Release from 31.01.2026

South Tyrol derby highlights final matchday before Olympic Break

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On Sunday, the win2day ICE Hockey League will stage its final three games before the Olympic break. Once again, fans can look forward to a major highlight: In the Sparkasse Arena in Bolzano, HCB Südtirol Alperia and HC Falkensteiner Pustertal will face off in the South Tyrol Derby. The two remaining matchups also promise plenty of excitement. In the Karawanken Derby, EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV will host Olimpija Ljubljana, who secured their playoff spot on Friday, while league leaders EC-KAC welcome the Steinbach Black Wings Linz. Following these three games, the league will pause for the Olympic break before resuming play on February 14 with the matchup between FTC-Telekom and VSV.

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Sunday marks the fourth and, for now, final South Tyrol Derby of the season. Fifth-placed HCB Südtirol Alperia will host sixth-ranked HC Falkensteiner Pustertal, with just two points separating the two teams in the standings. In their previous three meetings this season, Bolzano claimed victory twice: a dominant 9–1 home win followed by a 5–3 road success. The first clash in Brunico, however, went Pustertal’s way with a 5–3 win. Current form slightly favors the visitors, who have won three of their last five games, most recently a 3–1 victory over Villach on Friday. Bolzano, meanwhile, suffered two heavy defeats in their last outings, losing 0–6 in Linz and 0–3 in Vienna without scoring a single goal. At home, however, the Foxes have been far more convincing, earning at least one point in each of their last six home games, four of which they won. Pustertal, by contrast, have managed only three wins from their last twelve away matches.

Villach face crucial home game against Ljubljana
With a home victory on Sunday against Olimpija Ljubljana, EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV could create some breathing room in the race for the Top 10. The Villach side currently occupies the important tenth place in the standings, holding just a two-point advantage over eleventh-placed Budapest. Ljubljana sit fourth and secured their playoff qualification on Friday with a commanding 5–1 home win over Salzburg, marking their fifth consecutive league victory. VSV recently lost 1–3 in Pustertal, one of two defeats in their last five games. A win against the in-form Olimpija will be a tough task, especially as the Carinthians have yet to beat the Slovenians this season (3–6, 2–3, 2–7).

League leaders KAC host Linz
In the third game of the day, league leaders EC-KAC welcome eighth-placed Steinbach Black Wings Linz. KAC currently hold a four-point lead over their closest challengers Salzburg and Graz and therefore have a prime opportunity on Sunday to extend that advantage. Most recently, KAC celebrated a 5–2 home victory over Budapest, one of three wins from their last five games. At home, Klagenfurt have also won three of their last five matches, although overall they rank only as the league’s seventh-best home team. Linz arrive as the league’s eleventh-best road team, having won just two of their last ten away games. Nevertheless, the Black Wings are in good form, riding a two-game winning streak that includes an emphatic 6–0 home victory over Bolzano. Currently sitting in eighth place, the Upper Austrian club hold a five-point cushion over eleventh place. However, they have yet to beat KAC this season, having lost all three encounters (3–5, 3–5, 2–3).

win2day ICE Hockey League:
Sun, 01.02.2026:
17:00 Uhr: EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV – Olimpija Ljubljana
Referees: NIKOLIC M., SMETANA, Bedynek, Zgonc

17:30 Uhr: EC-KAC – Steinbach Black Wings Linz
Referees: KAINBERGER, PIRAGIC, Nothegger, Wimmler

18:00 Uhr: HCB Südtirol Alperia – HC Falkensteiner Pustertal
Referees: OFNER, STERNAT, Fleischmann, Mantovani

Watch all games live on Sporteurope.tv.