Release from 31.12.2019

New Year with full round scheduled

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With the 34th round scheduled, the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga opens 2020 on New Year. Sky Sport Austria covers the game spusu Vienna Capitals against Hydro Fehérvár AV19 live, as second-ranked Vienna did not concede one goal in the last 169 minutes and 31 seconds. Besides the clash of the two bottom-placed teams, leader EC Red Bull Salzburg travels to Bolzano, while the Moser Medical Graz99ers for the third time target 400th regular season win in Erste Bank Eishockey Liga (since 2003/04). In Wednesday’s lone duel of top-5 teams the HC Orli Znojmo hosts the EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz.

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Facts ahead of the 34th round:

  • On New Year the game spusu Vienna Capitals vs. Hydro Fehérvár AV19 will be broadcasted live on Sky Sport Austria 1 HD.
  • The pairings of the 34th round were last scheduled on December 26th resp. 28th, but with the other teams having home advantage.
  • For the third time the Moser Medical Graz99ers aim their 400th win in a Erste Bank Eishockey Liga regular season game (since 2003-04).
  • The EC Panaceo VSV is free of play.


Wed, 01.01.2020, 17.30 Uhr: spusu Vienna Capitals – Hydro Fehérvár AV19 (live auf Sky Sport Austria)
Referees: FICHTNER, SMETANA, Gatol, Kaspar.

  • In the three games after Christmas teh spusu Vienna Capitals got the maximum points with scoring 19:1 goals
  • On December 26, the second-placed Caps earned a 6:1 road win in Hungary with Rafael Rotter making a comeback
  • In the past six games of Fehervar the result always alternated between win and loss, recently they suffered an overtime defeat against Linz
  • The two teams met 36 times on Vienna ice with the Capitals winning 29 games
  • Fehervar won the last four road games in Znojmo, Klagenfurt, Salzburg and Dornbirn
  • The Caps could become the 4th team this season reaching the 100-goal mark, they just need two more

Pregame Statement: Hannu Järvenpää (AVS)


Wed, 01.01.2020, 17.30 Uhr: HC Orli Znojmo – EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz
Referees: TRILAR, ZRNIC, Muzsik, Soos.

  • After Znojmo got at least on point in the last eleven games with winning nine, they suffered a 5:0 defeat against Vienna on Monday
  • The 5th-placed Black Wings, who are just one point behind Znojmo in the standings, ended their 4-game losing streak in Hungary
  • In the last five years these two teams met four times on New Year's Day with Linz winning three
  • On January 1st, 2019 Linz earned a 8:5 victory in Znojmo with Brian Lebler and Dan DaSilva both scoring a brace
  • In the previous three season meetings the Czech side always won - twice in OT once after shootout
  • Linz will miss Troy Rutkowski (suspended), Marek Kalus and Paul Mocher (both injured). The appearances of Altmann and McNeill are doubtful
  • Znojmo forward Anthony Luciani, who had each three goals and assists this season against Linz, leads the league's scoring charts with 42 points

Pregame Statement: Parker Bowles (ZNO) I Andreas Kristler (BWL)


Wed, 01.01.2020, 5.30 pm: Moser Medical Graz99ers – EC-KAC
Referees: PIRAGIC, SIEGEL, Nagy, Nemeth.

  • For the third time the Moser Medical Graz99ers aim their 400th win in a Erste Bank Eishockey Liga regular season game (since 2003-04).
  • Graz plays EC-KAC back-to-back, after they lost at reigning champions 2:3 in shootout on December 28th, pulling away a 0:2 deficit.
  • Despite the past two losses (KAC in SO & VSV in OT), G99 grabbed points in each of the last six games, celebrating four wins.
  • Graz trails seven points to the top-5.
  • KAC arrives after two consecutive wins, snatching up the derby in overtime past gameday.
  • Both teams face each other for the 112th time (since 2003-04), with the “Rotjacken” winning 72.
  • Graz struggled on scoring on home ice against Klagenfurt, hitting only three goals in the past four home battles with the KAC.
  • Joakim Hillding and Kalle Johansson will return to Graz’ line up.

Pregame Statement: Matt Garbowsky (G99) | David Madlener (KAC)


Wed, 01.01.2020, 5.30 pm: Dornbirn Bulldogs – HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“

Referees: NIKOLIC M., STOLC, Martin, Tschrepitsch.

  • Bottom-placed Dornbirn Bulldogs hosts second-last HC TWK Innsbruck “Die Haie” in the 40th West Derby.
  • Overall DEC won 21 games against HCI.
  • Both teams hit the ice after different results on the past two gamedays last year: While DEC finished 2019 with two wins against Salzburg and Bolzano, having for the first time this season a streak available, HCI suffered clear defeats at Bolzano (0:7) and Salzburg (1:5).
  • While the Bulldogs play the third straight home-game, the “sharks” hit the road for the third time in a row.
  • HCI as well as DEC had to concede the most goals among all teams (124 resp. 126).
  • HCI opened the last three years with a win each.
  • After DEC won the first two season-meetings, HCI dominated the third 6:1 on December 26th.
  • HCI misses Tyler Cuma, Thomas Vallant and Florian Pedevilla.

Pregame Statement: Stefan Häussle (DEC)


Wed, 01.01.2020, 6.00 pm: HCB Südtirol Alperia – EC Red Bull Salzburg

Referees: KOPETZ, NIKOLIC K., Pardatscher, Sparer.

  • In Wednesday’s lone game scheduled at 6.00 pm the HCB Südtirol Alperia hosts EC Red Bull Salzburg.
  • While leader Salzburg won past gameday against Innsbruck 5:1, Bolzano suffered a setback int the race to the top-5, losing at bottom-placed Bulldogs 4:5.
  • RBS got a tight 2:1 win in the last meeting with HCB on December 26th. It was Red Bull’s second season win over Bolzano, which grinded out a 2:1 shooutout-win in the third battle.
  • Second-best team on PP (RBS | 25,0%) hits the ice at weakest team on PP (HCB | 10,8%). Both teams are sitting top-4 in the PK stats.
  • The teams face for the 48th time with RBS winning 28 and also seven out of the last eight battles.
  • RBS remains best road-team with 13 out of 15.
  • Stefano Giliati (HCB) scored at least one goal in the past three games.
  • Patrick Wiercioch is expected to be back in HCB’s line up, after playing for team Canada in Spengler Cup.
  • Salzburg misses Thomas Raffl and Alexander Rauchenwald.
  • HCB might miss Brett Flemming and Daniel Glira.

Pregame Statement: Clayton Beddoes (HCB)