Release from 20.08.2018
The teams prepare for 2018-19 Erste Bank Eishockey Liga season with twelve friendlies being played until Friday. As last club, Medvescak Zagreb opens their preseason against EC Panaceo VSV.
After losing to Kometa Brno and winning against Karlovy Vary, HC Orli Znojmo has two more preseason games against Czech Extraliga clubs during the week. On Tuesday the Eagles face Mountfield HK from Hradec Králové and just two days later head coach Miroslav Frycer's side plays HC Zlín. On Thursday three more Erste Bank Eishockey Liga teams are in action with Liwest Black Wings Linz participating in a tournament in Switzerland. With HC Lugano and EV Zug the Upper Austrians meet two NLA teams.
As last year, Medvescak Zagreb and EC Panaceo VSV will meet even before the championship has started as both take part in a tournament in Bled this week. Villach suffered a tight defeat to Bad Nauheim in their first preseason game, the Croats will now play their opener. Both teams will also face Czech side Karlovy Vary at group stage. While netminder Mathieu Corbeil is still on tryout with the Croats, the Swede Linus Fernström left the club for reasons of health.
Busy program on Friday
Yesterday HC Innsbruck got a first preseason win by beating Bietigheim 6:2. On Friday they go abroad to play ESV Kaufbeuren. Forward Andrew Clark, who became father a few days ago, should be in the lineup for the first time this preseason. In addition, Dornbirn Bulldogs play another DEL2 team when travelling to Ravensburg Towerstars. In the previous years both teams often met with Dornbirn winning the last six.
After opening their preseason with two defeats, HC Bolzano beat Düsseldorf yesterday. This week the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga champion participates in Vinschgau Cup where Kai Suikkanen's team plays ERC Ingolstadt in the first game. Moser Medical Graz99ers will meet a DEL team, too. The Styrians travel to Augusburg to play the team of former VSV legend Mike Stewart.
Today Vienna Capitals pay Slovak side HC Banska Bystrica a visit, before returning to Vienna for an intensive practice week. On Friday the team heads to Nürnberg for the prestigious "Mercedes Benz Rent Cup", where they meet Nürnberg Icetigers, Straubing Tigers and Mlada Boleslav.
Preseason games:
Mon, 20.08.2018, 18:00: Banska Bystrica - Vienna Capitals
Tue, 21.08.2018, 18:00: Mountfield HK - HC Orli Znojmo
Thu, 23.08.2018, 18:00: HC Orli Znojmo - Zlin
Thu, 23.08.2018, 20:00: HC Lugano (SUI) - EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz (in Wil/Switzerland)
Thu, 23.08.2018, 20:00: EC Panaceo VSV - KHL Medvescak Zagreb (Bled, tournament)
Fri, 24.08.2018, 19:30: ESV Kaufbeuren - HC TWK Innsbruck "Die Haie"
Fri, 24.08.2018, 20:00: EC Panaceo VSV - HC Energie Karlovy Vary (Bled, tournament)
Fri, 24.08.2018, 20:00: EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz – EV Zug (SUI) (in Wil/Switzerland)
Fri, 24.08.2018, 20:00: Ravensburg Towerstars (DEL2) - Dornbirn Bulldogs
Fri, 24.08.2018: ERC Ingolstadt (DEL) - HCB Südtirol Alperia (Latsch, Vintschgau Cup)
Fri, 24.08.2018, 19:30: Nürnberg Ice Tigers - Vienna Capitals
Fri, 24.08.2018, 19:30: Augsburg Panther (DEL) - Moser Medical Graz99ers