Release from 16.02.2025
The EC-KAC secured their place in the upcoming Champions Hockey League season with a point in Linz on Sunday. EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV's victory in Ljubljana means that the three remaining quarter-final tickets will be decided on the last matchday.
In the clash between Steinbach Black Wings Linz and league leaders EC-KAC, the visitors got off to the better start, but the Upper Austrians still went ahead. Patrick Söllinger put the home side ahead in the fourth minute with a well-placed shot, the 20-year-old defenceman's third goal of the season. However, the Red Jackets equalised through Kevin Clark before the first period break. This sequence was repeated in the middle period, with Maver taking the lead (34') and Hundertpfund equalising (38'). The score remained 2:2 after 60 minutes, with Shawn St-Amant securing the home win in over time. With the point, Klagenfurt secured their ticket for the 2025/26 Champions Hockey League season. While the KAC can also win the regular season on Friday, Linz has direct play-off participation in their own hands.
EC Red Bull Salzburg won their home game against Asiago Hockey 4:2 and were clearly the team that set the tone. The only thing the Salzburg side struggled with was the utilisation of chances, after Asiago defended strongly and scored from one of their few chances shortly before the second period break to equalise at 2:2. However, the Red Bulls made everything clear with two more goals in the final period and thus took revenge for their recent 3:4 shootout defeat in Asiago. The Red Bulls are now level on points with third-placed HCB Südtirol Alperia in second place in the table.
Bolzano beat Hydro Fehérvár AV19 4:3 in an entertaining game. Although the home side took the lead through captain Janos Hari, the South Tyroleans turned it in their favour in the first period. Brad McClure extended the lead with a short-handed goal, but the Hungarians equalised with two goals within three minutes. Soon after, it was McClure who scored again while short-handed to record the game-winner. While Bolzano secured third place, Fehérvár are now in contention for direct play-off qualification on the final matchday.
The Moser Medical Graz99ers defeated HC Pustertal 3:0 at home and moved up to fourth place, at least for the time being. Nicolas Wieser recorded another shutout, with Kevin Roy, Manuel Ganahl and Rok Ticar providing the goals. The Styrians were the only team to finish the regular season. There is one scenario in which head coach Harry Lange's team could still be ousted from the top six: if Graz, Fehervar and Villach finish level on points in fifth, sixth and seventh place, the 99ers will lose out.
Thanks to a 4:2 away win by EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV in Ljubljana, the race for direct play-off qualification remains extremely exciting. Philipp Lindner put the Carinthians ahead with a powerful shot. Although the visitors went one better in the middle period, the Slovenians equalised within a few minutes in the power play. However, the visitors, who were under pressure, had an answer in the third period and won with further goals from Mark Matic and Chase Pearson. VSV remains in seventh place and needs a win in regulation time and support on the final matchday to move into the top six.
win2day ICE Hockey League:
Sunday, 16/02/2025:
Hydro Fehérvár AV19 - HCB Südtirol Alperia 3:4 (1:2, 2:2, 0:0)
Referees: GROZNIK, HRONSKY, Puff, Zgonc.
Goals Fehervar: Hari (12.), Terbocs (29.), Varga (32.)
Goals Bolzano: Bradley (16.), Salinitri (19.), McClure (26./SH, 39./SH)
EC Red Bull Salzburg - Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey 4:2 (0:1, 2:1, 2:0)
Referees: FICHTNER, SIEGEL, Bedynek, Gatol-Schafranek
Goals Salzburg: Sinn (23.), Raffl (28.), Thaler (53.), Kosmachuk (54.)
Goals Asiago: Porco (15./PP), Misley (38.)
Steinbach Black Wings Linz - EC-KAC 3:2 OT (1:1, 1:1, 0:0)
Referees: NIKOLIC M., SEEWALD E., Jedlicka, Konc.
Goals Linz: Söllinger (4.), Maver (34.), St-Amant (62.)
Goals Klagenfurt: Clark (16.), Hundertpfund (38.)
Moser Medical Graz99ers - HC Pustertal 3:0 (0:0, 1:0, 2:0)
Referees: STERNAT, ZRNIC, Bärnthaler, Nothegger
Goals Graz: Roy (23.), Ganahl (44.), Ticar (56.)
Olimpija Ljubljana - EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV 2:4 (0:1, 2:1, 0:2)
Referees: OFNER, ZRNIC, Muzsik, Vaczi
Goals Ljubljana: Kapel (31./PP), Mahkovec (34./PP)
Goals Villach: Lindner (9.), Hancock (26.), Katic (46.), Pearson (60./PP)