Home victories for the leading duo

HC TIWAG Innsbruck defended their lead in the win2day ICE Hockey League with a 4:3 home win over HK SZ Olimpija on Sunday. Adam Helewka was the match-winner with two goals and two assists - the 27-year-old Canadian first provided the only goal in the first period. Ljubljana came back from a deficit three times, but in the 47th minute it was again Helewka who scored to make it 4:3. It remained at this score until the final siren. Innsbruck thus also won the seventh league duel with the Slovenians.

First runner-up is still HCB Südtirol Alperia. In their home game against Fehervar, Bolzano took the lead after 62 seconds through Dalhuisen, but the Hungarians turned the game around within two minutes - with newcomer Guillaume Leclerc also scoring his first goal for his new club. Mike Halmo, in his 200th game for the Foxes, made it 2:2 in the middle period, and in a high-scoring final period the home side quickly set the course for victory with a Mantenuto goal. The best home team in the league finally won 7:4.



Vienna and Graz end their losing streaks away from home
The spusu Vienna Capitals ended their four-game losing streak with a 4:1 win at the BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg. Patrick Spannring gave the home side, with newcomer Andreas Heier making his debut, the lead in the first period. In the middle period, the Caps were the stronger side. Preiser (25th), Grégoire (28th/SH) and Zimmer (31st) turned the game around within six minutes. In the final period Grégoire made the final score on power play.

The Moser Medical Graz99ers won for the second time in a row against EC Red Bull Salzburg. The reigning champions had more of the game in the first period, but the Styrians were efficient and took the lead in the 16th minute through a powerplay goal by Bouramman. In the middle period, goalies Kickert (RBS) and Engstrand (G99) initially distinguished themselves. The visitors still played a good road game and were rewarded eight seconds before the end of the period: Andrew Yogan used his own rebound to make it 2:0. Viktor Granholm ensured the decision in the 50th minute. The strong Engstrand was denied a shutout as Heinrich netted the consolation goal 19 seconds before the end.

KAC defeats Pustertal in shootout
HC Pustertal took advantage of the first power play in their road game in Klagenfurt with Archambault litting the lamp. Less than 90 seconds later the Carinthians equalized, Fraser left for Hundertpfund in the slot and he sent in a sharp shot. Although the South Tyroleans went ahead again just before the first intermission through Deluca, the hosts turned the deficit into a lead in the second period - Bukarts and Fraser scored. With just under four minutes remaining in regulation, Hannoun equalized to give his team a point. However, the second point of the evening was then secured by the Red Jackets, who prevailed in the penalty shootout thanks to nice goals from Bukarts and Petersen.



win2day ICE Hockey League | 18.12.2022:
EC-KAC – HC Pustertal 4:3 SO (1:2, 2:0, 0:1)
Referees: NAGY, ZRNIC, Muzsik, Vaczi.
Goals KAC: Hundertpfund (7.), Burkarts (28./PP, entsch. Penalty), Fraser (33.)
Goals Pustertal: Archambault (5./PP), Deluca (20.), Hannoun (57.)

HC TIWAG Innsbruck – HK SZ Olimpija 4:3 (1:0, 2:2, 1:1)
Referees: BERNEKER, NIKOLIC M., Martin, Seewald.
Goals Innsbruck: Helewka (9., 47.), Coulter (33./PP2), Mackin (40./PP)
Goals Ljubljana: Koblar (31.), Kalan (35.), Vallerand (44./PP)

BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg – spusu Vienna Capitals 1:4 (1:0, 0:3, 0:1)
Referees: HOLZER, VIRTA, Eisl, Sparer.
Goal Vorarlberg: Spannring (12.)
Goals Vienna: Preiser (25.), Gregoire (28./SH), 56./PP), Zimmer (31.)

HCB Südtirol Alperia – Hydro Fehèrvàr AV19 7:4 (1:2, 1:0, 5:2)
Referees: NIKOLIC K., PIRAGIC, Pardatscher, Snoj.
Goals Bozen: Dalhuisen (2.), Halmo (31.), Mantenuto (41.), Gazley (53., 59./EN), Hults (55.), Thomas (57.)
Goals Fehervar: Findlay (3., 59.), Leclerc (4.), Petan (55.)

EC Red Bull Salzburg – Moser Medical Graz99ers 1:3 (0:1, 0:1, 1:1)
Referees: FICHTNER, SMETANA, Gatol-Schafranek, Riecken.
Goal Salzburg: Heinrich (60./PP)
Goals Graz: Bouramman (16./PP), Yogan (40.), Granholm (50.)

Photo: HCB/Vanna Antonello