Release from 14.08.2023

Olimpija concedes shootout defeat in preseason opener

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HK SŽ Olimpija suffered a shootout defeat against the Yale Bulldogs in their preseason opener on Monday. Both teams are already back in action on Thursday: While the Slovenians take part in a tournament in Slovakia, the American university team faces EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV.

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Ziga Pavlin captained his team for the first time in the home game against Yale. The Slovenians took the lead after only 21 seconds: After a nice Will Cullen assist, Maris Bicevskis lit the lamp. However, the university team from the US state of Connecticut was delivered a duel on equal terms. The visitors even turned the game in their favor in the second period, the score was 1:2 from the hosts' point of view after 40 minutes. Shortly after the restart, 19-year-old Marcel Mahkovec scored the equalizer on the power play. Although the home side had several chances to add another goal, the score remained 2:2 until the end of regulation. In the overtime Olimpija first missed good opportunities, then goalie Luka Kolin had a big save. In the shootout, a Cullen goal was not enough for head coach Antti Karhula's team.

For Ljubljana it was the first of four test matches this week. Starting on Thursday, the Slovenians will be at a tournament in Zvolen, where they will face the hosts in the opening game. The Yale Bulldogs take on the next team from the win2day ICE Hockey League in three days as they travel to EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV.

Preseason:
HK SZ Olimpija – Yale Bulldogs 2:3 SO (1:0, 0:2, 1:0)

>> Preseason dates