Release from 02.02.2017
In Sky Alps Hockey League seven games will be played on Saturday. In Qualification Round A HC Gherdeina could overtake Cortina in the direct duel. In Qualifcation Round B Sterzing wants to shorten the distance to leader Zell am See, while Pustertal takes on Jesenice in the Master Round top game.
Rittner Buam - EHC Alge Elastic Lustenau
For the second time this season Ritten fell to Jesenice on Wednesday. After their first Master Round defeat, the Italian champion only has a three-point advantage to their persecutors. Now they host Lustenau, a team they beat twice with +3 goals this campaign, on Saturday. The Vorarlberg team also started with two wins and lost the last one. In a 0:1 home loss against Asiago they remained without goal for the third time this season.
HC Pustertal Wolves - HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice
A match of persecutors takes place in Brunico when Pustertal, who ranks third, welcomes second-placed Jesenice. After losing the first two Master Round games, the Wolves earned their first win in Feldkirch on Tuesday. In this game they were without top scorer Shayne Wiebe who is doubtful for the upcoming match against the Slovenes. The steelers are on track after Wednesday's 3:1 win over leader Ritten. They won seven of their last eight games but do not have good memories to Pustertal after losing the previous two season meetings 2:3.
Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey - FBI VEU Feldkirch
Feldkirch dropped points in their first three Master Round games and is the bottom of the table club. Foruth-placed Asiago got two wins on the other hand. After a really bad season start and a brilliant comeback, the Italians are still one of the top favourites for the title. Last time the VEu paid them a visit, Asiago celebrated a 6:0 win and they also won the away game in Feldkirch. The Vorarlberg team lost the thread in 2017. losing six of eight games. In their last ten road games, victory and failure always alternated. To continue this series, VEu has to take points home from Asiago.
S.G. Cortina Hafro - HC Gherdeina valgardena.it
The top game of Qualification Round A takes place in Cortina on Saturday. The hosts want to defend their lead against Gherdeina who are on fire right now. Few weeks ago Cortina still had Master Round in sight but lost the last two matches before Intermediate Round. They they opened Qualification Round with an away defeat in Dornbirn but came back with a shutout against Fassa. But they feel the sqeeze of their opponents and one of them is Gherdeina who won their last eight matches. On Wednesday the fury beat Bregenzerwald thanks to a great third period 8:4. In the previous two season meetings with Cortina the away team earned a 5:4 win.
HC Fassa Falcons - EC Bregenzerwald
Looking-glass world in Val di Fassa: Forward Geoff Walker has earned 52 points out of 32 games and is the league's top scorer but the playoffs are a long way away for his side. Lately the Italians conceded eight defeats in a row, being bottom of the Qualification Round A table. On Wednesday three assists of Walker and a Della Rovere hat trick was not enough in a 5:4 home defeat to Salzburg. The playoff hopes of Bregenzerwald are small, too. After a great opening win against Cortina, they lost the next two games. The loser of the upcoming game is definitely out of the race for a postseason spot.
EK Zeller Eisbären - WSV Sterzing Broncos Weihenstephan
Zell am See started Qualification Round B with five bonus points and added six more thanks to two wins against Klagenfurt. Their next opponents from Sterzing also won their first two games but took only one bonus point into the next stage. But the Broncos are hot what a look to their latest results confirms. After a 7:2 win against Neumarkt, they also got three points from Kitzbühel. In the previous meetings with Zell am See the home team always came out on top.
EC 'Die Adler' Stadtwerke Kitzbühel - EC KAC II
While Kitzbühel lost both of their first Qualification Round games, Klagenfurt even suffered three defeats. Both teams only have a theoretical chance for palyoffs any more but the winner of the upcoming game may rises new hopes. The Eagles let their last match against Sterzing slip away after a 2:0 lead. The Tirolese had their last sense of achievement with a win in Klagenfurt at the first stage of the season and also decided the home game against KAC to their favour (1:0). The young Carinthians suffered two tight defeats against leader Zell am See and earned their first point in Wednesday's OT loss to Neumarkt. They need a wn in Kitzbühel otherwise they would drop to the bottom of the table.
Sky Alps Hockey League, Master Round:
04.02.2017, 18:30: Rittner Buam - EHC Alge Elastic Lustenau
Referees: KUMMER, MOSCHEN, Libiseller, Stefenelli
04.02.2017, 19:30: HC Pustertal Wolves - HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice
Referees: BULOVEC, FERRINI, Rezek, Waldthaler
04.02.2017, 20:30: Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey - FBI VEU Feldkirch
Referees: PICHLER, RUETZ, De Toni, Rigoni
Qualification Round A:
04.02.2017, 20:30: S.G. Cortina Hafro - HC Gherdeina valgardena.it
Referees: CESCHINI, LOTTAROLI, De Zordo, Giacomozzi
04.02.2017, 20:30: HC Fassa Falcons - EC Bregenzerwald
Referees: MARRI, WIDMANN, Bedynek, Cristeli
Qualification Round B:
04.02.2017, 19:30: EK Zeller Eisbären - WSV Sterzing Broncos Weihenstephan
Referees: PODLESNIK, WALLNER, Holzer, Rinker
04.02.2017, 20:00: EC 'Die Adler' Stadtwerke Kitzbühel - EC KAC II
Referees: HOFER, LENDL, Legat, Tschrepitsch