Release from 21.04.2021

Recap of a challenging season

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The successful story of the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League continued despite the impact of COVID-19: Together with new partners and the greatest possible efforts of all, the challenging 2020-21 season was played and completed almost as originally planned. Never before there been so many ICE games shown live as in the past campaign.

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On Tuesday, the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League 2020-21 season came to an end with the 32nd championship title overall in the club history of the EC-KAC. The Carinthians prevailed 5:3 in the fifth final game and decided the "best-of-7" final series against HCB Südtirol Alperia 4:1 to their favor. Klagenfurt managed to defend its title and win its sixth championship since the league was founded in the summer of 2000. The final series between the two best teams of the regular season set several records: The 6-0 victory of the "Rotjacken" in game one was the highest opening win in a final series ever. Later playoff MVP Nick Petersen scored three times in that game, becoming only the fourth player to score a hat trick in a final encounter. In game four of the series, Matt Fraser scored the fastest final goal in history after 16 seconds.

A season together with new partners
The past season was the first with new partners: bet-at-home took over the title sponsorship and PULS 24 became the new host broadcaster and obtained the free TV rights. In the course of this, the entire league presence also got a rebranding. The iClinic Bratislava Capitals completed their premiere season in the multinational league, while HC Orli Znojmo did not participate for COVID-19 reasons - but will be back next season, and then together with the other newcomers HK SZ Olimpija Ljubljana and HC Pustertal Wölfe.

Return-2-Play
A comprehensive Return-2-Play concept and a lot of flexibility made a start on September 25th - as one of the first leagues in Europe - possible. Initially, it was possible to play in front of a reduced number of spectators in the arenas. From October 25th, COVID-19 forced an interruption of the league for two weeks, before it was resumed without spectators and as compact as never before on November 8th with the game between the Moser Medical Graz99ers and EC GRAND Immo VSV. Multi-layered safety precautions and almost 23.000 COVID-19 tests ultimately ensured that all games of the season were played on schedule.

Live streaming
Rights holders Sky Sport Austria and PULS 24 enabled the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League clubs to produce live streams of all non-TV games for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis. The clubs took advantage of this concession, offering home games as online streams - making 296 of the 306 games available live. Never before has been more live ice hockey than in the past season.

Three individual awards for the first time
Three honors for individual achievements have been awarded for the first time in the 2020-21 season. Sebastian Dahm of EC-KAC was voted Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Regular Season by journalists. Brian Lebler (Steinbach Black Wings 1992) reached second place, while Dustin Gazley (HCB Südtirol Alperia) came in third.

The award for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the playoffs was given for the first time. Nick Petersen, another player from Klagenfurt, received this one, as the Canadian finished with 23 points (10G|13A) in the postseason. In the past campaign, when the playoffs had to be canceled after three quarterfinal game days, the cup was symbolically presented to all "Hidden Heroes" - all those people who do great things for society during the existing pandemic.

The election of the Eisner Auto Young Star of the Season, made by fans, national team coaches of the countries participating in the ICE and TV experts, was won by Lukas Piff of the spusu Vienna Capitals. The 20-year-old defenseman decided the election ahead of his teammate Sebastian Wraneschitz, with Paul Huber of EC Red Bull Salzburg coming in third.

The scorers
Nick Petersen of EC-KAC was the top scorer of the past season with 73 points (30G|43A). The spusu Vienna Capitals provided the best goal scorer with Ty Loney (37). The most assists were recorded by Dragan Umicevic (50) of the Steinbach Black Wings 1992. The goalkeeper ranking was won by Klagenfurt's goalie and ICE MVP Sebastian Dahm with a save perentage of 93.2% and a goals against average of 1.82. The most penalized player in the league was Braden Christoffer of HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie (122 PIM).

No CHL season possible
The 20-21 season in the Champions Hockey League was cancelled in mid-October of the previous year due to COVID-19. HCB Südtirol Alperia, EC-KAC and EC Red Bull Salzburg are qualified for the upcoming campaign - which starts on September 2nd due to the Olympic qualification for the ICE teams taking place at the same time. The draw is scheduled for May 19th.

Final standings bet-at-home ICE Hockey League season 2020/21
1. EC-KAC ***
2. HCB Südtirol Alperia **
3. EC Red Bull Salzburg*
4. spusu Vienna Capitals
5. Hydro Fehérvár AV19
6. Dornbirn Bulldogs
7. iClinic Bratislava Capitals
8. EC GRAND Immo VSV
9. Steinbach Black Wings 1992
10. HC TIWAG Innsbruck – Die Haie
11. Moser Medical Graz99ers

*** bet-at-home ICE Hockey League Champion 2020/21, Austrian Champion and CHL participant 2021/22
** CHL participant 2021/22
* Austrian vize champion and CHL participant 2021/22



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