Release from 01.01.2023
The top three of the win2day ICE Hockey League have each started 2023 with a win. League leaders HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie celebrated a 3-1 road win in Linz, while HCB Südtirol Alperia and EC Red Bull Salzburg remained successful on home ice, as the champions beat fourth-placed EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV 3-1, allowing the leading trio to extend their lead. The Moser Medical Graz99ers and HK SZ Olimpija ended their losing streaks on New Year's Day, thanks to strong performances in the final frame, while the EC-KAC underlined its place in the top six with an overtime win in Bruneck.
The HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie has brought in an unchallenged 3-1 road victory over the Steinbach Black Wings Linz to start the year. For the Tyroleans, which are five points clear at the top of the table, it was the fourth win in a row and in all four wins the "Haie" conceded only one goal each. Tom McCollum saved 34 shots on goal (97.1%) and was once again an asset for the visitors, which were 2-0 up after two periods thanks to goals from Tyler Coulter (14.) and Adam Helewka (26./SH1), laying the foundation for their first win of the season over Linz. The Upper Austrians remained without a point for the first time since December 16th but retained their fifth place in the standings.
Bolzano wins fourth straight too
HCB Südtirol Alperia also recorded its fourth win in a row on Sunday, with a 4-2 victory over BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg. In front of their home crowd, the "Foxes" now remained without defeat for the sixth time in a row. The South Tyroleans had squandered their 2-0 advantage through McClure (7. /PP2) and Frigo (14./SH1) in the first period before Christian Thomas restored the lead right after the restart and the two-time champions, which became stronger towards the end, did not let them take it away. It was the fourth defeat in a row for the bottom team from Vorarlberg.
Salzburg keeps chaser at bay
EC Red Bull Salzburg consolidated its third place in the table and thus gave itself and the leading duo in front of it further space: The "Red Bulls" won 3:1 at home against EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV, which is now five points behind Salzburg in fourth place. The champion initially dictated the game, took an early lead through Tim Harnisch (6.) and doubled in the 23rd minute through Peter Hochkofler on the power play. Villach then became stronger, scored through Derek Joslin (49.), but could not turn the tide despite the return of some recently ill regulars and had to concede defeat away from home again after five wins in a row.
The second Carinthian club EC-KAC, on the other hand, remained successful on the road, winning 3-2 against HC Pustertal Wölfe after overtime. The "Rotjacken" were struggling for two periods in South Tyrol, but still reached for the regulation victory thanks to two power play goals by Fabian Hochegger (38./PP1) and Rihards Bukarts (45./PP1). The "Wolves" equalized with the goalie pulled, but in overtime it took only 20 seconds for Thomas Hundertpfund to decide the game for EC-KAC after a solo. Klagenfurt, which is in sixth place, thus extended its advantage over seventh place to four points.
Graz and Ljubljana quit losing streaks
With the new year, Moser Medical Graz99ers and HK SZ Olimpija got back on the winning track. The Austrians prevailed at home against Hydro Fehérvár AV19 with 3-1, celebrated their first win after four defeats in a row last time. The Styrians were trailing 0-1 until the 49th minute before Ken Ograjensek turned things around on the power play. Sam Antonitsch (52.) and Tobias Fladeby (54.) made everything clear in the next five minutes and inflicted the second defeat in a row on the vice-champion.
The Slovenians even saw an eight-game losing streak come to an end. The 5-4 comeback win at Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey marked the Champions Hockey League participant's first victory since December 2nd. The "Dragons" dived through a weak phase in the second period - where they conceded three goals within 108 seconds - and turned up the heat in the last seven minutes: Vallerand (54./PP1), Sturm (54.) and Kalan (56.) let the guests cheer. The Italians remained without points for the first time in four games.
win2day ICE Hockey League | 01.01.2023 | Results:
EC Red Bull Salzburg – EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV 3:1 (1:0, 1:0, 1:1)
Referees: OFNER, STERNAT, Bedynek, Seewald. | Spectators: 2295
Goals RBS: Harnisch (6.), Hochkofler (23./PP1), Nissner (60./EN)
Goal VSV: Joslin (49.)
Moser Medical Graz99ers – Hydro Fehérvár AV19 3:1 (0:0, 0:1, 0:3)
Referees: SIEGEL, SMETANA, Gatol-Schafranek, Riecken. | Spectators: 1330
Goals G99: Ograjensek (50./PP1), Antonitsch (52.), Fladeby (54.)
Goal AVS: Petan (33.)
Steinbach Black Wings Linz – HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie 1:3 (0:1, 0:1, 1:1)
Referees: FICHTNER, HLAVATY, Durmis, Jedlicka. | Spectators: 3315
Goal BWL: Roe (42.)
Goals HCI: Coulter (14.), Helewka (26./SH1), Peeters (50.)
Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey – HK SZ Olimpija 4:5 (0:1, 3:1, 1:3)
Referees: HUBER, NIKOLIC K., Rigoni, Weiss. | Spectators: 2723
Goals ASH: Finoro (32.), Salinitri (33.), Mcshane (33., 45.)
Goals HKO: Erving (12./PP1), Cimzar (40.), Vallerand (54./PP1), Sturm (54.), Kalan (56.)
HCB Südtirol Alperia – BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg 4:2 (2:2, 1:0, 1:0)
Referees: BERNEKER, TRILAR, Martin, Miklic. | Spectators: 2420
Goals HCB: McClure (7./PP2), Frigo (14./SH1), Thomas (25.), Frattin (60./EN)
Goals PIV: Jacome (14./PP1), Pallestrang (20.)
HC Pustertal Wölfe – EC-KAC 2:3 OT (1:0, 0:1, 1:1, 0:1)
Referees: PIRAGIC, ZRNIC, Pardatscher, Snoj. | Spectators: 2167
Goals PUS: Ege (12.), Catenacci (58.)
Goals KAC: Hochegger (38./PP1), Bukarts (45./PP1), Hundertpfund (61.)