KAC plays first home game in new arena

win2day ICE Hockey League, Schedule

Fri, 21.10.2022, 19.15: EC-KAC - Steinbach Black Wings Linz
Referees: RENCZ, SOOS, Muzsik, Snoj | >> Live in PPV-Stream

The EC-KAC will play its first home game in the new Heidi Horten Arena on Friday. The construction and design of the interior has now been completed - allowing the KAC to play their first home game after eight away games. The main focus in the opening is to quickly make up for the disappointing home record of the previous season. In the 2021/22 season, the Klagenfurt team suffered more defeats at home than they recorded victories. Especially in the season finale, KAC fans did not get their fill: five of the last seven home games were lost. For the second time this season, Klagenfurt will take on Steinbach Black Wings Linz, who only took over second place in the standings on Tuesday with a 4-1 home win over Innsbruck. The Upper Austrians were victorious 5-3 in the first meeting. Both teams have won four of their last five games. In Klagenfurt, the Black Wings have performed well in the recent past, winning six of the last ten encounters. While EC-KAC has all players available for its first game in the Heidi Horten Arena, the Black Wings have to substitute some players: Raphael Wolf was suspended for three games after his check against Innsbruck. In addition, Marc-Andre Dorion is not available. Apart from the thinly manned defense, there is also a question mark in the forward line with Emilio Romig (ill).

Fri, 21.10.2022, 19.15: Hydro Fehérvár AV19 - EC Red Bull Salzburg
Referees: REZEK, ZRNIC, Hribar, Zgonc | >> Live in PPV-Stream

For the second time in this young season there will be a rematch of the previous season final. The first duel 22/23 of these two teams has won the champion from Austria with 4:1, despite trailing. Salzburg is without defeat against the Hungarians for five games. The seven-time league champions played their last competitive match nine days ago, and have now had enough time for regeneration and to integrate their latest newcomer Nicolai Meyer - who scored 22 goals and handed out 31 assists in 53 games in the previous season for Vienna. Before that, the "Red Bulls" suffered four defeats in a row, two of them in the Champions Hockey League. Fehérvár has not yet been able to develop the penetrating power of the previous season this season. Most recently, the Devils were defeated by Innsbruck with 2:5. However, the Hungarians have now put the double burden of the Champions Hockey League behind them. Fehérvár had five game-free days in a row for the first time in a month to recharge their batteries. With a win on Friday, Fehérvár could leave Salzburg behind in the standings, even though the Hungarians have played three games more. For Salzburg, after two league defeats recently, it's all about getting back in touch with the top trio. However, the Red Bulls still have to lament some absences: In addition to the convalescent players Lukas Schreier, Ty Loney, Thomas Raffl, Dominique Heinrich, Tim Harnisch, Aljaž Predan and Paul Stapelfeldt, forward Troy Bourke will also be missing again.

Fri, 21.10.2022, 19.15: HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie - EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV
Referees: HUBER, NIKOLIC M., Basso, Seewald | >> Live in PPV-Stream

EC VSV veteran John Hughes will celebrate his 800th league game in the win2day ICE Hockey League on Friday in Innsbruck. A milestone that only 13 other players have reached since the league was re-founded. Alongside Thomas Koch (KAC), Daniel Oberkofler (G99), Mario Altmann (G99) and Thomas Raffl (RBS), he is the fifth active league crack to break the 800 mark. In the duel with HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie, however, a victory on the anniversary is anything but a matter of course, as the Sharks are in third place after a spectacular start to the season. In this duel, two of the strongest offensive teams of the win2day ICE Hockey League meet. The Tyroleans score an average of four goals per game, while the Carinthians score 3.5. Villach's offensive productivity was bolstered at the start of the week, however, with the addition of Anthony Luciani to Rob Daum's team. The Canadian, formerly in the service of Znojmo and Dornbirn, has so far scored 204 points in 170 league games, including 74 goals. While the VSV could win his last three games, Innsbruck had to accept a defeat against the Black Wings only on Tuesday. In the table, the cushion of the Sharks on the Eagles is thus only three points. In goal, the Villach team will rely on Alexander Schmidt on Friday.

