Release from 21.03.2021

Klagenfurt and Bolzano reach semifinals

This press release has: 3 Documents

Short text 434 CharactersPlain text

On Sunday, EC-KAC and HCB Südtirol Alperia moved into the semifinals of the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League. The top duo of the regular season each made it 4-1 with home wins in the "best-of-7" quarterfinal series, ending the current championship for EC GRAND Immo VSV and the iClinic Bratislava Capitals. In the battle for the last semifinal spot, EC Red Bull Salzburg celebrated their third win in a row against the Dornbirn Bulldogs.

Press release 4240 CharactersPlain text

EC-KAC qualifies for the semifinals
The EC-KAC fixed their promotion to the semifinals on Sunday against EC GRAND Immo VSV. The Klagenfurt side celebrated a 4:1 victory in the fifth and last quarterfinal derby and thus decided the "best-of-7" series 4:1 in their favour. For Villach, who started the postseason from eighth place, the season is over. The KAC recorded their 13th consecutive derby home win and set a new all-time derby record. Thomas Koch opened the scoring with his 29th derby goal overall - the first in this series. Nick Petersen doubled it even in the first period on power play. Sahir Gill pulled one back in the middle period before Johannes Bischofberger restored a two-goal lead. In the final period, VSV fought against the end of the season and tried everything to bounced back once again. Rok Ticar punished this ice-coldly and scored the final goal and thus the decision for the hosts. The EC-KAC thus advanced to the semifinals of the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League with their 100th derby home win.



HCB Südtirol Alperia also in the semifinals
On the fifth day of the quarterfinals, HCB Südtirol Alperia also qualified for the semifinals of the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League. With the 3:2 home win, Bolzano decided the "best-of-7" series against the iClinic Bratislava Capitals 4:1 in their favour and entered the semifinals for the fourth time. The "Foxes" were trailing 0:1 after eight minutes: Mitch Hults surprised Leland Irving with a wrist shot on the power play. But Bozen managed to equalise before the end of the first period - Brett Findlay (19th) beat Coreau through the pads. And after the break, the two-time champions promptly added to their tally: Dustin Gazley (22) was lucky to get to the puck and took the lead. From then on, Bolzano did a good job, especially defensively, allowing only 19 shots in total. In the 36th minute of the game, the second intermission was brought forward due to a problem on the boards, and the missing minutes were added later. In the middle of the final period, Mike Halmo (50th) increased the lead for the home team: Daniel Catenacci was good on the left side, pushed into the slot to Halmo and he scored for the two-goal lead. Only three minutes later, the Slovakians answered - Maxime Fortier, with his third playoff goal, was able reduced the score to 2:3 from Bratislava's point of view. From then on, the South Tyroleans defended the lead until the end, especially as the Capitals were weakened several times by penalties in the final minutes.



Salzburg wins third game in a row
EC Red Bull Salzburg celebrated their third win in a row against the Dornbirn Bulldogs on Sunday. Florian Baltram scored the only goal of the game and secured the match puck for the Red Bulls. The Vorarlberg side, with Thomas Höneckl starting in goal for the first time in this series, came out confidently at first and created some good chances - but the first period ended goalless. After the restart, the home side improved and took the lead in the 26th minute: after a pass from Dominique Heinrich, Baltram scored into the short corner of the net for his second goal of the series. The DEC threw everything forward in the final period and had chances to equalise - but Salzburg goalie J.P. Lamoureux distinguished had some great saves to held on for the 1-0 victory. The sixth match will take place on Tuesday in Dornbirn.



bet-at-home ICE Hockey League | 5th Quarterfinal | Sunday, 21 March 2021:
EC-KAC - EC GRAND Immo VSV 4:1 (2:0, 1:1, 1:0)
Final score in the "best-of-7" quarterfinal series: 4:1
Referees: PIRAGIC, TRILAR, Riecken, Seewald
Goals KAC: Koch (1.), Petersen (8./PP1), Bischofberger (39.), Ticar (59./EN)
Goal VSV: Gill (28.)

HCB Südtirol Alperia- iClinic Bratislava Capitals 3:2 (1:1, 1:0, 1:1)
Final score in the "best-of-7" quarterfinal series: 4:1
Referees: BERNEKER, ZRNIC, Pardatscher, Zgonc
Goals HCB: Findlay (19th), Gazley (22nd), Halmo (50th)
Goals BRC: Hults (9./PP1), Fortier (53.)

EC Red Bull Salzburg - Dornbirn Bulldogs 1:0 (0:0, 1:0, 0:0)
Standings in the "best-of-7" quarterfinal series: 3:2
Referees: FICHTNER, SMETANA, Gatol, Nothegger
Goal RBS: Baltram (26.)