HK SZ Olimpija Ljubljana strengthens top position

Ljubljana gets seventh win straight to strengthen top position
The HK SZ Olimpija Ljubljana strengthened the lead in standings, as the reigning champions defeated second-ranked Rittner Buam on the road 4:3 to grab the seventh straight win. South Tyrolean’ home-winning streak came to an end at nine, trailing now seven points to the leader. In a hard-fought battle the “dragons” had to tie it twice. Within the second Ziga Pesut gave the Slovenian side the lead after 40 minutes, converting a rebound. Ljubljana’s top-scorer Gal Koren notched the game-winner about 14 minutes left.

Feldkirch wins derby in front of 5.056 spectators
In front of 5.056 spectators the VEU Feldkirch cheered a 4:3 win after shootout in the Vorarlberg Derby against EHC Lustenau. In game one after releasing head coach Patrice Lefebvre, the VEU had to fight hard for the extra point, which ties them in standings with sixth-ranked Broncos, sitting on seventh spot, while the “Stickers” remain fourth. After a non-goal first period, the home-team let slip away a 2:0-lead, as Ryan Glenn tied it for the guests 35 seconds left in the second. With Lustenau hitting another equalizer, the last ended up tied too – as the overtime, in which both teams tried to avoid mistakes. With all three players converting their penalty, the VEU booked the extra point, winning after two consecutive losses.

Pustertal climbs to second place, Cortina narrows gap to top-4
The HC Pustertal retook second place in standings, as the vice champion earned a 5:3 road-win at Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey. With all goals scored in the final frame, the South Tyrolean secured the fourth straight win and the fourth straight on the road too to remain league’s best team in away games. After Asiago took the lead for the second time in the game (45.), the “wolves” responded with three unanswered within four minutes. Then the hosts halved the score again, as Fabricio Pace got the decision for the guests with less than two minutes left.
S.G. Cortina Hafro was the third top-6 team snatching up a win, as the Italian side extended the winning-streak to three after a tight 2:1 home-win against the Red Bull Hockey Juniors. With the second season-win over the Austrians, Cortina narrowed the gap to fourth place to four points, sitting more comfortable on fifth place. Kevin King (19.) and Riccardo Lacedelli (50.) turned it around for the home-team.

Broncos are back in the top-6
After a 3:2 road-win at EC Bregenzerwald, the Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan reentered the top-6 in standings. Sterzing won the fourth game against the “Wälder” in a row. Within 17 seconds the guests let slip away an early lead, trailing 1:2 after the first. Slater Doggett’s second of the night and Tommy Gschnitzer’s game winner turned it around for the South Tyrolean. Though, the guests had a massive input of their netminder, with Jason Bacashihua saving 36.

Putnik gets Zell am See back in the race to top-6
The EK Die Zeller Eisbären are finally back in the race to top-6, as the Salzburg side grabbed a 4:2 home-win against EC-KAC II in front of more than 1.800 spectators to end a two-game losing-streak. With its ninth home-win the “polar bears” remains top-5 on home-ice. Philip Putnik came out big in Zell’s home-win, netting a brace to give his side a 3:1-lead after two frames. In the last period, Tomi Wilenius could not hit the ice anymore due to a lower body injury, Jure Sotlar made it safe two minutes left.

Kitzbühel remains unbeaten in home-games against Fassa
With beating SHC Fassa Falcons 3:1, the EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel for the first time this season defeats a top-8 team. Fassa lost for the fifth time in row and remains without a win in Kitzbühel ever in Alps Hockey League history. Johan Schreiber and Lukas Fredin gave the “eagles” a 2:0-lead after the first, scoring within 43 seconds. After Fassa pulled one back, Patrick Bolterle secured the victory for the hosts.

Jesenice delivers lone shutout-win
With Antoine Bonvalot saving all 35 shots on his goal, the netminder gave HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice a 3:0 shutout-win on the road at HC Gherdeina valgardena.it to reconnect to the top-6 with the second win in a row. The Slovenian side got the preliminary decision in the first with two goals.

Clear win for Vienna in the duel of AHL newcomer
With a clear 5:1 road-win at bottom-placed Steel Wings Linz, the Vienna Capitals Silver earned their first win after ten consecutive losses, enlarges Linz’ losing-streak to 21 and dominating the second season meeting too. Vienna’s Patrick Antal for the second time had a three-point-night, scoring his first brace ever.

