Just home-wins!

The Pustertal comes to this game without Wacey Rabbit and Maximilian Lancsar. The intense match started straight away. Viktor Schweitzer scored after a minute of the game thanks to a successful rebound. But shortly after Jesenice equalized with a one-timer of Nathe Di Casmirro, former player of Brunico, during fast action in powerplay.  The Wolves then failed to score in two consecutive powerplay in the middle. When, however, was Jesenice to play in powerplay, the Wolves took the lead. Viktor Schwietzer stole a puck to the opponents and then served Shayne Wiebe who made the new advantage of the yellow-black team. Bruneck went to the first break in the lead (2:1). During the second period Jesenice changed the gear. The first part of the middle was very balanced. Then the Slovenian team took the command of the game and after half the changed the score. The protagonist was always Luka Kalan that made two goals in a row as he finalized two fast and sustained action by the guests (32' and 35'). Thomas Tragust saved other difficult situations for home team. After two period Jesenice leaded the match 3: 2. The game in the third period reserved many surprises. After just 10 seconds the Reed Steelers scored the fourth goal with Eric Pance in shorthanded. Immediately after the goal Gasper Cerkovnik went to penalty bench. The Pustertal immediately pulled one back thanks to Raphael Andergassen’s goal in 2-man advantage. Then there was the run of Brunico that throughout the third time they tried to reach the tie. When there were less than three minutes in the third period, the Wolves equalized with Patrick Bona (4:4). Then the game ended after 3 minutes of overtime: Armin Hofer scored the 5:4 for the victory of the Wolves at the end of a very spectacular match.

 

The leader of the Sky Alps Hockey League of Rittner Buam challenged EHC Lustenau Alge Elastic without the possibility of deploying Eisath Alexander and Kevin Fink, while Roland Hofer and the brothers Thomas and Markus Spinell was back again available. The game from the beginning was very balanced. When missing two minutes from the first break, the visitors went ahead with Dominik Oberscheider, who transformed an assists of Maximilian Wilfan for the 1:0. For the Austrian striker was the first goal in the AHL. Renon had also seek the draw, but Kostner and his team mates were unable to overcome Patrick Machreich. In the middle period, after four minutes, the Renon made the tie (1:1) with Thomas Spinell that exploited the assist of Dan Tudin. Only 84 seconds later the "Buam" took the lead as Oscar Ahlström made the second goal after an assist of brother Victor (2:1). For the top scorer of Renon it was the 19th goal of the season. But the Lustenau answered when missing just four seconds to the end of the period with Stefan Wiedmaier. The Italian Champions then  found the winning inspiration, so often this season, during the third period. When missingeight minutes at the end of third period, there was the winnig score of Dan Tudin. The veteran forward of the home team was able to exploit the assist of Thomas Spinell. On this score also it was closed the match. The Rittner Buam won 3:2 as they confirmed the leader of the AHL wint 14 points in the top of the standings in Master Round.

 

The Asiago challenged Feldkirch. The hosts played without Kris Kolanos and Giulio Scandella. The match was played by two teams on a good pace but there were no great chance for to score. The Asiago passed before the middle of the period. Federico Benetti deflected the puck after a shot from Anthony Nigro during a powerplay situation. This deviation completely surprised Alex Caffi, the opposing goalkeeper. During the star of the second period, the Feldkirch played much better the first few minutes but they could not exploit this situation. With passing the minutes, the Asiago grew in the game. In the last five minutes of the period Asiago scored two fast goals in a row with brothers Sullivan. Early Dan Sullivan scored after the special assist of Tessari, then Mike, assisted by Nigro, sited up the goalie opponent and deposited in the net (3:0). in the last few seconds was still Mike Sullivan to went to close to the goal, but the post denied him the joy of the two goals. In the third time the Asiago controlled the game and the result without giving virtually nothing to the opponents. The Asiago earned three important points which project the Lions to second in the standings in cohabitation with the Pustertal. Frederic Cloutier earned the 5th shutout of the season.

 

The two weakest teams in Group A qualifying clashed in Fassa Tal. The Falcons played with four lines. The home side slowly started to take hold of the game as they figureed out how to beat the Finnish goalkeeper Misa Pietila. In the last five minutes of the first half the game Fassa built his victory. Paolo Bustreo scored the first goal with a powerful diagonal. Two minutes after the top-scorer Geoff Walker doubled. The Falcons continued their assault as Stefan Della Rovere made the 3:0. In just four minutes the home team made 3 goals. The Bregenzerwald started very well in the second period with the immediate goals of Philip Putnik. Then the Austrian team replied with Scott Nordh but before the end of the second period the Fassa back again in goal with Di Diomete. The three goals of the second half were all scored in powerplay. In the third period the game was very open but the Fassa was more accurate in front of net. Della Rovere, Di Diomete and Bustreo was also repeated in the third period. Philip Putnik scored the last goal of the evening for the ECB. In the last seven minutes of the match the goalkeeper of Bregenzerwald was Karlo Skec. The Fassa won 7:3 as they back to win after eight defeats in 2017. The Bregenzerwald ended up in last place in Group A.

