Release from 20.01.2023

League leader Jesenice under pressure

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Five games are scheduled in the Alps Hockey League this weekend. In the Masterround HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice wants to defend the top of the league against the Hockey Unterland Cavaliers. In the two Qualification groups, the race for the last playoff spots continues.

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Masterround:
Sat, 21.01.2023, 18:00: HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice - Hockey Unterland Cavaliers
Referees: FAJDIGA, WUNTSCHEK, Javornik, Murnik | >> PPV-Livestream <<

At the start of the Masterround Jesenice had to admit defeat at home against Cortina after overtime. Thus, the league leader is only one point ahead of the first chasers Ritten and Cortina. The upcoming opponent Unterland conceded a defeat against Ritten on Thursday and is currently in fourth place. In the regular season, the South Tyrolean side was the second best away team in the league behind Jesenice, but the Cavaliers were clearly beaten 6:0 by the Steelers on the road. On the other hand, Unterland won the home match with 5:2. 

Sat, 21.01.2023, 20:30: S.G. Cortina Hafro - Red Bull Hockey Juniors
Referees: GIACOMOZZI, VIRTA, Eisl, Pace | >> PPV-Livestream <<

After the 3:2 overtime win in Jesenice, Cortina now faces the first home game in the Masterround. The Red Bull Hockey Juniors were game-free on Thursday and now enter the second championship phase. At the end of the regular season, the finalists for the Austrian AHL championship celebrated three wins in a row. In addition, Salzburg won both season duels with Cortina so far, and in total the Juniors have won the last four matchups. The last home victory over the Red Bulls was achieved by the Italians more than three years ago, when Riccardo Lacedelli scored for a 2:1 win. 

Qualification Round A:
Sat, 21.01.2023, 20:30: HC Gherdeina valgardena.it - Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan
Referees: LEGA, STEFENELLI, Mantovani, Rigoni | >> PPV-Livestream <<

In the first match of the Qualification Round Val Gardena was defeated by Fassa with 1:3. It was already the third championship defeat in a row. Sterzing won four games at the end of the regular season and now enters the second championship phase. The Broncos won the two season duels so far: After a 5:3 away win in October, Sterzing clearly prevailed 11:3 at home a few days ago. Last season, both teams qualified for the quarterfinals via the Qualification Round. 

Sun, 22.01.2023, 14:00: Steinbach Steel Wings Linz - SHC Fassa Falcons
Referees: DURCHNER, HLAVATY, Voican, Weiss | >> PPV-Livestream <<

In Sunday's lone match, the Steel Wings Linz and Fassa will face each other. While the Upper Austrians gave away a two-goal lead against Zell am See at the start of the intermediate round, the Italians recorded their first points. This season, the Linz team took four of six possible points against the "Falcons", the home game at the end of December was even clearly won with 6:1. With only two wins from 14 games, Fassa was the second weakest away team of the regular season (behind Linz).

Qualification Round B:
Sat, 21.01.2023, 19:30: EHC Lustenau - EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel
Referees: RUETZ, SCHAUER, Huber, Tschrepitsch | >> PPV-Livestream <<

Kitzbühel finished in an excellent seventh place in the table after the regular season and started the intermediate round with a 6:3 home win against HC Meran. The Tyrolean team is already seven points ahead of fourth-placed Lustenau, who were not playing on Thursday. In the regular season, the eagles from Kitzbühel prevailed twice - a victory after penalty shootout was followed by a clear 6:0 win. Similar to EHC Lustenau, the Tyroleans performed very well on the power play. Almost every fourth powerplay situation results in a goal.