Release from 07.12.2019
As HK SZ Olimpija Ljubljana was free of play on Saturday, a chasing duo took the opportunity to overcome the reigning champion in standings. After huge wins the Rittner Buam and the HC Pustertal Wolves grabbed the first respectively the second spot with 45 points each. While S.G. Cortina Hafro and SHC Fassa Falcons reached the top-6 again, the Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan narrowed the gap to a spot in the mater round.
Ritten climbs back to top of the table
The Rittner Buam took the opportunity to overcome Ljubljana in standings, as the former Alps Hockey League Champion destroyed EHC Lustenau’s winning streak at eight, cheering a 4:1 home-win. It was Ritten’s ninth win over the Vorarlberg side, which missed under 20 national team players Alexander Brunner and Manuel Öhler, overall. Although, Martin Grabher Meier gave the guests a quick lead, opening the scoring after 110 seconds. While Andreas Lutz tied it less than two minutes later, the home-team got the preliminary decision in the middle frame, as they scored three unanswered within 143 seconds. Lutz had a brace in the end.
Nine different players score in Pustertal’s clear-cut win
With nine different players scoring, the HC Pusteral Wolves booked a 10:4 blow-out win at HC Gherdeina valgardena.it and took revenge for the loss in the first season-meeting. Last year’s vice-champion overcame HK SZ Olimpija Ljubljana in standings too, sitting on the second spot with 45 points – the same amount of points leader Ritten has. The “wolves” made the preliminary decision early in the game, as they scored three goals within 60 seconds. Max Oberrauch, Armin Helfer and Armin Hofer gave the runner-up a clear lead after six minutes and continued their dominance until the end. For Gherdeina Brad McGowan prolongated his scoring streak, having a brace and giving one assist too.
Cortina jumps to fifth place
The S.G. Cortina Hafro climbed to fifth place in standings, after the clear 6:3 home-win against EC “Die Adler” Stadtwerke Kitzbühel and won the seventh meeting in Alps Hockey League too, remaining unbeaten against the Austrian side. Cortina grabbed its fifth home-victory of the season thanks to Kevin King’s four-point-night: after the hosts led 2:0 after the first, King scored a shorthander in the second managing his brace later (4:1). Kitzbühel shorted the deficit twice, but could not open the game anymore, remaining on 15th spot in standings.
Eduard Zakharchenko stopps 50
The SHC Fassa Falcons entered the top-6, after Eduard Zakharchenko saving 50 shots in the 2:1-road-win at EC Bregenzerwald. With the sixth consecutive victory the “Falcons” entered the top-six standings, as they have at least played one game less than all the other opponents above. After non-goal opening frame, it was Luca Biondi who broke the spell for the guests, destroying Bregenzerwald’s dominance with the first goal of the night. Supported by Zakharchenko Fassa doubled up thanks to Lucas Chiodi late in the last and got the preliminary decision, as the “Wälder’s” lone goal came too late. The Vorarlberg side remained second-last, after its 15th season-loss.
Broncos keep the momentum
After last weekend’s upset at vice-champion HC Pustertal, the Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan grabbed another road-win, defeating the VEU Feldkirch 3:2. With the fifth road-win of the season, the South Tyrolean are finally back in the race to the top-6. The Vorarlberg side got the first loss after four consecutive wins, the second overall in front of their home crowd. Mathieu Lemay secured the win for the road-team with a brace and one assist too. He hit his second respectively the game-winner about halfway through the last, after James Milan restored Broncos’ lead in the second. Christoph Draschkowitz pulled one back 98 seconds left, but the VEU was not able to balance it in the final seconds.
Sat, 07.12.2019, 19:30: VEU Feldkirch - Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan 2:3 (1:1, 0:1, 1:1)
Referees: BRUNNER, RUETZ, Matthey, Rinker. | Spectators: 1.073
Goals VEU: Puschnik (18./Birnstill-Nußbaumer), Draschkowitz (59./Birnstill-Scholz)
Goals WSV: Lemay (18./Messner-Doggett, 50./Gschnitzer-Milam), Milam (26./Doggett-Lemay)
Sat, 07.12.2019, 19:30: EC Bregenzerwald - SHC Fassa Falcons 1:2 (0:0, 0:1, 1:1)
Referees: LEGA, SCHAUER, Terragni, Vignolo. | Spectators: 651
Goal ECB: Vogelaar (60./Lorraine-Ban D.)
Goals FAS: Biondi (29.), Chiodo (57./Iori)
Sat, 07.12.2019, 20:00: Rittner Buam - EHC Lustenau 4:1 (1:1, 3:0, 0:0)
Referees: GIACOMOZZI, LAZZERI, DeZordo, Mantovani. | Spectators: 605
Goals RIT: Lutz (4./Vigl-Tudin, 35./Lindskoug), Frei (34.PP1/Kostner S.-Lane), Spinell (36./Tudin-Pechlander)
Goal ECB: Grabher Meier (2./Hurtubise)
Sat, 07.12.2019, 20:30: HC Gherdeina valgardena.it - HC Pustertal Wolves 4:10 (1:4, 0:1, 3:5)
Referees: GAMPER, VIRTA, Bedana, Giacomozzi. | Spectators: 825
Goals GEHE: McGowan (17./Nocker, 56./Willeit), Wilkins (46.SH/Pitschieler), Nedved (58./McGowan-Willeit)
Goals PUS: Oberrauch (5./Carozza-Hofer, 44./Lewis-Carozza), Helfer (6./Berger-Pace), Hofer (6./Lewis-Carozza), Conci (16.), Carozza (22.PP1/Heelfer-Gander), Lewis (41.PP1/Andergassen-Hofer), Berger (42./Conci-Helfer), De Lorenzo Meo (49./Laner-Elliscasis), Laner (56./De Lorenzo Meo-Leitner)
Sat, 07.12.2019, 20:30: S.G. Cortina Hafro - EC 'Die Adler' Stadtwerke Kitzbühel 6:3 (2:0, 3:2, 1:1)
Referees: KUMMER, PODLESNIK, Puff, Slaviero. | Spectators: 360
Goals SGC: Zanatta (5./Bruneteau-Sanna), Lacedelli (20./Giftopoulos-Vallazza), King (25.SH1/Giftopoulos-De Filipp Roia, 28./Lacedelli-Giftopoulos), Ayotte (40./Giftopoulos-King), Trecapelli (56.SH2/King)
Goals KEC: Havlik (27.PP1/Bolterle), Bolterle (38./Schreiber), Ebner (60.)