Release from 05.01.2024
On Saturday, the lead in the win2day ICE Hockey League could change hands again after a long time. The EC-KAC has the first chance to take the top position, at least for a short time, when they host Steinbach Black Wings Linz at 14:00. In the evening, EC Red Bull Salzburg have the chance to become the new league leaders in their game at BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg, also because Hydro Fehérvár AV19 have no game on Saturday. In addition, the first South Tyrol derby of the calendar year will take place on January 6. LIVE on PULS 24 and the streaming platform Joyn, meanwhile, EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV will be looking to end its weak phase in the game at Moser Medical Graz99ers.
win2day ICE Hockey League, 36th round:
Sat, 06.01.2024, 14:00: EC-KAC - Steinbach Black Wings Linz
Referees: SIEGEL, SMETANA, Bärnthaler, Miklic | >> live.ice.field hockey <<
The EC-KAC could be top of the win2day ICE Hockey League table for the first time this season on Saturday. If the KAC wins the top game against Steinbach Black Wings Linz, the Carinthians would be laughing at the top of the table for at least a few hours. The Upper Austrians, on the other hand, face a similar fate to exactly one year ago, when they fell out of the top six due to a weak phase at the start of the new year. After Christmas, the Black Wings were only able to pick up three points out of a possible 15. Their lead over seventh place dwindled to six points. The KAC performed much better in this intense period: they scored in all of their last eleven games and won eight of their last ten. The KAC also won the two duels against the Upper Austrians so far this season, even though one of them had to go to the penalty shootout and the other to overtime.
Sat, 06.01.2024, 19:15: spusu Vienna Capitals - HK SZ Olimpija
Referees: FICHTNER, HRONSKY, Gatol-Schafranek, Jedlicka | >> live.ice.field hockey <<
One of the most important games of the current season awaits the spusu Vienna Capitals. They face HK SZ Olimpija, one of their direct rivals in the battle for the top 10 and the pre-playoffs. The gap to the Slovenians is currently ten points. However, with 15 games left on the schedule, the Viennese still have enough time to close the gap. Although the Caps have won four of their last five games, they have not managed to close the gap on the top 10, as Ljubljana also have a record of four wins and one defeat since Christmas. Most recently, the Viennese even managed a shootout win against league leaders Fehérvár. In the two previous meetings between VIC and HKO, the away team came out on top.
Sat, 06.01.2024, 19:30: Moser Medical Graz99ers - EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV
Referees: HUBER, NIKOLIC K., Martin, Sparer | LIVE on PULS 24 and JOYN
EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV, which recently dropped out of the top 6, wants to get back on the road to success in the PULS 24 live game against the bottom of the table Moser Medical Graz99ers. VSV has been in a sporting crisis since the beginning of November. Even the change of coach at the end of November has not yet had the desired effect. Since Marcel Rodman took over, only four wins have been achieved in ten games. In the same period, the Styrians have only gained two points less, even though Villach are still six places higher. The Eagles are currently two points behind the top six. Graz have yet to pick up any points in two games against VSV this season.
Sat, 06.01.2024, 19:30: BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg - EC Red Bull Salzburg
Referees: GROZNIK, STERNAT, Nothegger, Wimmler | >> live.ice.field hockey <<
On Saturday, EC Red Bull Salzburg has the big chance to oust the game-free Hydro Fehérvár AV19 from the top of the table. The reigning champions seem to have overcome their weak phase - between December 3 and December 26, the Bulls only picked up two points in five games. Since then, Salzburg have recorded four wins in four games, reducing the gap to the league leaders to one point. However, the BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg also pulled off a big surprise recently, beating HCB Südtirol Alperia 4:1 on Wednesday. The team from Feldkirch has not yet been able to hold its own against Salzburg this season - the Red Bulls scored six goals both times. The Pioneers are currently in ninth place and have a ten-point lead over the first "non-pre-playoff place".
Sat, 06.01.2024, 19:45: Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey - HC TIWAG Innsbruck
Referees: PIRAGIC, TRILAR, Rigoni, Snoj | >> live.ice.field hockey <<
With four wins in a row, HC TIWAG Innsbruck recently made the leap back into the top 6. Most recently, the Sharks managed an important 4:3 OT win over VSV, one of their direct rivals in the fight for a playoff spot. For Asiago, on the other hand, the pre-playoffs have moved slightly out of their immediate reach again in recent weeks. The northern Italians are currently twelve points off tenth place. Asiago celebrated a 7:4 victory in the last meeting between these two teams. In the first meeting of the season, Innsbruck won 5:4 after extra time. Zach Magwood is now available for Innsbruck, having already recorded an assist in the win against VSV.
Sat, 06.01.2024, 19:45: HCB Südtirol Alperia - HC Pustertal
Referees: OFNER, ZRNIC, Mantovani, Pardatscher | >> live.ice.field hockey <<
The first South Tyrolean derby of the calendar year will conclude Saturday's matchday. The Foxes, who have climbed up the table in recent months, have recently been confronted with a small phase of weakness. For the first time since the end of September and beginning of October, Bolzano suffered three defeats in a row. Pustertal, on the other hand, recently ended their three-game losing streak with an OT win over Asiago. The away team has won both previous South Tyrol derbies. Most recently, the Foxes came from 2-0 down to win in overtime, where Brad McClure scored the winner for Bolzano. The Foxes currently hold a seven-point lead over Pustertal in the table.