Release from 16.02.2024
The EC-KAC secured the overall victory in the regular season of the win2day ICE Hockey League in front of a sold-out crowd at the spusu Vienna Capitals - the first time this season that the 7,000 spectator mark was broken in a game. This is the first time the KAC have won the Regular Season in 13 years. Meanwhile, EC iDM VSV stormed to a 7:3 victory in the top 6 duel with HCB Südtirol Alperia, thus moving up to fourth place in the table. The VSV hast thank John Hughes, whose contract extension for the coming season was announced just before the start of the game, among others for this victory. The 36-year-old helped the team with a 6-point game. Hydro Fehérvár AV19 picked up an important three points in the long-distance duel for second place. EC Red Bull Salzburg and the BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg celebrated victories after shootout and overtime respectively.
7.022 spectators did not miss the penultimate home game of this season for the spusu Vienna Capitals. This also provided the perfect backdrop for the EC-KAC to secure overall victory in the 2023/24 regular season. However, this had to be hard-fought against the eleventh-placed Vienna Capitals. Klagenfurt took the lead in the first period while being outnumbered. In the final period, however, former KAC crack Rok Tičar of all people equalized for Vienna. With just under four minutes remaining, Matt Fraser scored the winner while shorthanded. The KAC won the Regular Season for the fifth time since the league was founded in 2000/01. However, the last time they won the regular season was in 2010/11 - 13 years ago.
VSV storms to fourth place
EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV stormed to a 7:3 victory in front of a sold-out crowd against HCB Südtirol Alperia to climb to fourth place in the table. After a goalless first period, the two teams initially engaged in an attractive, open exchange of blows, with the South Tyroleans taking a 2:1 lead at one stage. However, Villach really got into their stride in the second period, partly because the trio of new signings provided a lot of momentum. However, the cracks of the game were "old acquaintances": Robert Sabolič put the Eagles ahead in the 38th minute and followed up with two more goals in the final period to complete his hat-trick. Veteran John Hughes, whose contract extension was announced just before the game, even managed a 6-point game with five assists and a goal. He also scored the final goal of the game to make it 7:3.
Fehérvár takes big step towards second place after regular season
Hydro Fehérvár AV19 managed to further secure second place with a 2:1 home win against Steinbach Black Wings Linz on Friday. After their defeat in the top game a few days ago, the Hungarians promptly bounced back in a thrilling game against Linz on Friday. Josh Atkinson put his team ahead early on, but the Upper Austrians managed to equalize a few minutes before the end of the encounter. However, Fehérvár had the right answer in the form of Ákos Mihály in the 56th minute and decided the game. As a result, the lead over third-placed EC Red Bull Salzburg is now four points.
The reigning champions had to concede a point in their game against HK SZ Olimpija Ljubljana. EC Red Bull Salzburg already led 3:1 after the first period, but the Slovenians fought their way back into the match and equalized by the 32nd minute. The game finally went into overtime at 4:4, but the score remained goalless. In the penalty shootout, comebacker Nicolai Meyer - the scorer of last season's championship-winning goal - decided the game.
Pioneers end spell against Innsbruck
The BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg ended their winless spell against HC TIWAG Innsbruck on Friday. Since the club was founded, the Vorarlbergers have lost all seven duels in the western derby against Innsbruck. Until this encounter, in which they prevailed 5:4 in overtime. However, the Pioneers only narrowly missed out on the third point: Nick Albano equalized in regulation time only 40 seconds before the supposed end and thus, from Innsbruck's point of view, ensured an important point in the battle for the top 6.
99ers suffer last-second defeat against Asiago in memorial game
The Moser Medical Graz99ers hosted the "Lucky Krentl Memorial Game" on Friday with free admission. In the direct duel between the two last-placed teams, Migros Supermercati Asiago Hockey finally prevailed by the narrow margin of 4:3. The northern Italian team scored the winning goal three seconds before the end.
win2day ICE Hockey League, round 49:
Moser Medical Graz99ers - Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey 3:4 (0:2,1:0,2:2)
Referees: SEEWALD, VOICAN, Moidl, Puff
Goals G99: Ograjensek (33.,41.), Viksten (49.),
Goal ASH: Oksanen (10.), Gennaro (10.), Maganbosco Aguirre (50.), Ierullo (60.)
spusu Vienna Capitals - EC-KAC 1:2 (0:1,0:0,1:1)
Referees: HRONSKY, SIEGEL, Bedynek, Gatol-Schafranek
Goals VIC: Ticar (42.)
Goals KAC: Ganahl (9./pp1), Fraser (57./sh)
EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV - HCB Südtirol Alperia 7:3 (0:0,3:,4:1)
Referees: HUBER, NIKOLIC M., Bärnthaler, Nothegger
Goals VSV: Wallenta (23.), Hancock (36.), Sabolic (38./pp1, 49.,58./pp2), Hancock (47.),
Hughes (60.)
Goals HCB: Thomas (33./pp1), Frigo (34.), Di Perna (56.),
Hydro Fehérvár AV19 - Steinbach Black Wings Linz 2:1 (1:0,0:0,1:1)
Referees: OFNER, SMETANA, Durmis, Konc
Goals AVS: Atkinson (3.), Mihaly (56.)
Goals BWL: Knott (54th/pp1)
HK SZ Olimpija - EC Red Bull Salzburg 4:5 S.O. (1:3,2:1,1:0)
Referees: FICHTNER, STERNAT, Hribar, Zgonc
Goals HKO: Gooch (15./pp1), Dodero (26.), Sodja (32.), Mahkovec (45./pp1)
Goals RBS: Wukovits (5./pp1), Harnisch (5.), Genoway (19.), Baltram (37.), Meyer (65./ps)
BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg - HC TIWAG Innsbruck 5:4 O.T. (1:0,2:2,1:2)
Referees: PIRAGIC, ZRNIC, Martin, Pardatscher
Goals PIV: Oden (20.), Erne (30.), Maier (34.), van Nes (49./pp1, 63.)
Goals HCI: Winkler (33rd), Roy (34th,50th/pp1), Albano (60th/sh1),