Release from 01.01.2020
The first gameday in 2020 in Alps Hockey League opens with the leader HK SZ Olimpija Ljubljana taking on second-ranked Rittner Buam on the road. With Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey hosting HC Pustertal Wölfe another top-6 duel – and a “great rivalry” – is scheduled. The Vorarlberg Derby VEU Feldkirch against EHC Lustenau expects more than 5.000 spectators to set a new AHL record in the number of audiences. And, the race to the top-6 remains thrilling in the new year too, as teams between fifth and eleventh spot are separated by only five points.
Th, 2.1.2020, 17.30 Uhr: Rittner Buam – HK SZ Olimpija Ljubljana
Referees: BENVEGNU, REZEK, Huber J., Miklic.
A duel of two former champions opens the new year in Alps Hockey League, as the Rittner Buam (champion 2017) take on reigning champion HK SZ Olimpija in the clash of the top-2 teams. The Slovenes lead the table with 61 points, while Ritten sits on second spot with 57 points, whereby the “Buam” can not take over the “dragons” in standings. Ritten currently is the best home-team in the league having a nine-game winning-streak available at home, but Ljubljana arrives after six straight wins, winning five in regulation. While Ritten has the best PP available (36,5%), Olimpija is league’s best team one man down (88,2%). In the first season-encounter Ljubljana turned around a 0:2-deficit in the last to get the eighth win against the “Buam”, the third straight.
- Winning-Streak RIT: 1
- Winning-Streak HKO: 6
- H2H AHL: 3:8 (HKO)
Th, 2.1.2020, 19.00 Uhr: Steel Wings Linz – Vienna Capitals Silver
Referees: HUBER A., WALLNER, Kainberger, Reisinger.
One losing-streak will come to an end when league’s newcomer Steel Wings Linz and Vienna Capitals Silver meet for the second time. The Upper Austrians did not win since October 5th, losing 20 games straight, while the Viennese came out short in the last ten games, grabbing at least one point three times. Both teams sitting on the bottom-places in standings. Vienna won the first season-encounter 3:1.
- Losing-Streak SWL: 20
- Losing-Streak VCS: 10
- H2H AHL: 0:1 (VCS)
Th, 2.1.2020, 19.30 Uhr: EK Die Zeller Eisbären – EC-KAC II
Referees: BAJT, STEFENELLI, Bergant, De Zordo.
Another Austrian battle takes place in Zell am See, as the EK Die Zeller Eisbären hosts EC-KAC II. With eight games leftnin regular season, the “polar bears” are still in the race to the top-6, trailing five points, while the Carinthians are 19 points behind sixth-ranked Asiago. KAC’s last gamedays of the year 2019 were quite better than Zell’s, as the farmteam of Erste Bank Eishockey Liga champion EC-KAC first defeated second-placed Rittner Buam and then turning around a 0:3 deficit in Vienna, to get two OT-wins. The Salzburg side lost the past two, against Cortina in shootout, against Jesenice in overtime. Zell am See is the fifth best home-team in Alps Hockey League and the young “Rotjacken” booked only three road-wins in the running season. In the first season-meeting the “polar bears” destroyed the EC-KAC II, turning around a 0:2-deficit in a 7:2 clear-cut win.
- Losing-Streak EKZ: 2
- Winning-Streak KA2: 2
- H2H AHL: 8:3 (EKZ)
Th, 2.1.2020, 19.30 Uhr: VEU Feldkirch – EHC Lustenau
Referees: LAZZERI, RUETZ, Cristeli, Martin.
On the first gameday in 2020 in Alps Hockey League the big Vorarlberg derby is scheduled, as the VEU Feldkirch hosts EHC Lustenau. The hosts expects more than 5.000 spectators to set a new record in Alps Hockey League history. The home-team, which misses Robin Soudek one of league’s top-scorer, is deeply into the race for the top-6, sitting on eighth spot trailing only one point. But they closed 2019 with two harsh road-defeats. Though, the VEU is one of league’s best home-teams, losing only twice in front of their home-crowed. On the other hand, the EHC Lustenau arrives after two straight road-wins and a point-streak of four games. With the fourth best offensive-squad of the league, Lustenau aims its 18th season-win to secure top-4 early.
