Release from 30.08.2019

Graz delivers upset | Vienna suffered home loss

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The Moser Medical Graz99ers delivered a huge upset in their Champions Hockey League debut, snatching up a 6:5 shootout win at reining champion Frölunda Indians (SWE). They came back from an early 0:2 deficit after 62 seconds and Robin Weihager scored the decisive penalty. Further, the spusu Vienna Capitals suffered a harsh 1:6 home defeat in their CHL opening game against Adler Mannheim. In addition, three Erste Bank Eishockey Liga teams played friendlies.

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Spectacular debut for Graz in CHL
The Moser Medical Graz99ers had a spectacular debut in the Champions Hockey League, beating the defending champion Frölunda Indians on their own ice. The Swedish side had the perfect start going ahead after 27 seconds and then doubling the lead after 62 thanks to Samuel Fagemo converting a penalty shot. However, the debutantes were equal before the period was over as goals from Dwight King and Sebastian Collberg had the scored tied at two after 20 minutes. Simon Hjalmarsson put Frölunda ahead at 23:13, but Graz turned the game on its head with two quick goals from Matthew Garbowsky and Dominik Grafenthin to lead 4:3 by just after the 34th minute mark. Grafenthin doubled the visitors' advantage at 49:09, but they couldn't hang on - Max Friberg and then Patrik Carlsson tying the game with just under three minutes to go. The game couldn't be decided in the five-minute overtime period, and in a lengthy shootout it was Robin Weihager who won it for the 99ers.

Frölunda Indians – Moser Medical Graz99ers 5:6 SO (2:2, 1:2, 2:1, 0:1)
Goals G99: King (10.), Collberg (16.), Grabowsky (33./PP), Grafenthin (35., 50.), Weihager (65.)

Vienna suffer harsh defeat in the opener
The spusu Vienna Capitals had to take a harsh 1:6 home defeat against Adler Mannheim in their Champions Hockey League opening game. Mannheim kept up the pressure right from the beginning and it didn’t take long for Janik Moser to open the scoring. Just past the 14-minute mark, defenceman Patrick Peter had a great chance to tie the game for the Caps, but Swedish netminder Johan Gustafsson made a big pad save on his point-blank attempt. Then just a minute and a half later, Lean Bergmann made it 2:0 and less than two minutes after that on another Mannheim power play, 17-year-old Tim Stützle increased the lead. Brent Raedke got the German side on the scoreboard again in the first minute of the second period. With the score 0:5 after two periods, Austrian international Bernhard Starkbaum took over for U.S. Olympian Ryan Zapolski in the Vienna goal. In the final frame Vienna’s new arrival Mike Zalewski pulled one back and again Bergmann rounded off the score.

spusu Vienna Capitals – Adler Mannheim 1:6 (0:3, 0:2, 1:1)
Goal VIC: Zalewski (55.)

Bolzano reaches final in “Südtirol Summer Classic”
Thanks to a good final frame the HCB Südtirol Alperia reached the final in “Südtirol Summer Classic”, after a 7:3 home win against Jaromir Jagr’s Rytiri Kladno (CZE). The “foxes“ remain unbeaten in the preseason and take on either Nürnberg or Stavanger on Sunday, which play the second semi on Saturday. Further the HC TWK Innsbruck “Die Haie“ suffered its first preseason defeat, losing to HC Thurgau (CH) 2:3 after shootout. Daniel Wachter and Sascha Guimond scored for the Austrian side. The Dornbirn Bulldogs had to take its second shutout defeat with a 0:4 loss against Swiss side EHC Visp.

Preseason-Spiele, Friday:
Fr, 30.08.2019: HCB Südtirol Alperia – Rytiri Kladno 7:3 (0:1, 2:1, 5:1)
Fr, 30.08.2019: Dornbirn Bulldogs – EHC Visp 0:4 (0:1, 0:3, 0:0)
Fr, 30.08.2019: HC Thurgau – HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ 3:2 (1:0, 1:2, 0:0, 0:0)

Here you find Erste Bank Eishockey Liga’s full preseason schedule.

Fotocredit: (c) Tommy Holl