Release from 11.09.2021
HC Meran Pircher cheered a 2:1 road win after shootout at last year's semifinalist HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice in their first game in the Alps Hockey League. Victor and Oscar Ahlström scored for the newcomer. In contrast, returnees Vienna and Zell am See suffered defeats. Vice-champion Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey opened the new season with a home win, EHC Lustenau recorded the lone shutout win on the first gameday.
AHL newcomer HC Meran Pircher delivered a surprise on the first gameday of the new season, defeating last year's semifinalist HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice 2:1 after shootout. The Swedish twin brothers Ahlström provided both goals: Victor equalized the score in the 46th minute, Oscar scored the decisive penalty. Both goalies - Oscar Froberg (JES) and Frederic Cloutier (HCM) - showed a save percentage of over 96% each.
Defeats for returnees
EK Die Zeller Eisbären and Vienna Capitals Silver took defeats in their league return. The Salzburg side at least managed one point in a 2:3overtime loss to BEMER VEU Feldkirch. Hubert Berger and Maximilian Egger turned the game against the Vorarlberg team - but Anton Trastasenkovs forced overtime, where Steven Birnstill's second goal was the game-winner. EKZ goalie Matthias Tschrepitsch could not finish the game due to injury. The Viennese had to admit defeat to S.G. Cortina Hafro clearly with 1:6. The young Austrian team took too many penalties, allowed the Ampezzani to score three goals on powerplay. Marco Sanna (1G|2A) recorded three points, Tommaso Alvera a brace.
Successful opener for former champions
The Rittner Buam extended their winning streak to 17 straight against the SHC Fassa Falcons: despite trailing early, the 2017 AHL champions turned things around and scored four unanswered. Fassa goalie Adam Vay showed a good performance in his AHL debut, stopping 52 of 56 shots on goal (92.9%).
With Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey another former champion got off to a successful season start: Last year's runner-up beat Steel Wings Linz 4:2 at home, scoring three goals in the middle frame to give the Italians, with newcomer Steven Iacobellis collecting a brace, the early decision.
Heigl hat trick in Juniors win
Red Bull Hockey Juniors got off to a successful start to the new season thanks to Thomas Heigl. The German U18 team forward scored a hat-trick in a 4:3 home win over EC Bregenzerwald and was mainly responsible for Salzburg’s opening win. Thanks to two powerplay goals by Julian Zwerger, the Vorarlberg team was able to level the score after trailing 0:2, but was unable to add more in the last.
EHC goalie Hanses with first shutout
EHC Lustenau goalie Erik Hanses recorded the first shutout of the 21/22 season. The Swedish newcomer stopped 28 shots on goal in the "Lions'" 5:0 home win over HC Gherdeina valgardena.it. The offensive decision of the game was ensured by four goals in the final rame. Newcomer Kevin Puschnik scored a brace. All goals were scored by Austrians. The Vorarlberg team is now the first league leader in the AHL.
Kitzbühel wins after shootout
EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel celebrated a 2:1 home victory in an opening game for the third time. This time the Tyroleans needed a shootout to win. There, 21-year-old Latvian Ricards Purins provided the game winning goal. The two goals in regulation only came in the last ten minutes. Both goalies showed strong performances.
Alps Hockey League | 11.09.2021 | Results:
HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice - HC Meran/o Pircher 1:2 SO (0:0, 1:0, 0:1, 0:0) | Details
Referees: FAJDIGA, LESNIAK, Arlic, Snoj. | Spectators: 350
Goal JES: Elo (23./PP1)
Goals HCM: Ahlström V. (46.), Ahlström O. (65./PS)
Rittner Buam - SHC Fassa Falcons 5:2 (0:1, 1:0, 4:1) | Details
Referees: GIACOMOZZI, LAZZERI, Da Pian, De Zordo. | Spectators: 314
Goals RIT: Spinell (26.), Osburn (48./PP1), Sharp (54.), Kostner J. (56.), Kostner S. (60./EN)
Goals FAS: Lindgren (3.), McParland (58./PP1)
Red Bull Hockey Juniors - EC Bregenzerwald 4:3 (1:0, 1:2, 2:1) | Details
Referees: HUBER, SCHAUER, Matthey, Moidl. | Spectators: 100
Goals RBJ: Heigl (17., 24./PP1, 45./PP1), Lipiansky (42.)
Goals ECB: Zwerger (34./PP1, 40./PP1), Tröthan (45.)
Vienna Capitals Silver - S.G. Cortina Hafro 1:6 (0:2, 1:1, 0:3) | Details
Referees: HEINRICHER, LOICHT, Puff, Voican. | Spectators: 121
Goal VCS: Posch (29.)
Goals SGC: Kaskinen (10./PP1), Alvera (13., 51.), Finucci (25./PP1), Sanna (56./EN), De Zanna (60./PP2)
EHC Lustenau - HC Gherdeina valgardena.it 5:0 (1:0, 0:0, 4:0) | Details
Referees: LEGA, VIRTA, Basso, Cristeli. | Zuschauer: 438
Goals: Wilfan (12.), Puschnik (42., 47.), Hrdina (44.), Wallenta (5.)
EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel - EC-KAC Future Team 2:1 SO (0:0, 0:0, 1:1, 0:0) | Details
Referees: BAJT, REZEK, Reisinger, Spiegel. | Spectators: 153
Goals KEC: Tschurnig (51.), Purins (65./PS)
Goal KFT: Kapel (56.)
EK Die Zeller Eisbären - BEMER VEU Feldkirch 2:3 OT (0:0, 1:1, 1:1, 0:1) | Details
Referees: RUETZ, WUNTSCHEK, Kainberger, Rinker. | Spectators: 750
Goals EKZ: Berger (30./PP1), Egger (55.)
Goals VEU: Birnstill (21., 64.), Trastasenkovs (56.)
Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey - Steel Wings Linz 4:2 (1:1, 3:1, 0:0) | Details
Referees: BENVEGNU, PINIE, Fleischmann, Piras. | Spectators: 400
Goals ASH: Marchetti (8.), Vankus (27./PP1), Iacobellis (28., 35./PP1)
Goals SWL: Lahtinen (12.), Farren (31./SH)
Fotocreidt: VIto de Romeo