Fri, 21.10.2022, 19.15: Moser Medical Graz99ers - HK SZ Olimpija
Referees: HRONSKY, PIRAGIC, Bedynek, Durmis | >> Live in PPV-Stream

In the duel between the Moser Medical Graz99ers and the HK SZ Olimpija Ljubljana two teams from the midfield of the table meet. While the Styrians are currently just above the cut of the top-10, the Slovenians are scratching the top-6. While Graz could not take any points from their South Tyrol trip last weekend, Ljubljana managed to win the home game against leader Bolzano, where Rok Kapel was convincing with two goals and an assist. The Graz99ers are still struggling with their chances this season. With a scoring efficiency of 5.28%, they are in last place in this league comparison. Ljubljana successfully converted twice as many of its chances. In absolute terms, too, no team has scored fewer goals than the Styrians. They now want to change that in their home match against the Slovenians - but even last season, Graz only won one of four duels. The Graz team also has to contend with a number of absentees. In addition to Ken Ograjensek, Gustav Bouramman and Mike Zalewski, Tobias Fladeby was injured recently. The attacker will not be available for several weeks. Erik Kirchschläger and Christian Engstrand are also questionable.

Fri, 21.10.2022, 19.45: Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey - HCB Südtirol Alperia
Referees: BENVEGNU, SORAPERRA, Fleischmann, Rigoni | >> Live in PPV-Stream

HCB Südtirol Alperia will face Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey in a competitive match for the first time since March 2, 2013. Back then, the Foxes lost the quarterfinal series in Serie A against the eventual champions. Nevertheless, it was Bolzano that made its first appearance for the multinational league the following season and promptly won the championship title. Exactly ten seasons later, Asiago now also followed suit in the win2day ICE Hockey League. However, the role of favorites in the first official reunion after almost a decade seems to be clearly distributed. While the Foxes lead the table, newcomer Asiago currently holds the red lantern. The Yellow-Reds are still waiting for their first home win in the win2day ICE Hockey League, which would of course be doubly valuable against leader Bolzano. The Foxes had to admit defeat against Ljubljana last time - with another defeat, their lead would be endangered.

Fri, 21.10.2022, 19.45: HC Pustertal - spusu Vienna Capitals
Referees: OFNER, TRILAR, Pardatscher, Sparer | >> Live in PPV-Stream

After the separation of head coach Stefan Mair, HC Pustertal wants to make a fresh start into the season. The Wolves were able to win again last Saturday after six defeats, but nevertheless the Pustertaler way will continue without Mair. In the home game against the spusu Vienna Capitals Philippe Horsky will take over the scepter, who holds the post of head coach until further notice. The native of Vienna will thus make his debut as Pustertal head coach against his former club, of all teams. Also at the Capitals, for which Hronsky was active in various positions from 2011-2015, the 39-year-old already took over once on an interim basis. However, the Caps don't want to give their former team member an introductory gift and want to continue their winning streak. With three wins in a row, the Viennese have, together with Villach, the longest lasting streak. However, the Viennese series is even longer in the duel against Pustertal: five wins from five games, is the Caps' record against the Wolves from the previous season. With another win on Friday, the jump into the top-6 could already succeed. However, the preparation for the match was anything but easy for the Caps, as they had to move to Bruck an der Leitha due to a technical problem at the STEFFL Arena.


Sat, 22.10.2022, 17.30 Hydro Fehérvár AV19 - Steinbach Black Wings Linz
Referees: NAGY, SMETANA, Muzsik, Riecken | >> Live in PPV-Stream

Hydro Fehérvár AV19 and Steinbach Black Wings Linz are each challenged twice within 24 hours. Black Wings goalie Rasmus Tirronen will meet his former team for the first time. Last season, the away team won each of the last three games in this duel.