- Losing-Streak VEU: 2
- Winning-Streak EHC: 2
- H2H AHL: 7:6 (VEU)
Th, 2.1.2020, 20.00 Uhr: EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel – SHC Fassa Falcons
Referees: BRUNNER; PODLESNIK, Matthey, Schweighofer.
After the SHC Fassa Falcons dropped out of the top-6 past gameday, the Italian side take on EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel on the road to enter the winning street again. Fassa lost the past four games, conceding five goals on average per game, which is exactly two goals more than “falcons” season average in goals against. Kitzbühel’s form curve points upwards, winning three out of the past five games – but they did not win a single game in the running season against a top-8 team. Fassa travels to Kitzbühel for the fourth time in Alps Hockey League history, did not win one game so far.
- Winning-Streak KEC: 1
- Losing-Streak FAS: 4
- H2H AHL: 3:4 (FAS)
Th, 2.1.2020, 20.15 Uhr: EC Bregenzerwald – Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan
Referees: LEGA, SCHAUER, Eisl, Giacomozzi P.
In-form Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan crosses sticks with EC Bregenzerwald, playing a road-game against the 15th-ranked Austrian side. Broncos formcurve points upwards, as they took nine out of 15 points in the past five games, trailing only two points to the top-6 now. The South Tyrolean won the first season-encounter clearly 6:2 to make it three in a row against the Vorarlberg side, which won two out of seven against Sterzing overall in Alps Hockey League history. The “Wälder” finished last year with two derbys, upsetting against Feldkirch, losing to Lustenau.
- Losing-Streak ECB: 1
- Winning-Streak WSV: 1
- H2H AHL: 2:5 (WSV)
Th, 2.1.2020, 20.30 Uhr: HC Gherdeina valgardena.it – HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice
Referees: MOSCHEN, PAHOR, Javorni, Rigoni.
In the neighborhood battle between HC Gherdeina valgardena.it and HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice both teams fight for reconnection to the top-6. With 36 points gained both trail eight to fifth-ranked Cortina. The Slovenes finished 2019 a way better than the South Tyrolean, taking eight points in the last five games (GHE 3 points). While the home-team has the third-best PP available (30,2%), Jesenice only scores on 18% of its powerplay occasions. The last three AHL-duels were decided by the road-team, with Jesenice winning four out of seven overall.
- Losing-Streak GHE: 1
- Winning-Streak JES: 1
- H2H AHL: 3:4 (JES)
Th, 2.1.2020, 20.30 Uhr: Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey – HC Pustertal Wölfe
Referees: FAJDIGA, LESNIAK, Piras, Slaviero.
Another “great rivalry” takes place in Asiago, as the former champions hosts HC Pustertal in gameday’s second top-6 duel. While the guests sit comfortable on third spot in standings after winning the past three games, the hosts are ranked sixth, looking for big points to remain there. Asiago struggled at home in the past four games, getting only four out of twelve possible points, while Pustertal is the best road-team in the league, arriving after three consecutive road-wins. Further, the “wolves” won the past three meetings with Asiago too, the first this season after a good opening frame 2:1.
- Losing-Streak ASH: 1
- Winning-Streak PUS: 3
- H2H AHL: 5:7 (PUS)
Th, 2.1.2020, 20.45 Uhr: S.G. Cortina Hafro – Red Bull Hockey Juniors
Referees: PINIE, VIRTA, Bedana, Manovani.
The first gameday in 2020 closes with S.G. Cortina Hafro hosting Red Bull Hockey Juniors, as both teams fight for the top-6. While Cortina sits on fifth spot, having a two-game winning-streak available, the Red Bulls are ranked tenth with four points less. Though the Italian side is about to qualify for the second phase of the championship, it is only league’s 15-best home-team. Cortina won the first season-encounter on the road clearly 6:1, getting the fourth win ever over the Salzburg side.
- Winning-Streak COR: 2
- Losing-Streak RBJ: 1
- H2H AHL: 4:5 (RBJ)
Fotocredit: (c) Eva Brili Grebenar