 

The Cortina tried to defend his lead in Qualification Round A for the playoffs from the assault of Gherdeina in a direct dule. The first period was quite balanced. Cortina tried the first goal during a first powerplay but found a Gherdeina very ready. Then the Furies went ahead at the end of a double powerplay with a shot from distance of Benjamin Bregenzer. But just 50 seconds after the Cortina equalized in powerplay. Riley Brace did it all, starting from the his third and then serving a perfect assist for Zachary Torquato which touched the puck in the open net. Then the rest of the time of the period there were no others goals. In the second half Gherdeina started well as they attacked but Marco De Filippo saved very well. The Gherdeina seemed close to the lead but then a beautiful goal by Francesco Adami changed the face of the match at halftime. From this moment, the home team accelerated as they sent ko the opponents with all three goals in powerplay. Riley Brace achieved the advantage two minutes with hard shot. Then there was the goal of Zachary Torquato from close range. Then De Blasio exceeed Vallini for the 5:1 of the hosts after two periods. The HC Gherdeina changed the goalkeeper in the third period. Martin Rabanser replaced Gianluca Vallini.  During the third period stil Cortina continued its march but the last period was full of penalties. Nicola Fontanive made his score in the middle and then there were two other goals of a powerful Cortina with Zachary Torquato (double powerplay and soon after Andrea Moser (powerplay) for a triumph of the hosts. Derek Eastman closed the evening’s goals in double powerplay. The Cortina won 8:2 as they confirmed at the first place of Round A. Gherdeina lost the first game after eight consecutive wins.

 

EK Zeller Eisbären had the better start in the game and quickly produced some chances. The Broncos tried their luck in counter-attacks. Finally in minute 20 Markus Pöck finished a perfect combination over Rataj and Scholz for the lead.  After the re-start the Austrians had problems to find back into the game and so the guests got the upperhand. But in minute 33 the Polar Bears could outplay the guests defense and scored the 2:0 from Alexander Fazokas. Then Zell took advantage from a Power Play to score the 3:0 from Frederik Widen, who finished a combination over Tobi Dinhopel and Igor Rataj. In period 3 Sterzing took advantage from a mistake in the Zeller defense to score the 1:3 from Verreault-Paul Francis. Just moments later the same player scored the 2:3 and suddenly the Italians were back in the game. In the final minutes the guests took full risk and took their goalie from the ice. The risk quickly paid off, Bahnesky made the 3:3. In the Overtime Pöck fixed the win for EK Zeller Eisbären, who extended their leed in Qualification Round B.

 

In a hart fought game - both teams got 23 PIM - EC-KAC took the lead at Kitzbühel in a Power Play thanks a goal from Martin Goitschnig. In minute 34 the Eagles finally also were rewarded for their offensive play. The Eagles took totally 45 shots on the net. It was Mario Ebner, who beat Thomas Dechel. Peter Lenes then turned the game around in minute 49. The 3:1 in a shorthanded situation in the final second of the game from Podzins was just a bonus. With this win Kitzbühel overtook Klagenfurt in the ranking in the Qualification Round B and is now Fourth.

 

SKY Alps Hockey League, Master Round:
04.02.2017: Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey - FBI VEU Feldkirch 3:0 (1:0; 2:0; 0:0)
Referees: PICHLER, RUETZ, De Toni, Rigoni
Goals Asiago: 1:0 Benetti (9./PP1/Nigro-Lutz); 2:0 D.Sullivan (35./M.Tessari-Lutz); 3:0 M.Sullivan (36./Nigro-Casetti);
04.02.2017: HC Pustertal Wolves - HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice 5:4 ot (2:1; 0:2; 2:1; 1:0)
Referees: BULOVEC, FERRINI, Rezek, Waldthaler
Goal Pustertal: 1:0 Schweitzer (1./Sirokovs-Wiebe); 2:1 Wiebe (18./SH1/Schweitzer-Pritz); 3:4 Andergassen (41./PP2/Oberrauch-Wiebe); 4:4 Bona (57./Wiebe-Hofer); 5:4 Hofer (63./Wiebe-Bona)
Goal Jesenice: 1:1 Di Casmirro (5./PP1/Sotlar-Pance); 2:2 Kalan (32./Ankrest-Manfreda); 2:3 Kalan (35./Manfreda-Logar); 2:4 Pance (40./SH1);
04.02.2017: Rittner Buam - EHC Alge Elastic Lustenau 3:2 (0:1; 2:1; 1:0)
Referees: KUMMER, MOSCHEN, Libiseller, Stefenelli
Goals Rittner Buam: 1:1 T. Spinell (24./Tudin-Traversa); 2:1 O. Ahlström (25./V. Ahlström -S.Kostner); 3:2 Tudin (52./T.Spinell);
Goals Lustenau: 0:1 Oberscheider (18./Wilfan-Silvnik); 2:2 Wiedmaier (39./Winzig-P.Vala);