Th, 2.1.2020, 17.30 Uhr: Rittner Buam – HK SZ Olimpija Ljubljana 3:4 (1:0, 1:3, 1:1)
Referees: BENVEGNU, REZEK, Huber J., Miklic. | Spectators: 984
Goals RIT: Kostner S. (20./Lane), Quinz (25.PP1/Kostner J.-Tudin, 59./Lutz-Kostner J.)
Goals HKO: Orehek (22./Ropret), Ropret (26./Jezovsek-Orehek), Pesut (38./Planko-Music), Koren (47./Pesut)

Th, 2.1.2020, 19.00 Uhr: Steel Wings Linz – Vienna Capitals Silver 1:5 (1:2, 0:1, 0:2)
Referees: HUBER A., WALLNER, Kainberger, Reisinger. | Spectators: 277
Goal SWL: KAIL (3./Neumaier-Mitsch)
Goals VCS: Böhm (7.), Antal (12./Neubauer-Hermanstad, 48./Hermanstad-Neubauer), Nordberg (24.PP1/Antal), Piff (45./Akesson)

Th, 2.1.2020, 19.30 Uhr: EK Die Zeller Eisbären – EC-KAC II 4:2 (1:1, 2:0, 1:1)
Referees: BAJT, STEFENELLI, Bergant, De Zordo. | Spectators: 1.831
Goal EKZ: Putnik (10./Wilenius-Sotlar, 29./Sotlar), Tschernutter (28./Lanzinger-Dinhopel), Sotlar (58./Selan-Hansson)
Goal KA2: Pirmann (18.PP1/Würschl-Kreuzer), Kraus (60./Sticha)

Th, 2.1.2020, 19.30 Uhr: VEU Feldkirch – EHC Lustenau 4:3 SO (0:0, 2:2, 1:1, 0:0)
Referees: LAZZERI, RUETZ, Cristeli, Martin. | Spectators: 5.056
Goals VEU: Gehringer (22.PP1/Mairitsch-Scholz), Puschnik (25./Stanley-Koczera), Birnstill (48./Gehringer-Draschkowitz, 65.PS)
Goals EHC: D’Alvise (27./Oberscheider-Hurtubise), Glenn (40.PP1), Haberl D. (52./Wilfan-Demuth)

Th, 2.1.2020, 20.00 Uhr: EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel – SHC Fassa Falcons 3:1 (2:0, 0:1, 1:0)
Referees: BRUNNER; PODLESNIK, Matthey, Schweighofer. | Spectators: 966
Goals KEC: Schreiber (13./Ebner-Bolterle), Fredin (14./Havlik-Echtler), Bolterle (46./Schröder)
Goal FAS: Mizzi (31.PP1/Iori-Roupec)

Th, 2.1.2020, 20.15 Uhr: EC Bregenzerwald – Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan 2:3 (2:1, 0:1, 0:1)
Referees: LEGA, SCHAUER, Eisl, Giacomozzi P. | Spectators: 451
Goals ECB: Ban D. (12./Fässler), Rainer (12./Kutzer)
Goal WSV: Doggett (8./Lemay-Bustreo, 25./Bustreo), Gschnitzer (51./Milam-Erlacher)

Th, 2.1.2020, 20.30 Uhr: HC Gherdeina valgardena.it – HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice 0:3 (0:2, 0:0, 0:1)
Referees: MOSCHEN, PAHOR, Javorni, Rigoni. | Spectators: 1.275
Goals JES: Djumic (11./Brus), Kocar (17.PP1), Tavzelj (44.PP1/Djumic)

Th, 2.1.2020, 20.30 Uhr: Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey – HC Pustertal Wölfe 3:5 (0:0, 1:0, 2:5)
Referees: FAJDIGA, LESNIAK, Piras, Slaviero. | Spectators: 1.730
Goals ASH: Cinnetti (25./Olivero-Vankus), Rosa (45./Magnabosco-McParland), Pietroniro C. (53./Caporusso-Casetti)
Goals PUS: Oberrauch (44./Carozza-Lewis), Helfer (47.PP1/Garozza-Traversa), Andergassen (47./Brighenti Moretti-Conci), Berger S. (51./MacArthur-Carozza), Pace (59./Leitner-MacArthur)

Th, 2.1.2020, 20.45 Uhr: S.G. Cortina Hafro – Red Bull Hockey Juniors 2:1 (1:1, 0:0, 1:0)
Referees: PINIE, VIRTA, Bedana, Manovani. | Spectators: 816
Goals SGC: King (19./Barnabo), Lacedelli (50./Zanatta)
Goal RBJ: Harnisch (9.PP1/Feldner)

Fotocredit: (c) Max Pattis