Release from 31.08.2023

Innsbruck wins at CHL premiere | Close defeat for Bolzano

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The HC TIWAG Innsbruck won their first ever Champions Hockey League game on Thursday. Despite an early 0:2 deficit, the Tyroleans beat Swiss champions Genève with 5:2. HCB Südtirol Alperia had to admit defeat in Mannheim despite a two-goal lead. In addition, the Steinbach Black Wings Linz conceded a clear preseason defeat.

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HC TIWAG Innsbruck got off to the worst possible start in its CHL premiere, with Geneva already leading 2:0 after two and a half minutes. The Tyroleans recovered from this shock, however, and put up a spirited fight in front of 2,400 spectators. In the middle period Lukas Bär scored the first HCI goal in the European top flight, he kept his nerve in a 1 on 0 situation. After a great Peeters assist Kevin Roy scored in the 33rd minute to equalize and it got even better for the hosts: league MVP Brady Shaw gave Innsbruck the lead for the first time shortly before the second period break on a 5-on-3 power play.



In the final period, the Swiss pressed for their third goal at times, but the home side defended with full commitment and could rely on goalie Evan Buitenhuis - the newcomer recorded a total of 43 saves. In the last two minutes Corey Mackin and Roy made everything clear with two empty-net goals. Innsbruck thus started the CHL season with a 5:2 win over the Swiss champions.

Bolzano gives two-goal lead out of hand
HCB Südtirol Alperia, on the other hand, had to admit defeat in Mannheim despite a two-goal lead. Bolzano went ahead in the twelfth minute, Brad McClure scored the first goal of a win2day ICE Hockey League team in the new CHL season. The 30-year-old Canadian scored after an ideal Halmo assist.

The visitors even went up 2:0 in the middle period when Halmo deflected a Vandane shot. However, the hosts managed to equalize at two before the end of the second period. In the 46th minute, the Germans took the lead for the first time this evening, and an empty netter sealed HCB's opening defeat.

Champions Hockey League:
Adler Mannheim (GER) – HCB Südtirol Alperia 4:2 (0:1, 2:1, 2:0)
HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Genève-Servette (SUI) 5:2 (0:2, 3:0, 2:0)

Linz concedes clear defeat in Budweis
The Steinbach Black Wings Linz played a preseason game on Thursday and the Upper Austrians were clearly defeated in Budweis. Head coach Phil Lukas' team was already down by three goals after twelve minutes. With goals by Graham Knott and Nico Feldner the guests came back to 2:3, but the Czechs went into the second period break with a 4:2 lead. A second Feldner goal gave the ICE side hope again, but in the end they conceded a 3:7 defeat.

Preseason:
HC Motor Ceske Budejovice - Steinbach Black Wings Linz 7:3 (3:1, 1:1, 3:1)