Reigning champion claims top spot after first round

The EC-KAC had a great start into the new Erste Bank Eishockey Liga saison, as the reigning champion dominated the home opener against Hydro Fehérvár AV19 5:0. With Patrick Harand playing the 800th game in Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, the Carinthians got their twelfth straight home win. Marco Richter opened the scoring in the 13th minute from a sharp angle and Nick Petersen doubled up right at the beginning of the second. Two more powerplay goals in the middle frame got the “Rotjacken” on winning ways, while Andrew Kozek rounded off the score in the last. KAC netminder posted its tenth shutout in the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, Klagenfurt’s 63 game without a goal against overall since 2003-04, setting Vienna’s record.

Two goals of Chad Kolarik give Salzburg clear-cut win
With a 5:1 road win at HCB Südtirol Alperia, the EC Red Bull Salzburg celebrated a clear-cut win too in the opening game, grabbing the sixth consecutive win against Bolzano. New arrival Chad Kolarik got his colors on the scoreboard after 45 seconds, after a huge mistake of the “foxes”. They strocke back in the middle frame, with Colton Hargrove lit the lamp for the first time in Erste Bank Eishockey Liga too. Again Kolarik – on powerplay – retake the lead for Salzburg with eight seconds left in the second. In the final frame the Austrian side increased their dominance, scoring three more straight goals and deciding the game on an early stage.

Graz defeats Vienna in overtime
The Moser Medical Graz99ers won the battle of two Champions Hockey League participants, as the Styrian, which missed Colten Yellow Horn, Sebastian Collberg, Julian Pauschenwein and Oliver Setzinger, snatched up a 2:1 home win in the overtime. After two non-goal frames, in which both teams had much chances, former Graz player Ty Loney opened the scoring for the Capitals, with captain Mario Fischer making a spectacular assist. About 8,5 minutes to go the 99ers balanced the game, thanks to Joakim Hillding, assisted by recent new arrival David Aslin. With Karl Johansson another Swedish player, decided the game for Graz in the 3-on-3 extra session.



Dornbirn wins after overtime too
The Dornbirn Bulldogs opened the new season with an overtime win too. As in the past season, the Vorarlberg side defeated the HC TWK Innsbruck “Die Haie” in the first season game, winning 2:1. Bulldogs new arrival Juhani Tamminen scored the first goal of the season after about eight minutes played, giving the guests a tight lead till the middle of the last. On the fifth powerplay the „sharks“ hit the equalizer thanks to former “bulldog” Joel Broda. The game remained goalless in the regular time and with Emilio Romig another new arrival scored the game winner 41 seconds left in the extra session.



Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, 1st round:
Fr, 13.09.2019: Moser Medical Graz99ers – spusu Vienna Capitals 2:1 OT (0:0, 0:0, 1:1, 1:0)
Referees: PIRAGIC, ZRNIC, Seewald, Zgonc | spectators: 2.412
Goals G99: Hillding (52.), Johansson (63)
Goal VIC: Loney (42.)

Fr, 13.09.2019: EC-KAC – Hydro Fehérvár AV19 5:0 (1:0, 3:0, 1:0)
Referees: FICHTNER, NIKOLIC K., Gatol, Schauer | spectators: 3.808
Goals KAC: Richter (14.), Petersen (23.), Neal (30./PP1), Hundertpfund (35./PP1), Kozek (49.)

Fr, 13.09.2019: HC TWK Innsbruck “Die Haie“ – Dornbirn Bulldogs 1:2 OT (0:1, 0:0, 1:0, 0:1)
Referees: NIKOLIC M., SMETANA, Basso, Nothegger | spectators: 2.200
Goal HCI: Broda (53./PP1)
Goals DEC: Tamminen (8.), Romig (65.)

Fr, 13.09.2019: HCB Südtirol Alperia – EC Red Bull Salzburg 1:5 (0:1, 1:1, 0:3)
Referees: BERNEKER, STOLC, Pardatscher, Sparer | spectators: 2.805
Goal HCB: Hargrove (30.)
Goals RBS: Kolarik (1., 40.), Hughes (48.), Feldner (52.), Heinrich (58.)

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