Innsbruck makes it into the top 6 on New Year's Day

HK SZ Olimpija started the new year with a 5:1 win at Hydro Fehérvár AV19. This is the first time this season that the league leaders have suffered three consecutive defeats and they also remain the weakest team on New Year's Day. Since 2010, 1 January has been a fixture in the win2day ICE Hockey League calendar - only in 2022 were no matches played on New Year's Day. With just five wins from 14 games, the Hungarians have the lowest points average of all teams. Trevor Gooch opened the scoring for Ljubljana on Monday, with the 29-year-old extending his scoring streak to four games. After Marcel Mahkovec made it 2:0, Fehérvár closed the gap to one goal, but Gooch's second of the night (50') was the decider. After four previous defeats in direct duels, Olimpija were once again able to prevail against the "Devils".

Chasing trio wins
The EC-KAC, who also won their third season duel with the spusu Vienna Capitals, remain in second place. The Carinthians took an early lead through Jan Mursak, but Carsen Twarynski (9th) equalised. The game was relatively even until the 32nd minute, when Marcel Witting made it 2:1 - it was the starting signal for Klagenfurt, who clearly dominated after that. After a Strong goal, Witting even increased the lead to 4:1. The 28-year-old is currently on a roll, having scored the game-winner in the shutout win in Hungary on Saturday. The Red Jackets left nothing to chance in the final period and celebrated a clear 6:1 victory.

Third-placed EC Red Bull Salzburg started the new year with a 2:1 victory away from home against the Moser Medical Graz99ers, it was their third win in a row. Peter Schneider scored the first goal of 2024, with the two-time league MVP putting the visitors ahead after just 48 seconds. Ryan Murphy increased the lead in the middle period with a shot from distance on power play. Salzburg goalie David Kickert kept a clean sheet until the 54th minute, when Sam Antonitsch got the hosts on the scoreboard. However, the Red Bulls killed the clock for three points.

Steinbach Black Wings Linz also managed an important away win in Villach in the race for direct play-off qualification. After three defeats in a row, the team from Upper Austian put up a spirited fight and deserved to win 5:2. After the visitors initially missed a few chances, Shawn St-Amant gave them the lead in the eleventh minute. The Upper Austrians pulled away to 3:0 by the 27th minute. Although Villach scored two goals, there was no comeback like in the last game against Pustertal. Linz thus achieved their first success in the third duel of the season.

Innsbruck moves into the top 6
Bolzano suffered two defeats in a row for the first time since mid-October, losing 4-2 at home to HC Innsbruck. After Davis Vandane gave HCB an early lead, the visitors turned the game in their favour in the first period. Corey Mackin (36./PP) made it 3:1, but the South Tyroleans quickly closed the gap to one goal. That was as close as the "Foxes" got on the night, with Kevin Roy scoring an empty netter in the final minute. Innsbruck inflicted the first home defeat on Bolzano after nine wins in a row and moved up to sixth in the table.

Asiago returns to winning ways
After four consecutive defeats, Asiago returned to winning ways with a 5-2 home victory over Vorarlberg. The Italians opened the scoring through Ierullo (4th) and Rapuzzi (9th) before pulling 4-0 ahead in the middle period. Asiago goalie Marco De Filippo kept a clean sheet until the 58th minute, when Guus van Nes scored for the visitors. The Pioneers even managed to add a second goal just 44 seconds later, but Rapuzzi made it all clear with an empty netter.

win2day ICE Hockey League | 01.01.2024:
Moser Medical Graz99ers - EC Red Bull Salzburg 1:2 (0:1, 0:1, 1:0)
Referees: RENCZ, SOOS, Muzsik, Vaczi
Goal Graz: Antonitsch (54.)
Goals Salzburg: Schneider (1.), Murphy (32./PP)

EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV - Steinbach Black Wings Linz 2:5 (0:1, 2:3, 0:1)
Referees: HLAVATY, SMETANA, Bärnthaler, Bedynek
Goals Villach: Rauchenwald (29.), Rebernig (38.)
Goals Linz: St-Amant (11.), Romig (22.), Kragl (27.), Lebler (39.), Roe (43.)

Hydro Fehérvár AV19 - HK SZ Olimpija 1:5 (0:1, 1:1, 0:3)
Referees: FICHTNER, NAGY, Gatol-Schafranek, Jedlicka
Goal Fehervar: Stipsicz (38.)
Goals Olimpija: Gooch (8., 50.), Mahkovec (27.), Simsic (51.), Vodlan (56.)

EC-KAC - spusu Vienna Capitals 6:1 (1:1, 3:0, 2:0)
Referees: PIRAGIC, ZRNIC, Snoj, Zgonc
Goals Klagenfurt: Mursak (4.), Witting (32., 37.), Fraser (51./PP), Bischofberger (55./SH)
Goal Vienna: Twarynski (9.)

Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey - BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg 5:2 (2:0, 2:0, 1:2)
Referees: GROZNIK, HUBER, Miklic, Rigoni
Goals Asiago: Ierullo (4.), Rapuzzi (9., 60./EN), Gennaro (30.), Finoro (34.)
Goals Pioneers: van Nes (58.), Maier (59./PP)

HCB Südtirol Alperia - HC TIWAG Innsbruck 2:4 (1:2, 1:1, 0:1)
Referees: K. NIKOLIC, REZEK, Pardatscher, Puff
Goals Bolzano: Vandane (3.), Parlett (38.)
Goals Innsbruck: Rockwood (10.), Green (14.), Mackin (36./PP), Roy (60./EN)

Photo: HCB/Vanna Antonello