Release from 03.01.2020
With a win on Saturday in the home-game against second-last Vienna Capitals Silver, the HK SZ Olimpija Ljubljana can qualify for the Alps Hockey League playoffs as the first team. With facing bottom-placed teams too, the other top-4 teams in standings are about to substantiate their leading positions. The S.G. Cortina Hafro and the Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan try to defend current top-6 spot, as direct opponents crosses sticks to keep the race to the “Master Round” thrilling again.
Sa, 04.01.2020, 16.30 Uhr: Red Bull Hockey Juniors – EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel
Referees: RUETZ, SUPPER, Martin, Rinker.
After two consecutive road-losses the Red Bull Hockey Juniors struggled in the race to the top-6, as they won seven out of eight prior that, sitting on eleventh spot trailing five points now. But the “Red Bulls” return home, where they have a 6-game winning-streak available, because of scoring 8,5 goals a game, taking on EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel, which never won a single game in Alps Hockey League history against the Salzburg side. With two wins around New Year the “eagles” strengthened 14th place in standings.
- Losing-Streak RBS: 2
- Winning-Streak KEC: 2
- H2H AHL: 7:0 (RBJ)
Sa, 04.01.2020, 17.30 Uhr: HK SZ Olimpija Ljubljana – Vienna Capitals Silver
Referees: OREL, WIDMANN, Markizeti, Snoj.
The HK SZ Olimpija Ljubljana welcomes second-ranked Vienna Capitlas Silver to take revenge on the first season meeting, as the reigning champions suffered a 0:2 shutout-defeat. With any win the Slovenian side would qualify for the playoffs as the first team in Alps Hockey League. In the past weeks the Slovenian side improved, took over the lead in standings and has a 7-game winning-streak available, winning the past four at home too. League’s newcomer Vienna ended its losing-streak past gameday, defeating bottom-placed Steel Wings Linz 5:1.
- Winning-Streak HKO: 7
- Winning-Streak VCS: 1
- H2H AHL: 0:1 (VCS)
Sa, 04.01.2020, 19.30 Uhr: Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan – HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice
Referees: LENDL, VIRTA, Legat, Pace.
With eleven out of 15 possible points gained in the last five games, the Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan reentered the top-6 in standings. Upcoming opponent HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice earned the same amount of points in the past five games, missing five in the standings to the South Tyrolean. The Slovenian side won the past four meetings against Sterzing, grabbing two shutouts. Overall the Broncos won seven out of nine.
- Winning-Streak WSV: 2
- Winning-Streak JES: 2
- H2H AHL: 2:7 (JES)
Sa, 04.01.2020, 19.30 Uhr: VEU Feldkirch – EK Die Zeller Eisbären
Referees: LEHNER, MOSCHEN, Moidl, Piras.
In the second Austrian battle the VEU Feldkirch hosts EK Die Zeller Eisbären to make it five in a row at home and to enter the top-6. The Vorarlberg side won all past four home-games with a one-goal difference, winning twice after shootout. On the other hand, the “polar bears” recently struggled on road-games, losing five straight. Though, winning two days ago at home against EC-KAC II, which gave the Salzburg side another step-up in standings, trailing three points to the top-6. With the first win in Feldkirch for about two years, Zell am See can equal the VEU in standings.
- Winning-Streak VEU: 1
- Winning-Streak EKZ: 1
- H2H AHL: 6:3 (VEU)
Sa, 04.01.2020, 19.30 Uhr: EC Bregenzerwald – Rittner BuamReferees: GAMPER, LEGA, Terragni, Vignolo.Third-ranked Rittner Buam hit the road at EC Bregenzerwald. The South Tyrolean lost only one game against the Vorarlberg side in Alps Hockey League history. The „Buam“ have the best PP available (36,4%), trying to bounce back after a tight 3:4 loss in Alps Hockey League’s past gameday’s top-duel against Ljubljana.
- Losing-Streak ECB: 2
- Losing-Streak RIT: 1
- H2H AHL: 1:6 (RIT)
Sa, 04.01.2020, 20.00 Uhr: HC Pustertal Wölfe – Steel Wings Linz
Referees: HOLZER, WALLNER, Cristeli, Rigoni.
Second-ranked HC Pustertal Wölfe play bottom-placed Steel Wings Linz at home, aiming the fifth consecutive win. The vice champion is still unbeaten under interim-head coach Matej Hocevar, having still the second-best defensive squad available. Linz lost past gameday for the 21st time in a row and the first season-meeting too, as the “wolves” turned around an early deficit.
- Winning-Streak PUS: 4
- Losing-Streak SWL: 21
- H2H AHL: 1:0 (PUS)
Sa, 04.01.2020, 20.30 Uhr: HC Gherdeina valgardena.it – EHC Lustenau
Referees: GIACOMOZZI F., LAZZERI, Kainberger, Wimmler.
After a shootout-loss in the Vorarlberger Derby fourth-ranked EHC Lustenau travels to HC Gherdeina valgardena.it to extend a 5-game point-streak, winning three out of five. South Tyrolean’s formcurve points downwards, as they grabbed only four points out of the past ten games, sitting on 13th spot in standings. Lustenau looks for its eight road-win to reconnect to the top-6 and for taking revenge: Gherdeina booked a 2:0 shutout-win in the first season-encounter, beating Lustenau for the first time after six consecutive losses.
- Losing-Streak GHE: 2
- Losing-Streak EHC: 1
- H2H AHL: 2:7 (EHC)
Sa, 04.01.2020, 20.45 Uhr: SHC Fassa Falcons – S.G. Cortina Hafro
Referees: DURCHNER, LOICHT, Holzer, Marchardt.
With SHC Fassa Falcons hosting S.G. Cortina Hafro in Saturday’s last game scheduled, the home-teams tries to bounce back after five losses in a row, losing a comfortable spot in the top-6. Opponent Cortina sits on fifth spot, four more points gained as Fassa, after three consecutive wins and losing only once in the past five games. Fassa earned a 2:1 shootout-win in the first season-meeting, snatching up the second win ever in Alps Hockey League history against Cortina.
- Losing-Streak FAS: 5
- Winning-Streak COR: 3
- H2H AHL: 2:9 (COR)