Release from 03.01.2021
The EC-KAC won the 333rd Carinthian derby 4:3. While Thomas Koch scored a brace, Nick Petersen provided the decision shortly before the end. The HCB Südtirol Alperia took immediate revenge for Wednesday's defeat in Vorarlberg with a 5-3 home win over the Dornbirn Bulldogs. In addition, the spusu Vienna Capitals also celebrated a home victory. The Viennese won the chasing duel against Hydro Fehérvár AV19 with 4:2. While the iClinic Bratislava Capitals returned to winning ways in Linz, EC Red Bull Salzburg turned the game around in Innsbruck.
KAC wins next derby
Only a few days after the 4-0 derby win in Villach, EC-KAC took the lead in the fourth match of the season when Thomas Koch deflected decisively in the 14th minute. However, the ambitious guests managed to equalise quickly through Chris Collins. In the second period, VSV took an interim lead through a shorthander by Kevin Schmidt (30th), but KAC captain Manuel Ganahl managed to equalise. VSV went ahead again in the final period through Allard, but again it was Koch who went off cheering - 3:3. 89 seconds before the end Nick Petersen caught the young Villach goalkeeper Alexander Schmidt on the stick and secured the third derby win of the season for KAC. It was the 73rd win for the hosts since the league was founded in the summer of 2000 - Villach has 63 victories.
Bolzano takes revenge
For the second time within a few days, HCB Südtirol Alperia met the Dornbirn Bulldogs. The Vorarlberg team won the duel on 30 December 2-1. This time, however, the league leaders quickly made things clear: Dylan Di Perna (8th) with his first professional goal and Angelo Miceli (10th) scored for an early lead, Dennis Robertson even increased to 3:0 shortly before the first break. After a goalless middle period, a few more goals were scored towards the end. Brett Findlay scored a brace for the Bolzano team. The DEC showed morale with three goals, but in the end had to admit defeat. HCB won the second game of the new year and even extended their lead in the standings.
The South Tyroleans also announced the signing of Karl Stollery (>> see here).
Antal's premiere goal paves the way for Vienna's victory
The last meeting between the spusu Vienna Capitals and Fehérvár took place on 30 December 2020 in Szekesfehervar. Head coach Cameron's team won 4:1 and ended the Hungarians' nine-game winning streak. On Sunday, Benjamin Nissner gave the home side the lead after ten minutes, but Istvan Bartalis equalised before the break. In the 36th minute, Patrick Antal scored his first professional goal to give the Caps the lead again. In the final period, Campbell (48th) and Vause (53rd) decided the game within five minutes. Colton Hargrove was only able to cosmetically improve the result.
Bratislava back on the winning track in Linz
After more than two months, the Steinbach Black Wings 1992 met the iClinic Bratislava Capitals again. In the first two duels, the league newcomers from Slovakia prevailed. This time the visitors took the lead after only 55 seconds through Michel Miklik, but Will Pelletier equalised shortly afterwards. However, a goal by former Linz player Matt Finn gave the Capitals a lead into the first intermission. Halfway through the game Dragan Umicevic equalised, but a Lapsansky goal put the momentum back on the side of the Slovaks. In the 42nd minute, Maxime Fortier hammered a shot under the crossbar to make it 2:4. Andrew Kozek's fourth goal of the season in the 56th minute was too little for the home side, who suffered their fourth defeat in a row. Bratislava, on the other hand, found their way back to winning ways after three recent defeats.
Red Bulls turn the game around in Innsbruck
On 30 December, the Salzburg side celebrated a 5:1 victory against the Sharks. This time the Innsbruck team took the lead, Max Gerlach escaped the Salzburg defence and scored dryly to make it 1:0. This result held until the 38th minute, when Rick Schofield scored for the visitors on power play. Both teams had chances, but the Red Bulls were more efficient. John Hughes scored the opening goal in the 47th minute and finally sealed the deal with an empty-net goal in the final minute. While the Tyroleans suffered their sixth defeat in a row (the fourth at home), Matt McIlvane's team celebrated their first win of the new year and climbed to fifth place.
bet-at-home ICE Hockey League:
Sun, 03.01.2021, EC-KAC - EC GRAND Immo VSV 4:3 (1:1, 1:1, 2:1)
Referees: PIRAGIC, SMETANA, Gatol, Zgonc
Goals KAC: Koch (14., 48./PP), Ganahl (36.), Petersen (59.)
Goals VSV: Collins (17.), Schmidt (30./SH) Allard (46.)
Sun, 03.01.2021, HCB Südtirol Alperia - Dornbirn Bulldogs 5:3 (3:0, 0:0, 2:3)
Referees: TRILAR, VIRTA, Basso, Pardatscher
Goals Bozen: Di Perna (8.), Miceli (10.), Robertson (20.), Findlay (48., 59.)
Goals Dornbirn: Macierzynski (54.), Mackenzie (58.), Häußle (60.)
Sun, 03.01.2021, spusu Vienna Capitals - Hydro Fehervar AV 19 4:2 (1:1, 1:0, 2:1)
Referees: BULOVEC, ZRNIC, Kaspar, Riecken
Goals Vienna: Nissner (10.), Antal (36.), Campbell (48.), Vause (53.)
Goals Fehérvár: Bartalis (19.), Hargrove (59.)
Sun, 03.01.2021, Steinbach Black Wings 1992 - iClinic Bratislava Capitals 3:4 (1:2, 1:1, 1:1)
Referees: BERNEKER, RUETZ, Nothegger, Tschrepitsch
Goals Linz: Pelletier (4.), Umicevic (30.), Kozek (56./PP)
Goals Bratislava: Miklik (1.), Finn (18.), Lapsansky (37.), Fortier (42.)
Sun, 03.01.2021, HC TIWAG Innsbruck – Die Haie – EC Red Bull Salzburg 1:3 (1:0, 0:1, 0:2)
Referees: OFNER, STERNAT, Martin, Seewald
Goal Innsbruck: Gerlach (12.)
Goals Salzburg: Schofield (38./PP), Hughes (47., 60./EN)