Release from 24.02.2023

Salzburg and Ritten both have chance to finish in first place

Short text 381 CharactersPlain text

On Saturday, the last matchday of the intermediate round in the Alps Hockey League will take place. In the Masterround, the Red Bull Hockey Juniors and Rittner Buam SkyAlps face each other in the top match - both teams can secure first place with a win after regulation. In addition, EHC Lustenau and EC Bregenzerwald duel in the derby for second position in Qualification Round B.

Press release 4314 CharactersPlain text

Masterround:
Sat, 25.02.2023, 19:30: Red Bull Hockey Juniors - Rittner Buam SkyAlps
Referees: BRUNNER, HLAVATY, Puff, Wimmler  | >> LIVESTREAM <<

No less than three teams have the chance to finish the Masterround in first place and thus secure home advantage until a possible final. On Thursday, Jesenice took the lead in the standings with a home win over Salzburg, but the Slovenians have already played all their games and are match-free in the last round. Only if the match between the Juniors and Ritten goes into overtime would Jesenice stay in first place. Both Salzburg and the "Buam" can secure the top position with a win after regulation. If the Austrians win after overtime or shootout, they would enter the postseason as the second-place team behind Jesenice.

The conditions could not be more exciting and both teams have also shown strong form recently. Salzburg won their last five home games, while the Rittner Buam walked off the ice as winners in their last three AHL games. The South Tyroleans have had the upper hand in two of the last three meetings so far this season, two of which were decided in overtime or shootout.

Sat, 25.02.2023, 19:30: Hockey Unterland Cavaliers - S.G. Cortina Hafro
Referees: LAZZERI, PINIE, De Zordo, Pace | >> PPV-LIVESTREAM <<

There is also a lot at stake in the game between Unterland against Cortina. The two teams just faced each other on Thursday, with the Cavaliers coming away with a 1:0 win. With another victory after regulation, the South Tyroleans would even move up to fourth place and have home advantage in the quarterfinals. Cortina, which won the first two duels of the season, could still climb to third place with a win. 

Qualification Round A:
Sat, 25.02.2023, 19:30: SHC Fassa Falcons - EK Die Zeller Eisbären
Referees: HOLZER, VIRTA, Cristli, Spiegel | >> PPV-LIVESTREAM <<

Fassa grabbed the remaining ticket for the pre-playoffs (where the Falcons will face Kitzbühel) with a 2:1 overtime win in Gardena on Thursday. In the last home game of the intermediate round, the Italians will face Zell am See. The Salzburgers are already determined as winners of Qualification Round A, but do not yet know their opponent for the pre-playoffs. The Falcons won two of three season duels, at home the Italians are unbeaten against Zell am See for four games.



Sat, 25.02.2023, 19:30: Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan - Steinbach Steel Wings Linz

Referees: BENVEGNU, OREL, Brondi, Telesklav | >> PPV-LIVESTREAM <<

Sterzing was ahead twice against Zell am See on Thursday, but then had to admit defeat with 2:4. As a result, the Broncos will finish their Qualification Round in second place. The Steel Wings conclude their season with the road game in South Tyrol. Most recently, the Upper Austrians celebrated two wins in a row. However, after losing their first five intermediate round games, the pre-playoffs were soon out of reach. Sterzing won all nine AHL duels so far.

Qualification Round B:
Sat, 25.02.2023, 19:30: HC Meran/o Pircher - EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel
Referees: KAINBERGER, MOSCHEN, Bedana, J. Seewald | >> PPV-LIVESTREAM <<

With only one point from seven games, Meran recorded by far the weakest output of all teams in the intermediate round. After the defeat against Klagenfurt on Thursday, it is also certain that the South Tyroleans will finish their group in last place. Kitzbühel, on the other hand, has already been determined as the winner of Qualification Round B. The Tyroleans also prevailed in all three season duels with Meran.

Sat, 25.02.2023, 19:30: EHC Lustenau - EC Bregenzerwald
Referees: RUETZ, SCHAUER, Huber, Tschrepitsch | >> PPV-LIVESTREAM <<

At the end of the intermediate round there will be another Vorarlberg derby. The winner of this duel will finish the Qualification Round B on the second place and will meet Sterzing in the  pre playoffs. For the loser, the "best-of-three" series against Zell am See awaits. After EHC won the first two derbies of the season, Bregenzerwald prevailed 4:3 on Wednesday after shootout. Lustenau won the last five home games against their local rivals, while the Lions have also won all three home games in the intermediate round so far.

Photo: Max Pattis