Release from 28.12.2023
After a 2-0 home win over HC Pustertal Wölfe, the EC-KAC has moved up to second place in the table and is now the first runner-up to Hydro Fehérvár AV19. The Hungarian leaders of the win2day ICE Hockey League lost on the road to EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV, which, like defending champions EC Red Bull Salzburg, celebrated a comeback win after overtime.
HCB Südtirol Alperia also won the third "Il grande classico", claiming their fifth win in a row. The BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg and the spusu Vienna Capitals were also able to extend their point streak (5) and winning streak (3) respectively.
Three games of these 33rd rounds were sold out (Klagenfurt, Villach and Asiago). The last gameday of the 2023 calendar year follows on Saturday.
The EC-KAC also proved its strong form against the HC Pustertal Wölfe: With jubilarian Thomas Vallant, who played his 500th league game, the "Rotjacken" won 2-0 at home, achieving their first full victory over the South Tyroleans on their third appearance this season. Klagenfurt thus scored for the ninth time in a row, moving up to second place in the table and reducing the gap to Hydro Fehérvár AV19 to seven points.
The Hungarians had to concede defeat to EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV after overtime. Carter Robertson (14.) gave the front-runners a deserved lead for long stretches until the 51st minute: Andrew Desjardins then luckily equalized on powerplay and Robert Sabolic completed the comeback (62.) in the extra session. The Hungarians, like Klagenfurt, picked up at least a point for the ninth time in a row.
Salzburg turns two-goal deficit
EC Red Bull Salzburg also celebrated a comeback victory after overtime in the 33rd round of the win2day ICE Hockey League. After trailing 0-2 and 1-3 at one stage, the reigning champions prevailed 4-3 against HK SZ Olimpija and celebrated their seventh win in a row against the Slovenians. A double strike from Florian Baltram and Ali Wukovits (45.) within 14 seconds gave Salzburg the momentum they needed for the turnaround.
Bolzano draws level with Linz
HCB Südtirol Alperia also maintained its top form in "Il grande classico": With five goals in the middle frame, the "Foxes" secured a deserved 5-2 road win at Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey and thus also won the third season duel with the "Stellati". It was the fifth win in a row for Bolzano and the team led by double goal scorer Daniel Mantenuto drew level with Steinbach Black Wings Linz, which were clearly beaten 3-7 by BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg. The Vorarlberg team's power-play units showed up again, scoring three goals from eight. Luka Maver and Yannik Lebeda each scored a brace. The "Pioneers" scored for the fifth time in a row and, in ninth place, are nine points clear of a place outside the pre-playoffs.
Vienna grabs important win in the race for pre-playoffs
The spusu Vienna Capitals have secured an important victory over the Moser Medical Graz99ers in the race for the pre-playoffs. With the 3-2 victory after overtime, the two-time champions are now just three points behind tenth-placed Ljubljana. Trevor Cheek turned around an early lead for the Styrians with a brace, as he has scored in each of the three meetings with Graz this season. With a sixth player on the ice, the "99ers" managed to equalize. Nico Brunner (65.) struck in overtime to give Vienna their third win in a row.
Win2day ICE Hockey League | 28.12.2023 | Results:
Moser Medical Graz99ers – spusu Vienna Capital 2:3 OT (1:1, 0:1, 1:0, 0:1)
Referees: FICHTNER, ZRNIC, Hribar, Zgonc. | Spectators: 3.030
Goals G99: Matson (3.), Salinitri (58.)
Goals VIC: Cheek (4., 32.)
EC-KAC – HC Pustertal Wölfe 2:0 (1:0, 1:0, 0:0)
Referees: REZEK, TRILAR, Bärnthaler, Snoj. | Spectators: 4.174
Goals KAC: Bischofberger (10./SH1), Herburger (31.)
EC Red Bull Salzburg – HK SZ Olimpija 4:3 OT (0:1, 1:2, 2:0, 1:0)
Referees: SEEWALD E., SMETANA, Gatol-Schafranek, Sparer. | Spectators: 2.812
Goals RBS: Bourke (26.), Baltram (45.), Wukovits (45.), Murphy (64.)
Goals HKO: Predan (3.), Dodero (25./PP1), Gooch (35./PP1)
EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV – Hydro Fehérvár AV19 2:1 OT (0:1, 0:0, 1:0, 1:0)
Referees: NAGY, PIRAGIC, Bedynek, Muzsik. | Spectators: 3.465
Goals VSV: Desjardins (51./PP1), Sabolic (62.)
Goal AVS: Robertson (14.)
BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg – Steinbach Black Wings Linz 7:3 (2:1, 2:0, 3:2)
Referees: BERNEKER, NIKOLIC M., Fleischmann, Martin. | Spectators: 2.023
Goals PIV: van Nes (9./PP1), Lebeda (11., 59./EN), Maver (23./PP1, 53.), Pastujov M. (39.), Macierzynski (48./PP1)
Goals BWL: St-Amant (10.), Lebler (41.), Romig (49.)
Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey – HCB Südtirol Alperia 2:5 (0:0, 1:5, 1:0)
Referees: OFNER, SCHAUER, Rigoni, Weiss. | Spectators: 2.475
Goal ASH: Ierullo (32./PP1), Gennaro (54./PP1)
Goals HCB: Mantenuto (26., 37.), Ford (28.), Gazley (37.), Thomas (40.)
Fotocredit: KAC/Pessentheiner