Preseason in full swing, further roster updates

Six games within the last week

The two AHL-rivals Sportivi Ghiaccio Cortina Hafro and HC Gherdeina valgardena.it has faced each other for the second time this preseason. Again, Cortina won the league-battle. They celebrated a 3:1 victory after an impressive third period.

The Red Bull Hockey Juniors have reached the semifinal at the Junior Club Wold Cup in Sochi. After a walkover at their first game against Davos, the Austrians suffered a 1:3-defeat against the Swedish team HV71 in game two. But Salzburg finished the group stage with an impressive 7:1-victory against the Czech team HC Oceláři Třinec. The first period ended up tied. From the middle frame on Salzburg took control of the game a celebrated a clear win. On Saturday the Red Bull Hockey Juniors will face Loko Jaroslavl from Russia in the semifinal. 

EC Bregenzerwald has lost his third preseason game against the Swiss team EC Wil by 4:5 after overtime. The Austrians started pretty well and took a comfort 3:0 lead after the first frame. The hosts could manage to reduce the score in the middle frame (2:3) and they tied up the game in the last. EC Wil scored the game winner in the extra session.

Last year AHL-finalist Rittner Buam has opened his preseason against league-rival HC Gherdeina valgardena.it. In front of more than 800 spectators Ritten lost by 2:4. Gröden took the lead in the first frame twice. No team scored further goals in the middle frame, before Ritten tied up the game again. With each passing minute the hosts became physically stronger in the last. HC Gherdeina valgardena.it added two more goals for the better end.

EC-KAC II has won against Deggendorfer SC. They defeated the team of the German DEL2 by 5:2. Without eleven regular players, the Carinthian took the 1:0-lead late in the first. Both goalies kept their sheet clean in den second period. EC-KAC II increased 2:0 at the beginning of the last frame. But the hosts did not give up and responded quickly to tie the game. For their fighting performance the Austrians were rewarded in the end: Simon and Valentin Hammerle scored three more goals within the last three minutes and decided the game. 

Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan open their preseason

The Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan will open their preseason on Sunday. They will face the German team Tölzer Löwen (DEL2). HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice and HK SZ Olimpija will participate at a tournament in Bled. Also the other AHL-teams will be busy next weekend. 

CHL-experience for Cortina

Sportivi Ghiaccio Cortina Hafro has added some CHL-experience to their roster. They inked Nick Bruneteau, who played for league-rival HC Pustertal in last AHL-season. The 26 year old defender showed up 45 times in AHL so far and scored 20 points (6G/14A). Early in his career overseas, he won a Championship in Norway (2016) with the Stavanger Oilers. During that time he gained experience out of playing six games in the Champions Hockey League. Before he moved to HC Pustertal, Bruneteau played in Germany for the Eisbären Berlin (DEL) and Lausitzer Füchse (DEL2). Further, Cortina singed Italian goalkeeper Luca Burzacca, who was lent to Feltre last season. 

VEU Feldkirch welcomes back Dominik Rauter and tests one more player

VEU Feldkirch welcomes back Domink Rauter for the upcoming season in the Alps Hockey League. Rauter, who played the last five years for different youth teams of Swiss club HC Davos, will be available at the end of August. He is currently participating with the Austrian U20 national team at the U20 Super Challenge in Sweden. Beyond, Matic Jancar is back for a tryout. Jancar was part of the VEU earlier in his career (2014 – 2017). He played 40 games for league-rival EC “Die Adler” Stadtwerke Kitzbühel last season. 

HC Fassa Falcons tabs Nathan Bruyere, Hockey Milano Rossoblu gets back Matia Alario

HC Fassa Falcons has inked Nathan Bruyere to their roster. The 26-year-old Canadian will play his first season in Europe. The all-rounder spent the last two years in the Southern Professional Hockey League. For the Pensacola Ice Flyers he scored 45 points out of 99 games. League-newcomer Hockey Milano Rossoblu got back Maria Alario. The 20-year-old forward was loaned to Como for a couple of games last season.

Preseason Games of Alps Hockey League teams:

Mo, 20.08.2018, 20:30: Sportivi Ghiaccio Cortina Hafro – HC Gherdeina valgardena.it 3:1 (1:1, 0:0, 2:0)

Di, 21.08.2017: HV71 - Red Bull Hockey Juniors (Junior Club World Cup in Sochi) 3:1 (2:0, 1:0, 0:1)

Di, 21.08.2018, 20:15: EC Wil (CH) - EC Bregenzerwald 5:4/OT (0:3, 2:0, 2:1, 1:0)

Do, 23.08.2018: HC Ocelari Trinec - Red Bull Hockey Juniors (Junior Club World Cup in Sochi) 1:7 (0:1, 1:3, 0:3)

Do, 23.08.2018: HC Gherdeina valgardena.it - Rittner Buam 4:2 (2:1, 0:0, 2:1)

Do, 23.08.2018: Deggendorfer EC (GER) - EC-KAC II 2:5 (0:1, 0:0, 2:4)

Fr, 24.08.2018, 19:30: EC "Die Adler" Stadtwerke Kitzbühel - Starbulls Rosenheim

Fr, 24.08.2018: Heilbronner Falken (GER) - EC-KAC II

Fr, 24.08.2018, 21:00: HC Fassa Falcons – Sportivi Ghiaccio Cortina Hafro

Sa, 25.08.2018, 19:30: FBI VEU Feldkirch - EHC Wil (CH)

Sa, 25.08.2018, 20:00: EC Bregenzerwald - EHC Basel (CH)

Sa, 25.08.2018, 20:00: HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice - HK SZ Olimpija (in Bled) 

Sa, 25.08.2018, 18:00: Loko Yaroslavl – Red Bull Hockey Juniors (Junior Club World Cup in Sochi; Semifinale)

So, 26.08.2018, 18:30: Kaufbeuren Joker (DEL/2) - HC Pustertal Wölfe

So, 26.08.2018, 18:30: EC "Die Adler" Stadtwerke Kitzbühel - Eisbären Regensburg

So, 26.08.2018: HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice (tournament in Bled)

So, 26.08.2018: HK SZ Olimpija (tournament in Bled)

So, 26.08.2018, 19:00: Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan – Tölzer Löwen (DEL/2)

So, 26.08.2018, ab 14:00: Red Bull Hockey Juniors Spiel um Platz 3 bzw. Finale (Junior Club World Cup in Sochi)