Release from 25.02.2021
On a packed day of Alps Hockey League games, league leaders HK SZ Olimpija Ljubljana and their local rivals HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice extended their lead over their closest pursuers. The biggest surprise of the round, however, came from Steel Wings Linz, who earned their first point of the calendar year against third-placed HC Pustertal.
Red Bull Hockey Juniors stay on the heels of top-4
Red Bull Hockey Juniors prevailed 3-1 over SHC Fassa Falcons to start a packed Thursday round. The young Bulls thus remain close on the heels of the fourth-place team in the standings. The Flacons, on the other hand, missed the chance to move up to the pre-playoff spots. The gap to the important twelfth place is still one point. Fassa, however, still captured the early lead in this duel. However, Salzburg managed to create more chances and win the match.
Gherdeina with comeback win against Lustenau
HC Gherdeina celebrated a 6:5 comeback victory as guests of EHC Lustenau. After the third win in a row, Gherdeina climbed to eleventh place and increased their lead over the red line. Lustenau, on the other hand, is losing touch with the top-6 of the Alps Hockey League after the fifth defeat in the last six games. The visitors got off to the better start and took a 2:0 lead. Then Lustenau - led by Max Wilfan, who scored a hat trick within 14 minutes - ignited the turbo and took a 4:2 lead. Gherdeina fought back once again and went into overtime with the score at 5:5. Joonas Niemlä finally provided the decision for the guests.
Asiago defends top 4 place
Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey celebrated a 3:1 victory as guests of VEU Feldkirch, confirming its top form. In nine of the last eleven games, the yellow-reds walked off the ice as winners and thus defended their fourth place in the standings. Feldkirch's cushion on the "non-playoff places", on the other hand, continues to melt away. After a goalless first period, the visitors opened the scoring. The Vorarlberg team was able to equalize in the final period, but Asiago had the better end.
Jesenice turns game against Rittner Buam
HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice celebrated a narrow 4:2 success against the Rittner Buam. The Slovenians, who already managed to turn the match against the Red Bull Hockey Juniors last time, presented themselves cold-blooded in the final phase this time as well. After trailing 0:2 in the first period, the second-placed team managed to take the lead for the first time five minutes before the end. With this victory, Jesenice remains close on the heels of its local rival Ljubljana. The gap is still five points. The Buam, on the other hand, were defeated again after three wins in a row and thus cannot make the leap into the upper half of the table.
Steel Wings Linz wrest a point from HC Pustertal
The Steel Wings Linz managed to win their first point of this calendar year against a top-3 team. The Wolves had to give up a point for the first time in the last four games. Despite a superiority of chances, the Linz team took the lead in the second period. After the Wolves equalized in the same period, the Steel Wings also went in front in the final period. Pustertal had the right answer again and saved themselves into overtime. There Brett Perlini ensured the decision.
Hard fought victory of the league leader
HK SZ Olimpija Ljubljana had to fight hard for the three points against EC KAC 2. While the Carinthians had to accept a clear 1:7 defeat on Tuesday, they could make the renewed encounter much more exciting. After a goalless starting third, Ljubljana took a 2-0 lead with a brace from Anze Ropret. Finn van Ee even managed to score the connecting goal in the final period, but was unable to equalize. In the standings, Ljubljana's lead over the Slovenian chaser remains five points.
Cortina with sovereign victory over Kitzbühel
S.G. Cortina Hafro recorded an emphatic 5-1 win over EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel and extended its winning streak to four games. With this victory Cortina may continue to look in the direction of the top-4 - the gap is only four points. For the Eagles it was already the third defeat in a row and the top-12 move a bit further into the distance. The hosts took a quick 2:0 lead. Kitzbühel managed to close the gap, but in the end had to admit defeat with 1:5.
Alps Hockey League, 25.02.2021:
Red Bull Hockey Juniors – SHC Fassa Falcons 3:1 (1:1,1:0,1:0)
Referees: DURCHNER, HLAVATY, Legat, Weiss
Goals RBJ: 1:1 RBJ Alberg M. (16:22 / unassisted / EQ), 2:1 RBJ Feldner N. (38:46 / Cimmerman S. ,Szuber M. / EQ), 3:1 RBJ Predan A. (58:08 / Maier O. / EQ)
Goals FAS: 0:1 FAS Iori D. (03:32 / Castlunger M. ,Felicetti L. / EQ)
EHC Lustenau – HC Gherdeina valgardena.it 5:6 O.T. (1:2,3:0,1:3)
Referees: HUBER, RUETZ, Eisl, Huber.