 

SKY Alps Hockey League, Qualification Round A:
04.02.2017: S.G. Cortina Hafro - HC Gherdeina valgardena.it 8:2 (1:1; 4:0; 3:1)
Referees: CESCHINI, LOTTAROLI, De Zordo, Giacomozzi
Goals Cortina: 1:1 Torquato (8./PP1/Brace-Burton); 2:1 Adami (29./Torquato-De Biasio); 3:1 Brace (31./PP1/Fontanive-De Biasio); 4:1 Torquato (34./PP1/Fontanive-Burton); 5:1 De Biasio (39./PP1/Fontanive-Brace); 6:1 Fontanive (48./Brace-Caletti); 7:1 Torquato (54./PP2/Zandonella-Fontanive); 8:1 Moser (56./PP1/De Biasio-Caletti);
Goals HC Gherdeina: 0:1 B.Bregenzer (8./PP1/Demetz-Iori); 8:2 Eastman (58./PP2)
04.02.2017, 20:30: HC Fassa Falcons - EC Bregenzerwald 7:3 (3:0; 1:2; 3:1)
Referees: MARRI, WIDMANN, Bedynek, Cristeli
Goals Fassa: 1:0 Bustreo (14./Walker-Marzolini); 2:0 Walker (16./PP1/Bustreo-Di Diomete); 3:0 Della Rovere (18./PP1/Bustreo-Manning); 4:2 Di Diomete (37./PP1/Della Rovere-Walker); 5:2 Della Rovere (46./Walker-Manning); 6:2 Bustreo (49./Della Rovere-Monferone); 7:2 Di Diomete (54./Dantone-Sottsas);
Goals EC Bregenzerwald: 3:1 Putnik (20./PP1/Judex-Nordh); 3:2 Nordh (29./PP1/Haidinger); 7:3 Putnik (55./Haidinger-Judex);

 

SKY Alps Hockey League, Qualification Round B:
Sa, 04.02.2017: EK Zeller Eisbären – WSV Sterzing Broncos Weihenstephan 4:3 n.V. (1:0,2:0,0:3,1:0)
Referees: PODLESNIK, WALLNER; Zuseher: 1313
Tore EKZ: Pöck (20. – Scholz, Rataj, 63. - Kolar), Fazokas (33. – Scholz, Widen), Widen (38./pp – Dinhopel, Rataj)
Tore WSV: Verreault-Paul (45., 52. – Bahensky, Stofner), Bahensky (60. – Stofner, Verreault-Paul)
Sa, 04.02.2017: EC „Die Adler“ Stadtwerke Kitzbühel – EC-KAC II 3:1 (0:0,1:1,2:0)
Referees: Hofer, Lendl; Zuseher: 313
Tore KEC: Ebner (34. – Echtler, Podzins), Lenes (49. – Batna), Podzins (60./sh/EN – Burlin, Hummer)
Tor KA2: Goritschnig (27./pp – Kraus, Obersteiner)

 

Master Round
1) RIT 14 points (4 games)
2) ASH 10 points (4 games)
3) PUS 10 points (4 games)
4) JES 9 points (4 games)
5) EHC 6 points (4 games)
6) VEU 0 points (4 games)

 

Qualification Round A
1) COR 12 points (3 games)
2) RBJ 9 points (3 games)
3) GHE 8 points (3 games)
4) FAS 3 points (3 games)
5) ECB 3 points (4 games)

 

Qualification Round B
1) EKZ 13 points (3 games)
2) HCN 9 points (3 games)
3) WSW 8 points (3 games)
4) KEC 3 points (3 games)
5) KAC-II 1 point (4 games)

Fotocredit: David S. Wassagruba