Release from 19.11.2022

Innsbruck and Vienna celebrate road wins

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HC TIWAG Innsbruck remained unbeaten in the win2day ICE Hockey League against HK SZ Olimpija. The Tyroleans prevailed 4:2 in Ljubljana on Saturday and thus also won their sixth league meeting. Despite an early deficit, the spusu Vienna Capitals decided the first season duel with HCB Südtirol Alperia in their favour. With a 5:3 away win, the Viennese ended a three-game losing streak.

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While Ljubljana celebrated a 5:2 win over Graz on Friday thanks to a strong final period, Innsbruck's winning run came to an end. The Tyroleans had to admit defeat in Villach after four previous victories. Head coach Mitch O'Keefe's team got off to the better start at the Tivoli and took the lead after seven minutes through Brady Shaw. The league's top scorer netted from close range after an ideal Coulter assist. The visitors controlled proceedings and went 2:0 up early in the second period, with HKO goalkeeper Žan Us cutting an unfortunate figure on a Martin Ulmer shot. But just like the day before, Olimpija fought their way back into the game. First Chris Dodero (25th) reduced the deficit with a beautiful finish, now the home side had their best phase so far. Shortly after HCI goalie Tom McCollum had a big save, the Slovenians equalised in the 31st minute: Miha Zajc was the beneficiary of a confusing situation. During an Innsbruck powerplay, the visitors kept up the pressure, but the home side missed their best chance on the counterattack. In the 39th minute, the second-placed team regained the lead. After winning the puck, Adam Helewka curved through the attacking zone and finally scored from the blue line. In the final period, the home side had two power play situations, but McCollum was able to distinguish himself. With 32 seconds left, Ulmer scored an empty netter to decide the game. The Tyroleans thus won their sixth direct duel against Ljubljana in the win2day ICE Hockey League.



Caps win in Bolzano

The first season meeting between Bolzano and Vienna started with a bang. Mike Halmo scored after just 31 seconds to give the hosts the lead - he secured the puck in his own third and finished off a 2 on 1 counter-attack himself. But only four minutes later the Viennese equalised, Sascha Bauer surprised HCB goalie Sam Harvey. After this goal, the Viennese had more of the game, but the score remained at 1:1 until the first intermission. Shortly after the restart, Caps goalie Stefan Stehen had a great save, and shortly afterwards the visitors turned the game around. After a serious mistake in the Bolzano defence, Matt Bradley scored. In the 33rd minute, it got even better for the Capitals: at the end of a four-on-four, HCB lost the puck in the attacking third, the Viennese switched quickly and Rotter, returning from the penalty box, increased the lead to 1:3. Bolzano, however, was able to reduce the score still in the middle period, Matt Frattin scored during a 4-on-3 powerplay. In the third period, the game calmed down, only in the 50th minute there was the next man advantage for Vienna. And the guests knew how to take advantage of it, after only seven seconds Max Zimmer made it 2:4. The league leader put the guests under pressure in a final offensive, but more than the third HCB goal by Angelo Miceli (58./PP) was no longer possible. While Bolzano conceded their second defeat in a row, the Viennese started their South Tyrol road trip successfully. Tomorrow, head coach Dave Barr's team will play again in Bruneck.



win2day ICE Hockey League | 19.11.2022:

HK SZ Olimpija – HC TIWAG Innsbruck 2:4 (0:1, 2:2, 0:1)
Referees: NIKOLIC K., NIKOLIC M., Miklic, Vaczi.
Goals Ljubljana: Dodero (25.), Zajc (31.)
Goals Innsbruck: Shaw (8.), Ulmer (22., 60./EN), Helewka (39.)

HCB Südtirol Alperia – spusu Vienna Capitals 3:5 (1:1, 1:2, 1:2)
Referees: SMETANA, ZRNIC, Riecken, Zgonc.
Goals Bolzano: Halmo (1.), Farttin (39./PP), Miceli (58./PP)
Goals Vienna: Bauer (5.), Bradley (23.), Rotter (33.), Zimmer (50./PP)

Photo: HKO/Domen Jančič