Goals EHC: 1:2 EHC Haberl L. (14:21 / Haberl D. ,König D. / EQ), 2:2 EHC Wilfan M. (20:33 / D'Alvise C. ,Ozolins A. / EQ), 3:2 EHC Wilfan M. (24:28 / D'Alvise C. ,Ozolins A. / EQ), 4:2 EHC Wilfan M. (34:34 / Ozolins A. ,Krammer A. / EQ), 5:5 EHC D'Alvise C. (59:58 / Winzig P. ,Hrdina S. / EQ)
Goals GHE: 0:1 GHE Sullmann Pilser M. (00:22 / McGowan B. ,Wilkins M. / EQ), 0:2 GHE Sullmann Pilser M. (06:30 / McGowan B. ,Wilkins M. / EQ), 4:3 GHE Wilkins M. (46:42 / McGowan B. ,Sullmann Pilser M. / EQ), 4:4 GHE Wilkins M. (48:33 / Willeit C. ,McGowan B. / EQ), 4:5 GHE McGowan B. (57:58 / Wilkins M. ,Niemelä J. / PP), 5:6 GHE Niemelä J. (64:46 / McGowan B. ,Wilkins M. / PP)
VEU Feldkirch – Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey 1:3 (0:0,0:1,1:2)
Referees: BRUNNER, LEHNER, Martin, Matthey.
Goals VEU: 1:1 VEU Stanley D. (45:18 / Lundström L. ,Birnstill S. / EQ)
Goals ASH: 0:1 ASH Gellert A. (38:20 / Tessari M. ,Marchetti S. / EQ), 1:2 ASH Magnabosco J. (48:02 / Gellert A. ,Rosa M. / PP), 1:3 ASH Mantenuto D. (52:59 / Tessari M. ,Parini G. / EQ)
HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice – Rittner Buam 4:2 (1:2,1:0,2:0)
Referees: BAJT, FAJDIGA, Arlic, Bergant.
Goals JES: 1:2 JES Pinelli F. (09:19 / Hebar A. ,Jezovsek Z. / 5:3 PP), 2:2 JES Rajsar S. (28:34 / Hebar A. ,Svetina E. / PP), 3:2 JES Sodja J. (55:53 / Tomazevic B. ,Jezovsek Z. / PP), 4:2 JES Rajsar S. (59:58 / Hebar A. ,Crnovic A. / PP)
Goals RIT: 0:1 RIT Sharp M. (01:48 / Uusivirta L. ,Kostner J. / EQ), 0:2 RIT Quinz S. (05:02 / Spinell M. ,Kostner S. / PP)
HC Pustertal Wölfe – Steel Wings Linz 3:2 O.T. (0:0,1:1,1:1)
Referees: BENVEGNU, EGGER, Bedana, Mantovani.
Goals PUS: 1:1 PUS Carozza M. (38:03 / Andergassen R. ,Hofer A. / EQ), 2:2 PUS Carozza M. (43:20 / Perlini B. / PP), 3:2 PUS Perlini B. (61:21 / Hofer A. / PP)
Goals SWL: 0:1 SWL Douglas C. (31:57 / Supryka C. ,Norris D. / PP), 1:2 SWL Pauschenwein J. (41:38 / Norris D. ,Holzinger L. / SH)
HK SZ Olimpija Ljubljana – EC-KAC II 2:1 (0:0,2:0,0:1)
Referees: LESNIAK, PAHOR, Javornik, Pagon.
Goals HKO: 1:0 HKO Ropret A. (22:37 / Music A. ,Pulli J. / PP), 2:0 HKO Ropret A. (26:34 / Music A. ,Pulli J. / PP)
Goals KA2: 2:1 KA2 van Ee F. (49:18 / Theirich M. ,Brodnik N. / EQ)
S.G. Cortina Hafro – EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel 5:1 (2:1,1:0,2:0)
Referees: MOSCHEN, VIRTA, Cristeli, Rigoni
Goals SGC: 1:0 SGC Cazzola M. (00:37 / Pietroniro P. ,Pietroniro C. / EQ), 2:0 SGC Zardini Lacedelli N. (06:31 / Sanna M. ,De zanna R. / EQ), 3:1 SGC Cordiano M. (36:41 / Giftopoulos R. ,Larcher E. / EQ), 4:1 SGC Giftopoulos R. (43:52 / Pietroniro C. ,Zanatta L. / EQ), 5:1 SGC Giftopoulos R. (53:49 / Pietroniro P. ,Zanatta L. / PP)
Goals KEC: 2:1 KEC Johansson M. (16:30 / unassisted / EQ)
Foto: sj_hockeyfotos