Italy’s champion back in league action

Alps Hockey League | Master Round | 31.01.2024 | Schedule:
Wed, 31.01.2024, 7.30 pm: EC Bregenzerwald – Rittner Buam SkyAlps
Referees: KAINBERGER, SCHAUER, Hesina, Jäger. | >> valcome.tv <<
On Saturday, the Rittner Buam SkyAlps were rewarded with the Scudetto for the sixth time in total: in the final duel of the "best-of-3" series against S.G. Cortina Hafro, they celebrated a 3-2 victory after overtime and their first title in five years. Now the regular season winners return to championship action, traveling to EC Bregenzerwald. The South Tyroleans have been beaten by the team from Vorarlberg in each of their last three encounters, but have managed to pick up a point in each of their last two meetings. Things have not gone according to plan for the "Wälder" recently, as they have only won one (4-3 OT vs. SGC) of their last six games. After four games, the team led by top scorer Roberts Lipsbergs (25G|37A) is in last place and urgently needs points in the race for home advantage in the quarterfinals. Both teams have a strong power play this season: Ritten uses 29.6% of PP to score a goal – top of the league. Bregenzerwald comes in at 28.0% (#3). ECB head coach Jussi Tupamäki will have to deal without Marlon Tschofen at least for the time being, but the availability of the Metzler brothers Manuel and Philip is not yet certain either.

Alps Hockey League | Master Round | 01.02.2024 | Schedule:
Thu, 01.02.2024, 8.00 pm: Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan – EK Die Zeller Eisbären
Referees: MOSCHEN, RUETZ, De Zordo, Rinker. | >> valcome.tv <<
The Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan have played a strong Master Round so far, as head coach Johan Sjöquist's team has won all three games so far and has been particularly impressive offensively with 5.6 goals per game. The "Broncos" have thus increased their productivity from regular season (3.7) by almost two goals. The Master Round leaders have gone five games without defeat on home ice, although they have only dropped points against EK Die Zeller Eisbären in their last three games – losing two in regulation. The "Eisbären", which are now without their fourth regular starter in Maximilian Egger (upper body injury) due to injury, recorded their first win in the Master Round on Saturday (5-2 vs. ECB), their first victory in regulation in 2024.

Thu, 01.02.2024, 8.30 pm: S.G. Cortina Hafro – Red Bull Hockey Juniors
Referees: GIACOMOZZI, VIRTA, Brondi, Rivis. | >> valcome.tv <<
S.G. Cortina Hafro had to concede defeat in the battle for the Italian Scudetto after extra time on Saturday, losing 1-2 to Ritten in the “best-of-3” series. The Ampezzaner side are in fifth place in the intermediate round, but have only played two games due to the Italian Cup, and like Ritten. This has resulted in four points, after an opening win against Ritten and an OT defeat against the "Wälder". Tim Doherty will now also play his first AHL game on Thursday. The former ECHL player has no points in the three Scudetto games. The Red Bull Hockey Juniors are in second place in the Master Round, with two wins and one loss. Most recently, the farm team of the ICE champions has not conceded a goal. The last seven confrontations between these two teams have always been won by the away team.

Alps Hockey League | Qualification Round A | 01.02.2024 | Schedule:
Thu, 01.02.2024, 7.00 pm: HK RST Pellet Celje – Steel Wings LINZ AG
Referees: FAJDIGA, VOICAN, Arlic, Weiss. | >> valcome.tv <<
Thursday brings just one game in Qualification Round A: Steel Wings LINZ AG travels to HK RST Pellet Celje, where it absolutely needs a win to avoid losing touch in the race for a place in the pre-playoffs. The bottom-placed Upper Austrians are seven points behind second place and have not played a road game in over three weeks. On the road, Linz have been winless for five games. The newcomers from Slovenia are 2-1 ahead in the season comparison. Celje still have a balanced record in the intermediate round (2/2), with both wins away from home. The Slovenians are currently three points off a place in the postseason. With four games already played, the team led by Jure Sotlar (13G|28A) cannot afford to slip up again.

Alps Hockey League | Qualification Round B | 01.02.2024 | Schedule:
Thu, 01.02.2024, 7.00 pm: EC-KAC Future Team – Hockey Unterland Cavaliers
Referees: REZEK, SCHEIGHOFER, Javornik, Telesklav. | >> valcome.tv <<
In Qualification Round B, leaders Hockey Unterland Cavaliers have to face the bottom team EC-KAC Future Team and put Klagenfurt's current home strength to the test: Since December 21st, the team of Head Coach Harri Laurila has always scored points, winning four games, including the last duel with the Cavaliers (5-4). Especially with the addition of Luka Gomboc and Fabian Hochegger, the young "Rotjacken" have become a difficult team to play against. However, the South Tyroleans are also in good form, having scored in six of their last seven league games. Away from home, they have suffered four defeats in a row across all competitions.

Thu, 01.02.2024, 7.30 pm: EHC Lustenau – EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel
Referees: BENEVEGNU, LAZZERI, Cristeli, Formaioni. | >> valcome.tv <<
EHC Lustenau welcomes EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel and wants to close the gap on the Tyroleans and one place in the pre-playoffs with a win. In fourth place, the disadvantage to second-placed Kitzbühel is currently six points, but the "Stickers" have played one game less. The form clearly speaks in favor of the "Adler": they have won five of their last six games, while the EHC have lost four of their last six. Lustenau have won both of their encounters so far this season – both after overtime.

Alps Hockey League | Qualification Round A | 02.02.2024 | Schedule:
Fri, 02.02.2024, 7.00 pm: SIJ Acroni Jesenice – HC Meran/o Pircher
Referees: LESNIAK, OREL, Bergant, Wendner. | >> valcome.tv <<
Both SIJ Acroni Jesenice (#1) and HC Meran/o Pircher (#2) would qualify for the pre-playoffs according to the current standings, as the duo has a two-point and one-point lead respectively over their closest rivals HC Gherdeina valgardena.it, which are not playing this time. The defending champions celebrated their first win in the intermediate round on Saturday (2-1 @HKC), before which the Slovenians dropped points twice. The picture is different for Merano, with two successes and a recent defeat (3-4 against GHE). The home team has prevailed in each of the two duels so far this season, with both Meran and Jesenice winning their home games in commanding fashion. The Slovenians will have to stop Meran's power duo Calder Anderson (29G|37A) and Nolan Ritchie (28G|37A). The former in particular is in top form: Anderson has scored 11 goals in the last five games and at least twice in the last four.

Fotocredit Serena Fantini