Release from 25.12.2017
26.12.2017, 16:00: EC KAC II - HK SZ Olimpija
Referees: FICHTNER, WIDMANN, Bergant, Markizeti
KAC showed some godd performances in the previous games with getting the first season win against Neumarkt. Lately the Carinthians kept pace with playoff aspirants Zell am See and Feldkirch. Now Olimpija, another team that's in the race for a top eight spot, comes to town. The 6th-placed Slovenes had two big wins last week and also have good memories to KAC: In the first season meeting Ljubljana, who has the best PK available, earned a 6:0 home win.
26.12.2017, 19:00: HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice - Red Bull Hockey Juniors
BAJT, FAJDIGA, Holzer, Rezek
With Jesenice and Salzburg two of the best teams of the previous weeks face each other. Only Asiago (24 points) has earned more points in the last ten games than the Red Bulls (22) and the Slovenes (21). The 3rd-placed Steelers decided the first season meeting to their favour, 3:2. On the other team a player really likes to meet Jesenice: Christof Wappis has gained at least one point in each of the three AHL games with getting four assists.
26.12.2017, 19:30: EHC Alge Elastic Lustenau - FBI VEU Feldkirch
Referees: MORI, VIRTA, Kalb, Rigoni
16 points are between both Vorarlberg rivals. After a home defeat before Christmas, the 11th-placed team from Lustenau wants to minimize the gap. However, it will be a tough challenge as Feldkirch won the first two season derbies with +3 goals. In both games Putnik (Lustenau) and Martin Mairitsch (Feldkirch) scored once.
26.12.2017, 19:30: EK Zeller Eisbären - EC Bregenzerwald
Referees: KUMMER, WALLNER, Bärnthaler, Kainberger
With Bregenzerwald and Zell am See two rivals for a playoff spot meet in Salzburg. The Vorarlberg side has a three-point advantage and ranks 8th at the moment. In the previous two season meetings each side got one win. In September the polar bears got a 6:3 home win while Bregenzerwald celebrated a 6:1 victory in front of their own crowd.
26.12.2017, 20:00: HC Pustertal Wölfe - Rittner Buam
Referees: BENVEGNU, LEGA, De Zordo, Wiest
72 hours after the surprising defeat in Kitzbühel, leader Ritten awaits the away game against Pustertal. It's at the same time the first game for Italian Final Four qualification. The wolves have won their last six home games and also decided the first season meeting against Ritten to thier favour, 2:1. It was one of only four defeats the champion has conceded this campaign.
26.12.2017, 20:30: Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey - HC Neumarkt Riwega
Referees: KAMSEK, LESNIAK, Basso, Miklic
All six December games of Neumarkt were hard-fought with the Wild Geese getting the short straw four times. It's different for Asiago: The vize champions have won their last five games and are the first persecutor of leader Ritten. In all these games Marco Rosa, who is 4th in Alps Hockey League scoring charts, gained at least one point (3 goals, 5 assists). Asiago also has the best powerplay available (25,9 per cent).
26.12.2017, 20:30: HC Gherdeina valgardena.it - WSV Sterzing Broncos Weihenstephan
Referees: KUCHER, PODLESNIK, M. Cristeli, Stefenelli
Only three days after their last meeting the two rivals meet again. While Gherdeina ended their losing streak with a 5:4 road win after penalties, the Broncos are already waiting six matches for a win. After doin ga great defensive work at the beginning of the season, the team from Sterzing conceded almost four goals against lately. However, the Broncos won the first season meeting in Wolkenstein.
26.12.2017, 20:45: S.G. Cortina Hafro - HC Fassa Falcons
Referees: RUETZ, STRASSER, Ch. Cristeli, Rinker
With only three points out of their last 15 games, Fassa is the weakest team since mid-October. The second to the last especially struggled on the road with only one season win at bottom-placed club from Klagenfurt. Now Cortina, a team that's fighting for a top 8 spot and won four of five games in December, awaits them. The scoring charts' leading duo has given an impressive display latley again: Torquato/Brace have both collected at least one point in the previous seven games.
Foto: EHC Alge Elastic Lustenau