EHC Lustenau – VEU Feldkirch
Referees: HOLZER T., HUBER A., Huber J., Martin.
The "Große Vorarlberg Derby" will be played twice in the Return-2-Play phase - and allows first the EHC Lustenau the home right against the VEU Feldkirch. The EHC had already won one derby, against EC Bregenzerwald and won both games. Especially the goalkeepers Anthony Morrone and Lukas Reihs shined, only the Canadian conceded a goal. Although Feldkirch also took three points, but the VEU conceded a total of seven goals in the first two duels. Bitter for Lustenau could be the loss of Chris D'Alvise, who injured his upper body - three more players are questionable.
Sat, 10.10.2020, 19.30: EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel – EC Bregenzerwald
Referees: LEHNER, WALLNER, Kainberger, Wimmler.
Both teams lost their first duel of the R2P phase at the end, but they still offered different performances: While EC Bregenzerwald only scored one goal, EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel managed to score seven. Five of them were scored by newcomer Mikael Johansson. In the AHL, there have already been 14 games between these two teams, with only three road wins and one shootout.
Sat, 10.10.2020, 20.00: Rittner Buam – HC Pustertal Wölfe
Referees: MOSCHEN, VIRTA, Basso, Bedana.
The third gameday in the Alps Hockey League Return-2-Play phase will be concluded with the game between Rittner Buam and HC Pustertal Wölfe. Both teams started the season with a win, but then had to contend with a defeat each in the return leg. Those of the "Buam" were painful as they finally lost in the aggregate score and could not take any points with them. They were missing captain Dan Tudin due to an injury. Whether he can be there on Saturday is not yet certain. The balance between these two clubs is almost identical, only with the two wins in last year's Master Round the "Wolves" gained an advantage.
Sat, 10.10.2020, 20.30: S.G. Cortina Hafro – SHC Fassa Falcons | POSTPONED
The team of S.G. Cortina Hafro is currently in quarantine due to positive Covid-19 cases in accordance with the authorities and the security concept of the league and club. The return 2-play games of the Italians, which were scheduled up to and including October 17th, including the one on Saturday, October 10th, against SHC Fassa Falcons, had to be postponed as a result. The replacement dates can only be announced on a later date.