Release from 08.10.2022

Linz and Bolzano in an indirect battle for the lead

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Two games are scheduled for Sunday in the win2day ICE Hockey League, both of which are about the top of the table. Friday's leader HCB Südtirol Alperia visits HC Pustertal in the first South Tyrolean derby of this season and still have some scores to settle. The Steinbach Black Wings Linz, meanwhile, welcome the KAC.

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win2day ICE Hockey League:
Sun, 09.10.2022, 17:30: Steinbach Black Wings Linz - EC-KAC
Referees: FICHTNER, SMETANA, Bedynek, Bärnthaler | >> LIVE.ICE.HOCKEY (PPV) <<

Looking at the standings, we are inclined to think that the omens are clear in the first South Tyrolean derby this season. While HCB Südtirol Alperia leads the table after six games and had to give up only three points in total, HC Pustertal currently holds the red lantern after just as many games. However, a look at the derby record since the Wolves have been playing in the win2day ICE Hockey League tells a different story. The Wolves won three of the four meetings against Bolzano last season. Also in the pre-season, last year's newcomer inflicted a heavy defeat on the two-time ICE champions. Pustertal beat Bolzano 6-0 in the second leg of the Alperia Cup in September, dethroning the Foxes for the first time in this traditional tournament. In the current Regular Season, however, Bolzano clearly sets the tone. Just on Friday, the South Tyroleans ousted the reigning champions from the top of the table with a 6-2 win in Salzburg. HC Pustertal, meanwhile, has only won one game in six this season. On Friday, the Wolves were narrowly beaten by Steinbach Black Wings Linz due to late goals conceded. With a win in the derby, HCB Südtirol Alperia will remain at the top of the table after this weekend.

Sun, 09.10.2022, 18:00 HC Pustertal Wolves - HCB Südtirol Alperia
Referees: NIKOLIC M., TRILAR, Mantovani, Pardatscher | >> LIVE.ICE.HOCKEY (PPV) <<

Steinbach Black Wings Linz have a theoretical chance to take the lead in the standings for the first time in a very long time on Sunday in their home game against EC-KAC. To do so, however, they would not only have to win against the KAC, but at the same time hope for a derby defeat of the Foxes. The KAC can draw level with the Upper Austrians with a win in Linz and thus increase the pressure on the top duo. For the KAC, this is the first game after a week-long break. Most recently, the Klagenfurters inflicted on EC Red Bull Salzburg its first defeat. The Black Wings celebrated a narrow success over HC Pustertal only on Friday and thus advanced to third place in the table. Mainly because comebacker Marc-Andre Dorion started the late turnaround. Last season, the Upper Austrians beat the KAC once in four games. However, Linz have not won at home against KAC since the spring of 2020. Both teams are currently on a run and are on a four-game winning streak. The clash will definitely be a special game for Martin Schumnig, who until a few weeks ago had never played for a club other than the KAC. In his first seven games for Linz, the native of Klagenfurt has already recorded three scorer points.