Release from 19.12.2023

ICE picks up speed again before Christmas

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The win2day ICE Hockey League is picking up speed again - three days of top-class hockey are scheduled before Christmas. The Thomas Koch Night will take place in Klagenfurt on Wednesday, as the "Rotjacken" hero will retire from active hockey ahead of the EC-KAC vs EC Red Bull Salzburg clash.

At the same time, the spusu Vienna Capitals are hoping for their first home win over HCB Südtirol Alperia in exactly two years and two landmark duels are on the cards: HC Pustertal Wölfe and HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie are going for important points for the top 6, while Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey and the Moser Medical Graz99ers are fighting for points for participation in the pre-playoffs.

On Thursday, league leaders Hydro Fehérvár AV19 travels to the BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg. All games will be broadcast on www.live.ice.hockey (PPV).

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Win2day ICE Hockey League | 20.12.2023 | Schedule:
Wed, 20.12.2023, 7.15 pm: spusu Vienna Capitals – HCB Südtirol Alperia
Referees: HRONSKY, STERNAT, Durmis, Konc. | >> live.ice.hockey <<
The spusu Vienna Capitals and HCB Südtirol Alperia will face each other for the third time this season. While Bolzano has managed a turnaround after a weak start to the season and is now in the top six for the first time after its recent win against Linz (4-2), Vienna is still struggling and is only in twelfth place. The Foxes have won both of their previous encounters 4-1 they have not lost against the Caps in four games. Bolzano's winning streak in Vienna is even more impressive, as they have recently celebrated six wins in a row at the STEFFL Arena. Vienna's last home win against the reigning runners-up was exactly two years ago (19.12.2021 | 5-3). Austria's capital club have struggled in defense, conceding 105 goals to date – more than any other team. Defender Seamus Donohue was signed during the national team break to improve the situation. Whether he will make his debut will be decided on match day. With the exception of Tyler Sikura, the South Tyroleans have the entire squad at their disposal.

Wed, 20.12.2023, 7.15 pm: EC-KAC – EC Red Bull Salzburg
Referees: FICHTNER, TRILAR, Hribar, Riecken. | >> live.ice.hockey <<
The duel between EC-KAC and EC Red Bull Salzburg is all about Thomas Koch: The EC-KAC's number 18 – in April Koch declared the end of his impressive career after 1,508 games as a professional and ten championship titles – will retire from active ice hockey with a pre-game ceremony ahead of the game.

The two teams are currently separated by just two points in the standings, as Salzburg is in third place (53), Klagenfurt in fourth (51). The two teams performed differently before the International Break: While the KAC recently notched up four wins in a row, the Red Bulls conceded defeats against Villach and Innsbruck. The "Rotjacken" dominated the last encounter between these two teams, inflicting what was probably the bitterest defeat in recent history on the reigning champions with an 8:1 win. Salzburg won the four matches before that.

Klagenfurt will be missing Daniel Obersteiner, Jan Mursak and Thomas Hundertpfund against Salzburg. New signing Drake Rymsha will make his first appearance for the Red Bulls.

Wed, 20.12.2023, 7.45 pm: Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey – Moser Medical Graz99ers
Referees: NIKOLIC K., PIRAGIC, Sparer, Zgonc. | >> live.ice.hockey <<
For Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey, the International Break already ended on Saturday, as the Italians faced Innsbruck at home in a supplementary game, winning clearly 7-4 and celebrating their second win in a row. The power play was particularly dominant, as three out of four occasions were successfully completed. In the clash with the Moser Medical Graz99ers, which suffered two defeats before the break and recently had five days off, both teams have important points at stake in the battle for the pre-playoffs: Asiago, in eleventh place with 28 points, have a much better starting position than the team from Styria at the bottom of the table (20 points). The home team has always come out on top in their previous encounters this year. The Italians are still missing Porco, Moncada and Saracino. Daniel Viksten returns to the 99ers' line-up, while Kirchschläger and Antonitsch are missing.

Wed, 20.12.2023, 7.45 pm: HC Pustertal Wölfe – HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie
Referees: NIKOLIC M., OFNER, Seewald E., Seewald J. | >> live.ice.hockey <<
An exciting duel for direct qualification for the quarter-finals is set to take place in Bruneck, as the HC Pustertal Wölfe (44) will host HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie (40) and the two teams are currently separated by just four points in the table. The Wolves, which have won both encounters so far this season, could already build up a cushion with a win, while Innsbruck would finally be back in the race for the top six with a victory, especially as two other teams, Bolzano and Villach, are within reach with 44 points each. Innsbruck revealed its weaknesses when playing shorthanded in Saturday's 4-7 defeat in Asiago and must now hold its own on the powerplay against the second-best ICE team. Pustertal scores in every fourth overtime game (25.96%). Rick Schofield is suspended for this game.

Win2day ICE Hockey League | 21.12.2023 | Schedule:
Th, 21.12.2023, 7.30 pm: BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg – Hydro Fehérvár AV19
Referees: NIKOLIC M., OFNER, Fleischmann, Martin. | >> live.ice.hockey <<
The 30th round will be concluded on Thursday with the game between the BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg and Hydro Fehérvár AV19. The Hungarians start their last road trip before Christmas in the "Ländle" and are then engaged in Linz the following day. The league leaders are currently in impressive form, have won their last five games in a row and have scored in every game in Feldkirch, winning two of them. The Hungarians are the best team in the league away from home anyway, having only lost four games away from home. But the Pioneers, who added Joonas Oden on Monday, are also in good form, winning their last two (home) games against Ljubljana and Villach. The Vorarlberg side are currently the best team in the league, especially on the PP (26.47%). But Fehérvár can also play overtime (24.44% | #3) - and is also strong when shorthanded (83.91% | #3).