Release from 01.12.2022
© (c) HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice
On Thursday, HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice defended their lead in the Alps Hockey League standings with an 4-1 road win at second-placed Red Bull Hockey Juniors. The Slovenians are now without defeat for 15 games. With an road win after overtime, S.G. Cortina Hafro lifted themselves to second place in the standings. The Hockey Unterland Cavaliers and the SHC Fassa Falcons also won on the road after overtime. Furthermore, EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel stopped the winning streak of HC Meran/o Pircher, as the Austrian side scored the game-winner five seconds left in the third.
Also in the second duel of the season HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice did not give Red Bull Hockey Juniors a chance, as the Alps Hockey League leaders - which have now played the fewest games by far of any team in the top-6 with 17 - prevailed 4-1 away from home. Last year's league top scorer Eric Pance gave the Slovenians the lead with a brace in the first period, Luka Ulamec (34.) and Jasa Jenko (42.) then provided the preliminary decision. Goalie Antti Karjalainen saved 23 of 24 shots on goal and just missed his fifth shutout of the season.
Cortina takes second spot
New chaser of Jesenice is S.G. Cortina Hafro, which won 4-3 away at HC Gherdeina valgardena.it after overtime. The Italians had to suffer ups and downs in Val Gardena: Despite an early lead, the guests were still trailing after the first period. Then Cortina regained the lead but had to accept the equalizer 25 seconds left in the third. In overtime, Gregory Di Tomaso secured the extra point. Cortina thus also won its sixth game in a row and is the new runner-up.
Cavaliers and Falcons win on the road after OT too
The Hockey Unterland Cavaliers and SHC Fassa Falcons also celebrated road victories after overtime. The Alps Hockey League newcomer won a high-scoring game at EHC Lustenau 5-4. Twice the guests from South Tyrol were already ahead by two goals before the Vorarlberg team, which scored two goals on powerplay, secured overtime. There, Miro Markkula decided the game on the powerplay (62.), as the "Cavaliers" returned to winning ways after two defeats in a row and are in fourth place.
Fassa put an end to its five-game losing streak with a 4-3 overtime win at Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan, where Ivan Althuber made his debut. The Italians celebrated only their second road win this season. They had to come back three times trailing one, but late in overtime Marco Defrancesco (65.) scored the game winner and his first goal of the season.
Kitzbühel destroys Merano’s winning streak
The HC Meran/o Pircher, which has recently been successful three times in a row against better-ranked teams, had to accept a defeat on Thursday, as in Kitzbühel, the tenth-ranked got to feel the home strength of the "Adler". The Tyroleans fought their way to a 3-2 victory, winning their third home game in a row and picking up points on home ice for the sixth consecutive time. Head Coach Marco Pewal's team let a 2-0 advantage slip away after 29 minutes before Joonas Niemelä scored the game-winner with five seconds left in the third. It was the 12th goal of the season for the top scorer of the Kitzbühel side.
Alps Hockey League | 01.12.2022 | Results:
Red Bull Hockey Juniors - HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice 1:4 (0:2, 0:1, 1:1)
Referees: KAINBERGER, LEHNER, Moidl, Wimmler. | Spectators: 70
Goal RBJ: Assavolyuk (54./Venier-Mackner)
Goals JES: Pance (11./Bohinc-Polcs, 16.PP1/Logar-Polcs), Ulamec (34.PP1/Lesnicar-Rep), Jenko (42./Svetina-Urukalo)
EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel - HC Meran/o Pircher 3:2 (1:0, 1:1, 1:1)
Referees: DURCHNER, OREL, Eisl, Huber. | Spectators: 351
Goals KEC: Karlström (4./Hochfilzer-Potocnik), Lahnaviik (29./Niemelä-Hintermann), Niemelä (60./Lahnaviik-Ludin)
Goal HCM: Chiodo (31.), Ansoldi (57.PP1/Chiodo-Brunner)
EHC Lustenau - Hockey Unterland Cavaliers 4:5 OT (0:1, 2:2, 2:1, 0:1)
Referees: MOSCHEN, RUETZ, Bedana, Tschrepitsch. | Spectators: 762
Goals EHC: Hayes (30./Auer-Puschnik, 58.PP1/Larsen-Pöschmann), Wilfan (35.PP1/Lucenius-Larsen), König (43./Haberl L.-Haberl D.)
Goals HCU: Kokoska (2.), Glassiti (25./Nyman-Markkula, 42./Haarala-Brighenti), Haarala (40./Kokoska), Markkula (62.PP1/Nyman-Haarala)
Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan - SHC Fassa Falcons 3:4 OT (1:1, 1:1, 1:1, 0:1)
Referees: LAZZERI, LEGA, Flsichmann, Pace. | Spectators: 192
Goals WSV: Gander (8./Giftopoulos-Soraruf, 29./Conci-Hackhofer), Giftopoulos (58./Gander-Soraruf)
Goals FAS: Deluca (10.PP1/Schiavone-Castlunger) Schiavone (40./Deluca-Trottner), Iroi (59./Sol-Pietroniro K.), Defrancesco (65./Castlunger-Deluca)
HC Gherdeina valgardena.it - S.G. Cortina Hafro 3:4 OT (2:1, 0:1, 1:1, 0:1)
Referees: GIACOMOZZI, STEFENELLI, Brondi, De Zordo. | Spectators: 238
Goals GHE: Oberrauch (10./Luisetti), Sölva (20./McGowan-Amorosa), Gibbon (60./McGowan)
Goal SGC: De zanna (8.PP1/Adami-Barnabo, 31./Barnabo-Adami), Adami (49.PP1/Alvera-De zanna), Di Tomaso (62./Saha-Cuglietta)
Fotocredit: HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice