Release from 07.09.2017
08.09.2017, 18:30 Uhr: HC Orli Znojmo - EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz
Referees: BABIC, BALUSKA, Nagy, Soos
- Znojmo has won all of their 15 home games against Linz outside EBEL playoffs (goal difference 70:30)
- Both teams also met in the 2015-16 season opener with Znojmo earning a 4:0 win
- Linz won five out of six preseason games with scoring at least three goals in their wins
- In their last victory in Czech Republic (4:3 on 13.3.2016), Sébastien Piché earned three points
- Corey Locke is doubtful for Linz
Roman Simicek (coach HC Orli Znojmo): „With eight preseason games we had more than any other EBEL team. We did some things well and we have to work on others. We want to play attractive and physical hockey this season“.
Philipp Lukas (captain Liwest Black Wings Linz): „We ahve always struggled in Znojmo.It's very important for us to have a good start. Znojmo is skating hard and strong with the puck. We respect our opponent but want to do everything for a positive outcome.“
08.09.2017, 18:45 Uhr: Fehervar AV 19 - Vienna Capitals (M4 live)
Referees: K. NIKOLIC, SIEGEL, Kaspar, Nemeth
- Vienna Capitals are unbeaten in Erste Bank Eishockey Liga for 200 days
- Taylor Vause showed an early form with two goals and assists each in four CHL games
- After an disappointing last season Fehervar welcomed twelve new players to their 2017-18 roster
- The Caps won all of their last four meetings in Hungary with a single goal difference
- Caps players Tyler Cuma and Kelsey Tessier are out for the season opener
Benoit Laporte (Headcoach Fehervar AV19): "We think that we have a better team and a better group of man this year, but I know that the others teams are better too. I think it will be very tight this season”.
Serge Aubin (Headcoach Vienna Capitals): „We are looking forward to the new season. Fehervar will do everything to be the first team that beats us. It's gonna be an intense game, we have to be ready right from the beginning.“
08.09.2017, 19:15 Uhr: HC TWK Innsbruck 'Die Haie' - HCB Südtirol Alperia
Referees: BERNEKER, STOLC, Kontschieder, Seewald
- While the tryout of Morten Poulsen ended, HC Bolzano signed 26-year-old Canadian Mike Halmo (20 NHL games for New York Islanders)
- Last season the sharks opened the season with a spectacular 8:7 home win against Bolzano
- Last season 9.5 goals were scored on average in a game between those teams
- Bolzano came close to have a perfect preseason with losing just the last game against Pustertal
- Innsbruck will be without injured defender Lubomir Stach for longer
Rob Pallin (Headcoach HC TWK Innsbruck): „We are ready. It's great to start with a derby. Maybe some people think we just had luck last year. We worked hard for our success and we'll also do this season.“
Alexander Egger (player HCB Südtirol Alperia): „With a new coach the palying style always changes. We have had more than three weeks now. This time the longer preseason with a full roster helps us a lot to be ready right from the beginning.“
08.09.2017, 19:15 Uhr: EC-KAC - Moser Medical Graz99ers (Sky live)
Referees: GRUBER, TRILAR, Pagon, Zgonc
- In this seasons four CHL games (2 wins and losses each) KAC forward Matthew Neal has scored at least one point in every game
- Graz won five out of six preseason games with suffering the only defeat in a close game against Eisbären Berlin
- Last season Graz won both away games in Klagenfurt
- While both teams opened the 2015-16 season with a defeat, they were both successful last campaign
- Manuel Geier is out and brother Stefan takes over as interims captain
Manuel Geier (player EC-KAC): „In Klagenfurt the championship title is always the goal. The games have to be palyed, though. Our main goal is to play a solid season without lots of ups and downs. We want to become better with every single game.“
Daniel Woger (player Moser Medical Graz99er): „We had a great preseason, Energie Steiermark Trophy was a perfect preparation. But now it really counts. The playoffs are our goal, our opponents should not underestime us.“
08.09.2017, 19:15 Uhr: EC Red Bull Salzburg - Dornbirn Bulldogs
Referees: KELLNER, M. NIKOLIC, Nothegger, Verworner
- Salzburg concdeded 3.7 goals against before league start in all of their international games
- With Brodie Reid, Matt Frazer or Ziga Pance Dornbirn added well-known palyers to their roster
- DEC ended their preseason with three successive wins
- Salzburg won their last five home games against Dornbirn with three of them going into overtime
- The Red Bulls are without John Hughes, Raphael Herburger and Daniel Jakubitzka
Alexander Pallestrang (player EC Red Bull Salzburg): „We are expecting a strong team with interesting new arrivals. It's tough to do a rating before season start but we defintely want to start with three points in front of our crowd.“
Dave MacQueen (Headcoach Dornbirn Bulldogs): „I'm happy with our preseason. We ahve the right bunch of guys but it's still a lot of work to do.“
08.09.2017, 19:15 Uhr: EC VSV - KHL Medvescak Zagreb
Referees: SMETANA, STERNAT, Gatol, Rakovic
- In preseason Villach earned a 3:0 win over Zagreb
- Christoph Kromp (2x) and Kyle Beach scored Villach's goals
- In their last EBEL opener Zagreb beat Fehervar 4:2
- Back in times the last six games between these two sides the home teams always won
- Zagreb won three of four preseason games
Greg Holst (Headcoach EC VSV): „Last season was tough but we still were close to the top 6. This season we have more local players with trusting in two Austrian netminders. Zagreb is a strong team, every game in this league is close.“
Connor Cameron (Headcoach KHL Medvescak Zagreb): „We spent lots of time in summer to figure everything about the league out. It’s a tough challenge and we don’t know where we are but our expectations are playoffs.“