Release from 25.01.2020

Showdown for the last two spots in the Pick Round

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On the last gameday of phase one of the regular season, still four teams have the chance for the remaining two spots in the Pick Round in the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga. With reaching the top-5, the early qualification for the playoffs 2020 is included. While the HCB Südtirol Alperia and the Moser Medical Graz99ers can qualify by themselves, the EC Panaceo VSV and the HC Orli Znojmo need support of other teams too. In addition, the EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz fight against the EC-KAC for a good starting position for the Qualification Round and the bottom-placed Dornbirn Bulldogs try to overtake the HC TWK Innsbruck “Die Haie” to start the intermediate round with one bonus point. 

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5 facts ahead of the 44th round:

  • All five games of the 44th and last round of the first phase in the regular season of Erste Bank Eishockey Liga start a 5.30 pm, with EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz hosting EC-KAC shown live on Servus Hockey Night.
  • Four teams (HCB, G99, VSV, ZNO) still have the chance to reach the remaining two spots in the top-5. Find all possible scenarios for qualification here.
  • Simultaneously, the teams fight for the best position for the Qualification Round, where 8-6-4-2-1-0 bonus points are available.
  • New arrival Rok Tičar makes his debut for EC-KAC.
  • Hydro Fehérvár AV19 is free of play.


Sun, 26.01.2020, 5.30 pm: EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz – EC-KAC
Referees: OFNER, ZRNIC, Hribar, Nothegger.

  • While the EC-KAC reached the Playoffs on Friday after a win against Vienna, the EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz remains in the Qualification Round after an overtime loss at Dornbirn.
  • KAC starts Pick Round with one bonus points anyways, while BWL still has the chance to grab eight bonus points for the QR, depending on the results of VSV and ZNO.
  • All previous season-meetings were won by the road-teams.
  • The game will be live on Servus Hockey Night.
  • BWL lost the past four games.
  • They face each other for the 115th time with Linz winning 58.
  • The best PP (BWL | 24,2%) meets the best PK (KAC | 87,5%).
  • Matthew Finn (BWL) will be back on the team after a two-game suspension.
  • BWL will be without Mario Altmann, Daniel Woger, Mark McNeill, Julian Pusnik and maybe Dan DaSilva and Valentin Leiler.
  • KAC misses Lars Haugen, Nick Petersen, Lukas Haudum, Marcel Witting, further David Fischer, Patrick harand and Johannes Bischofberger take a rest. Florian Vorauer will make his debut for the “Rotjacken”.
  • Ahead of the last game in the first phase of regular season, the EC-KAC reinforced its roster by adding Rok Tičar, who signed a contract until 2021. The 30-year-old forward played two seasons at Jesenice in the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga in his early career (2009-2011), heading to DEL, KHL and SHL later. He started the season at IK Oskarshamn.

Pregame Statement: Tom Rowe (Headcoach BWL) | Florian Vorauer (KAC)


Sun, 26.01.2020, 5.30 pm: Moser Medical Graz99ers – Dornbirn Bulldogs
Referees: BUOLOVEC, KINCSES, Nemeth, Soos.

  • The Moser Medical Graz99ers have the chance to qualify for the playoffs in the home-game against the Dornbirn Bulldogs. They can assure the ticket also after a loss, if Salzburg wins against Villach after regulation. For all possible scenarios for qualification click here.
  • DEC looks for tenth place and one bonus point for the Qualification Round, trailing only two points ahead of the last game-day.
  • G99 won the first two encounters, DEC the last 4:3.
  • G99 remains unbeaten in the last four home-games, while DEC is the worst road-team among all in the league.
  • They meet for the 40th time with G99 winning 24.

Pregame Statement: Doug Mason (Headcoach G99)


Sun, 26.01.2020, 5.30 pm: HCB Südtirol Alperia – HC Orli Znojmo
Referees: NIKOLIC K., STOLC, Pardatscher, Schauer.

  • Last round’s lone direct duel for the top-5 takes place in Blozano, as the HCB Südtirol Alperia hosts HC Orli Znojmo. While the South Tyrolean kept fourth plays being free of play on Friday, the Czech side came back in the race for the Pick rRound after a huge final frame against Graz.
  • Only one of these two teams can qualify for the Pick Round.
  • Bolzano will be through to playoffs with any win, while Znojmo needs a win after regulation and support of Salzburg or Dornbirn. For all possible scenarios for qualification click here.
  • HCB won all previous season meetings, celebrating a 9:0 clear-cut win in the first encounter at Palaonda.
  • HCB remains unbeaten in the last five meetings with the Czech “eagles”.
  • ZNO lost the past four road-games.
  • HCB’s captain Anton Bernard will be out due to an injury.
  • It is the duel of league’s worst teams on PP (ZNO 11,7% bzw. HCB 10,2%).
  • HCB won 20 out of 33 games against ZNO.

Pregame Statement: Greg Ireland (Headcoach HCB) | Miroslav Fryčer (Headcoach ZNO)


Sun, 26.01.2020, 5.30 pm: spusu Vienna Capitals – HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“
Referees: PIRAGIC, STERNAT, Gatol, Nagy.

  • While VIC will finish the first phase of regular season second anyways, HCI needs to defend the second-last spot to grab one bonus point for the Qualification Round.
  • After ten consecutive losses with only once scoring more than two goals, the “sharks” either need a win in Vienna or support of Graz.
  • VIC won the past five games against HCI.
  • VIC won the past five home-games conceding only 1,2 goals on average.
  • VIC will finish after 44 round as the best home-team, winning 14 out of 19 so face.
  • HCI mises Luc Snuggerud, Tyler Cuma, Florian Pedeveilla, Ondrej Sedivy and Daniel Wachter (season ending knee injury).

Pregame Statement: Niki Hartl (VIC)


Sun, 26.01.2020, 5.30 pm: EC Red Bull Salzburg – EC Panaceo VSV
Referees: GRUBER, NIKOLIC M., Bärnthaler, Seewald.

  • The EC Panaceo VSV hits the road against leader EC Red Bull Salzburg to fight for a remaining spot in the Pick Round and an early ticket for the playoffs.
  • The “eagles” can not qualify by itself. For all possible scenarios for qualification click here.
  • The “Red Bulls” won all previous season meetings with one goal difference.
  • Both, Salzburg (3) and Villach (2) have a winning streak available.
  • RBS won the past four home-games against VSV. Their last win in Salzburg was on November 3rd, 2017 (5:3).
  • The teams meet for the 115th time with RBS winning 69 – and 12 out of the last 15 too.
  • VSV will miss Bernd Wolf, Christof Wappis and Mark Cundari.

Pregame Statement: Layne Viveiros (RBS) | Felix Maxa (VSV)


Fotocredit: (c) HCB Vanna Antonello