Release from 26.08.2019
The Red Bull Hockey Juniors opened the group stage in the Junior Club World Cup at Sochi with a victory, defeating HC Ocelari Trinec (CZE) 6:1. While reigning Alps Hockey League champion finished second in Bled’s international summer tournament, vice champion HC Pustertal Wölfe suffered a shutout defeat in its preseason opener. Further three AHL internal test were played and eight more scrimmages are scheduled till Thursday.
Successful start for Red Bull Hockey Juniors at Sochi
The Red Bull Hockey Juniors started successful into the Junior Club World Cup at Sochi, as the Austrian side gained a 6:1 win in the opening game against HC Ocelari Trinec (CZE). EHC Red Bull München forward Dennis Lobach, who strengthens Red Bulls at the tournament, tied the game in the 27th minute and three more goals in the middle frame got Salzburg on winning ways. On Monday, the Red Bull Hockey Juniors continue facing a NAHL selection and finish the group stage on Wednesday against Oulun Kärpät (FIN).
HK SZ Olimpija finishs second at Bled’s tournament
Reigning Alps Hockey League champion HK SZ Olimpija finished second in this year’s international summer tournament at Bled. Ljubljana remained unbeaten in the group stage, first celebrating a 5:0 shutout against a Slovenian selection and took a 4:1 victory over HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice in the second game of the group phase. After AHL rival Jesenice took the lead in the first, four straight goals in the second decided the game for the “dragons”. Jesenice reached the game for third place, after snatching up a 2:1 shootout win against Slovenian selection. The other group was dominated by Champions Hockey League participant Grenoble, which left the tournament after the group stage. So Jesenice faced Erste Bank Eishockey Liga side Hydro Fehérvár AV19, losing 1:3, and Ljubljana played the finale against EC Panaceo VSV. The Slovenians were defeated 1:2, pulling only one back after being down 0:2 20 minutes to go.
Three AHL internal tests
Three AHL internal tests were played past weekend, as the Rittner Buam got a tight 6:5 overtime win against the Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan. Both teams played the first preseason game. Ritten’s captain Dan Tudin hit the game winner after three minutes played in the extra session. Slater Doggett, Mathieu Lemay (both WSV) and Matt Lane each made a brace. The Broncos suffered a second defeat too, as they lost to German side Starbulls Rosenheim 1:2. On Friday, the S.G. Cortina Hafro, which took back goalie Martino Valle Da Rin after one year at Hockey Milano Rossoblu, won the second preseason meeting with HC Gherdeina valgardena.it as well, getting a 6:1 victory. Riccardo Lacedelli made a hat trick. The third internal battle was dominated by the EC “Die Adler” Stadtwerke Kitzbühel. Five goals of Adam Havlik gave the Tyrolese a clear 8:2 win against the EK Die Zeller Eisbären.
Vice champion suffered shutout defeat at opener
The HC Pustertal Wölfe suffered a shutout defeat in the opening game, losing to German side Starbulls Rosenheim 0:3. VEU Feldkirch’s start into the preseason was unsuccessful too, after a harsh 1:6 loss at EHC Winterthur (CH). Returnee Fabian Scholz scored VEU’s lone goal in the 36th minute. Further, the EC Bregenzerwald got its third straight preseason defeat. The “Wälder”, which missed some regulars playing with Dornbirn Bulldogs at the Mercedes-Benz Rent Cup in Nürnberg, lost to Swiss league team GCK Lions 4:7. Moreover, the EHC Lustenau secured a 4:3 overtime win against DEL2 club ESV Kaufbeuren. Chris D’Alvise scored the game winner after 18 seconds in the extra session.
Eight more scrimmages scheduled till Wednesday
Till Thursday eight more friendlies are scheduled. As mentioned above, the Red Bull Hockey Juniors participate at Junior Club World Cup in Sochi, having two more games in the group stage and another scrimmage on Thursday. Further, three Austrian teams face Swiss clubs on Tuesday and Wednesday. While the VEU Feldkirch hosts GCK Lions Zürich, the EHC Lustenau welcomes EHC Visp and the EC Bregenzerwald hits the road at EHC Arosa. On Thursday, vice champion HC Pustertal Wölfe heads into its second preseason game and the HC Gherdeina valgardena.it and the HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice meet each other in an AHL internal test.
Alps Hockey League Preseason past Weekend:
22.08.2019, 20:00: HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice vs. Reprezentanca Slovenije 2:1 SO (0:0, 1:1, 0:0, 0:0)
23.08.2019, 20:00: Rittner Buam vs. Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan 6:5 OT (1:1, 2:2, 2:2, 1:0)
23.08.2019, 21:00: Sportivi Ghiaccio Cortina Hafro vs. HC Gherdeina valgardena.it 6:1 (1:0, 2:1, 4:0)
23.08.2019, 20:00: Reprezentanca Slovenije vs. HK SZ Olimpija 0:5 (0:1, 0:2, 0:2)
23.08.2019, 20:00: EHC Winterthur vs. VEU Feldkirch 6:1 (2:0, 1:1, 3:0)
23.08.2019, 20:00: GCK Lions Zürich vs. EC Bregenzerwald 7:4 (2:1, 2:1, 3:2)
23.08.2019, 20:30: HC Pustertal Wolves vs. Starbulls Rosenheim 0:3 (0:1, 0:1, 0:1)
24.08.2019, 14:00: HC Ocelari Trinec vs. Red Bull Hockey Juniors 1:6 (0:0, 1:4, 0:2)
24.08.2019, 19:00: EHC Lustenau vs. ESV Kaufbeuren 4:3 OT (0:0, 2:0, 1:3, 1:0)
24.08.2019, 20:00: HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice vs. HK SZ Olimpija 1:4 (1:0, 0:4, 0:0)
25.08.2019, 17:00: Starbulls Rosenheim vs. Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan 2:1 (0:1, 2:0, 0:0)
25.08.2019, 18:00: EC „Die Adler“ Stadtwerke Kitzbühel vs. EK Die Zeller Eisbären 8:2 (3:1, 2:0, 3:1)
25.08.2019, 20:00: HK SZ Olimpija vs. EC Panaceo VSV 1:2 (0:0, 0:2, 1:0)
25.08.2019, 16:30: HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice vs. Hydro Fehérvár AV19 1:3 (1:1, 0:1, 0:1)
26.08.2019, 18:00: NAHL Auswahl vs. Red Bull Hockey Juniors (in Sochi)
27.08.2019, 19:30: VEU Feldkirch vs. GCK Lions Zürich
28.08.2019, 20:00: EHC Lustenau vs. EHC Visp
28.08.2019, 20:00: EHC Arosa vs. EC Bregenzerwald (in Flims)
28.08.2019, 16:00: Oulun Kärpät vs. Red Bull Hockey Juniors (in Sochi)
29.08.2019, tba: Red Bull Hockey Juniors vs. ? (in Sochi)
29.08.2019, 20:30: HC Pustertal Wolves vs. SC Riessersee
29.08.2019, 20:30: HC Gherdeina valgardena.it vs. HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice
Here you find AHL’s full preseason schedule.
Fotocredit: (c) KHL Press Office