Release from 05.09.2021
The first weekend of the Champions Hockey League was a complete success for the three teams of the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League. After their opening victories on Friday, HCB Südtirol Alperia, EC Red Bull Salzburg and EC-KAC also had reason to celebrate on Sunday. In addition, five other league teams were in preseason action.
After the victory in Poland, HCB Südtirol Alperia also won 5:1 in Norway against Frisk Asker on Sunday. The match was marked by many penalties against the South Tyroleans, but they kept their heads above water with strong penalty killing and an outstanding Kevin Boyle. The US goalkeeper saved 41 shots on his debut for HCB and achieved a .976 save percentage. Dustin Gazley provided the early lead already in the fourth minute on powerplay. Shortly after Brett Findlay increased the lead at the beginning of the middle period, the hosts pulled one back. In the final period, Joseph Mizzi and Daniel Frank made things clear within 43 seconds. Simon Pitschieler scored on PP for the 5:1 final score.
The EC Red Bull Salzburg recorded their second full win away from home against JKH GKS Jastrzębie with 3:2. After an even first period, the Red Bulls came under pressure in the second. The 2:1 lead of the Poles was not undeserved after Danjo Leonhardt had provided the early Salzburg lead in the beginning with a record-breaking goal after only 14.5 seconds. Captain Peter Schneider, who took over the "C" from Thomas Raffl, who was injured today, brought the Red Bulls back into the game with a power play goal (34th). In the final period, Benjamin Nissner fixed the hard-earned away victory with a deflected shot in the 52nd minute. With six points after two games, Salzburg leads Group H ahead of Bolzano.
KAC again successful in overtime
The EC-KAC prevailed in overtime again in the second CHL home game of the season. The bet-at-home ICE Hockey League champions defeated Rungsted Seier Capital 3:2. After a goalless first period, the visitors from Denmark took the lead in the 25th minute. In the 36th minute, Nick Petersen, who recorded the game-winner against Rouen on Friday, took advantage of one of many KAC chances on the power play to equalise. In the third period it was Petersen again who put the hosts in front for the first time with an excellent finish into the short corner. However, the Carinthians had to accept the equaliser in a shorthanded situation, which meant that the game went into overtime again. It lasted only 56 seconds until Lukas Haudum scored the decisive goal after a pass from Unterweger.
Champions Hockey League:
Sun, 05.09.2021: Frisk Asker (DEN) - HCB Südtirol Alperia 1:5 (0:1, 1:1, 0:3)
Goals: Christiansen (25./PP) resp. Gazley (4./PP), Findlay (22.), Mizzi (45.), Frank (45.), Pitschieler (56./PP)
Sun, 05.09.2021: JKH GKS Jastrzębie (POL) - EC Red Bull Salzburg 2:3 (1:1, 1:1, 0:1)
Goals: Jarosz (2., 26.) resp. Leonhardt (1.), Schneider (34./PP), Nissner (52.)
Sun, 05.09.2021: EC-KAC - Rungsted Seier Capital (DEN) 3:2 OT (0:0, 1:1, 1:1, 1:0)
Goals: Petersen (36./PP, 42.), Haudum (61.) resp. Sorensen (25.), Daly (53./PP)
Innsbrucks wins league internal test
In addition, five teams of the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League played preseason games. HC TIWAG Innsbruck celebrated their fourth win in a row in the league internal test at HC Pustertal. Mike Huntebrinker scored the only goal of the game in the middle period, goalie Rene Swette recorded a shutout. The Dornbirn Bulldogs won against Landshut 3:2 after overtime. The hosts took the lead through Tyler Cuma, but the DEL2 team turned the game around by the end of the second period. With a fine deflection, Pavel Padakin (53rd) made it 2:2 after a shot by Nick Ross, and in overtime Jesse Saarinen (65th /pp1) ensured a home victory after all.
The Steinbach Black Wings Linz conceded two goals in the first period at HC Motor České Budějovice. Although the Czechs managed to make it 3:0 in the middle period, the Upper Austrians equalised with goals from Umicevic, Romig, and Lebler within 102 seconds. In the third period, however, Budweis had the longer breath for a 5:3 home victory. Not even 22 hours after their good performance at DEL play-off semi-finalist ERC Ingolstadt, the spusu Vienna Capitals slid into a clear test game defeat at Straubing Tigers. A really bad day, combined with obviously tired legs, resulted in a final score of 0:10.
Preseason, bet-at-home ICE Hockey League:
Sun, 09.05.2021:
Straubing Tigers - spusu Vienna Capitals 10:0 (4:0, 4:0, 2:0)
HC Motor České Budějovice - Steinbach Black Wings Linz 5:3 (2:0, 1:3, 2:0)
Goals Linz: Umicevic, Romig, Lebler
HC Pustertal - HC TIWAG Innsbruck 0:1 (0:0, 0:1, 0:0)
Goal: Huntebrinker
Dornbirn Bulldogs - EV Landshut 3:2 OT (1:0, 0:2, 1:0; 1:0)
Goals: 1:0 Cuma (11.), 1:1 Pfleger (34.), 1:2 Holzmann (39.), 2:2 Padakin (53.), 3:2 Saarinen (65./pp1)