Release from 11.01.2024
win2day ICE Hockey League, 12.01.2024:
12.01.2024, 19:15: Moser Medical Graz99ers - HC TIWAG Innsbruck
Referees: GROZNIK, STERNAT, Bärnthaler, Nothegger >> live.ice.hockey <<
The Moser Medical Graz99ers showed an improved performance after a recent lineup change and secured a 3-1 win against the Pioneers Vorarlberg. The Styrians will face HC TIWAG Innsbruck, a top 6 team in the win2day ICE Hockey League, in their home game on Friday. Under the leadership of Michael Schiechl, the 99ers will be looking to repeat the strong performance they showed in Vorarlberg. However, the Innsbruck Sharks had a strong phase around the turn of the year. But most recently, the Sharks - after five wins in a row - were beaten by league leaders EC-KAC. The lead over seventh place - and thus the first "non-playoff place" - is now just one point. The Sharks won both of the two direct season duels between these two teams.
12.01.2024, 19:15: spusu Vienna Capitals - HC Pustertal
Referees: OFNER, ZRNIC, Durmis, Vaczi >> live.ice.hockey <<
The spusu Vienna Capitals, who are still fighting to get in the top 10 and thus for a pre-playoff spot, will host HC Pustertal on Friday, a team that is in the middle of the battle for the top 6. The South Tyroleans have closed the gap on the playoff places to two points after three wins in a row recently. The Caps at least managed to move back towards the top 10 on the last matchday: While the Viennese team picked up a full three points against EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV, the two teams that currently occupy the last two pre-playoff spots, BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg and HK SZ Olimpija, were unable to score points. However, the gap between Vienna and tenth place is still nine points. The two duels between Vienna and Pustertal so far this season have both gone to the South Tyroleans - the last one by a very clear 6:1. Mikael Frycklund scored a brace. However, the spusu Vienna Capitals now seem to be on a much better run: they have won five of their last seven games, during which time they have collected twelve points. Striker Evan Weinger has been particularly impressive in recent weeks. He scored the game-winner against Villach, recording his sixth scoring point from the last five games.
12.01.2024, 19:15: EC-KAC - BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg
Referees: PIRAGIC, SMETANA, Bedynek, Zgonc >> live.ice.hockey <<
The EC-KAC, currently leading the standings, will host the tenth-placed Pioneers in Klagenfurt on Friday. While the EC-KAC wants to continue its impressive streak of 13 games in which it has always scored points, the Pioneers are looking for important points for the pre-playoff qualification. With five wins in a row, the EC-KAC has climbed to the top of the table and impresses with its high offensive productivity and the lowest number of goals conceded in the league. The strong support of the fans, which ensures the highest average attendance in the league, gives the team additional tailwind. The Pioneers Vorarlberg, on the other hand, have scored points in seven of their last ten league games and are on course for a place in the pre-playoffs despite a recent defeat against Graz. Vorarlberg have the second-best powerplay in the league. In terms of personnel, the EC-KAC will be without Fabian Hochegger, who is ill, but will be boosted by the return of Matt Fraser, the most successful KAC-goalscorer of the current season.
12.01.2024, 19:15: Hydro Fehérvár AV19 - EC Red Bull Salzburg
Referees: REZEK, SIEGEL, Hribar, Muzsik >> live.ice.hockey <<
In the win2day ICE Hockey League, a crucial game between Hydro Fehérvár AV19 (#3) and EC Red Bull Salzburg (#2) is coming up. So far this season, the Red Bulls have won both games against Hydro Fehérvár AV19. For the upcoming game, they aim to continue their winning streak, even if they have to play without their new signing Cameron Schilling. EC Red Bull Salzburg won their last game against Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey, but had to fight against the defense of the Northern Italians for a long time. Hydro Fehérvár AV19 recently suffered a slump, losing its last five games and with it the lead in the table. The team from Hungary has not won against Salzburg since February 2022. The focus of the top game in the win2day ICE Hockey League for the hosts will be on Janos Hari, the captain of Fehérvár, who played for Salzburg himself in the 2019/20 season and is now the fifth-best scorer in the league this season with 14 goals and 28 assists. On the Salzburg side, the spotlight is on Peter Schneider, who is the eighth best scorer in the league with 17 goals and 21 assists. Schneider is also well on his way to surpassing last year's performance.
12.01.2024, 19:15: Steinbach Black Wings Linz - Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey
Referees: BERNEKER, HUBER, Jedlicka, Konc >> live.ice.hockey <<
The Steinbach Black Wings Linz are preparing for the decisive phase of the regular season in the win2day ICE Hockey League. Their next game on Friday marks their return in front of the home crowd in the new calendar year as they take on Asiago. Despite a less successful spell over Christmas, where they won just two of seven games, the Black Wings remain in fourth place in the standings. However, their lead over the critical zone in the table has shrunk to three points. Although Asiago are further down the table, the northern Italians regularly spring surprises. Asiago recently provided strong competition for the champions in Salzburg before the game turned in the final minutes. While the Black Wings' Matt MacKenzie is questionable for the game, Marco Brucker is preparing for his 700th appearance in the top division. Head coach Philipp Lukas is also experimenting with the lineup by inserting Mikael Saha for the missing Brodi Stuart.
12.01.2024, 19:15: HK SZ Olimpija - EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV
Referees: HRONSKY, RENCZ, Miklic, Snoj >> live.ice.hockey <<
EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV is still "in free fall". The team from Villach, who briefly topped the win2day ICE Hockey League table in October, now find themselves in seventh place after twelve defeats from their last 18 games. This means that Villach's path after the basic round would continue via the pre-playoffs. However, they are just one point behind the first direct play-off place. HK SZ Olimpija were much more successful around the turn of the year: The Slovenians won four of their last five games, but were most recently beaten by HC Pustertal. The two duels between HKO and VSV so far this season have both been won by the visiting team.
win2day ICE Hockey League, 13.01.2024:
13.01.2024 17:30: Hydro Fehérvár AV19 - HC Pustertal
Referees: GROZNIK, OFNER, Jedlicka, Muzsik >> live.ice.hockey <<
Both Hydro Fehérvár AV19 and HC Pustertal are challenged twice within 24 hours. While the Hungarians have two home games on the program, the road trip of the South Tyroleans continues via Vienna to Székesfehérvár. This is the second time this season that Alex Petan has returned to his old stomping ground. In the first meeting in Fehérvár, he recorded an assist in the Wolves' 3:5 defeat. Fehérvár also won the second meeting this season in Bruneck.
13.01.2024 19:15: spusu Vienna Capitals - HC TIWAG Innsbruck
Referees: HRONSKY, PIRAGIC, Gatol-Schafranek, Konc >> live.ice.hockey <<
The spusu Vienna Capitals and HC TIWAG Innsbruck are also challenged twice within 24 hours. The Sharks' road trip goes via Graz to Vienna, which was Innsbruck's last stop in the quarter-finals last season. In the current season, however, the away team has prevailed in two encounters. In the last encounter, Rok Ticar scored a goal in the third period and converted two penalty shots to secure the two points.
13.01.2024 19:15: EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV - BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg
Referees: NIKOLIC M., TRILAR, Bärnthaler, Bedynek >> live.ice.hockey <<
Also in action again on Saturday are the EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV and the BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg. The team from Vorarlberg ends its Carinthia road trip with a game against the Adler. This is the fourth and final time the two teams have met in the regular season. So far, the home team (2x PIV and 1x VSV) has always prevailed in this duel.