Release from 20.01.2024

South Tyrolean teams celebrate home victories

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The two South Tyrolean teams in the win2day ICE Hockey League celebrated home victories on Saturday. Mike Halmo turned the final rematch against Salzburg in favour of HCB Südtirol Alperia, while HC Pustertal also won its fourth season meeting against Vienna. Hydro Fehérvár AV19 also recorded a last-minute win in Asiago.

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Over 3,800 fans watched the final rematch between HCB Südtirol Alperia and EC Red Bull Salzburg. After a goalless first period, the Red Bulls took the lead through Peter Hochkofler, but Connor Ford equalised just a minute and a half later on power play. The runners-up even turned the game in their favour in the middle period: Mike Halmo (33) could not be stopped by four opponents and beat goalie Kickert. Halmo increased the lead to 3:1 in the third period from an acute angle under the crossbar, after which the Red Bulls stepped up their offense even more, but they could not beat Sam Harvey, who saved a total of 31 shots. In the 59th minute, the South Tyroleans sealed the 4:1 victory with an empty-net goal from Davis Vandane - meaning the home team had won all four of the season's duels. While Bolzano moved up to fourth place with their second win in 24 hours, Salzburg returns home from their away trip without any points.

Pustertal moves closer to top 6
HC Pustertal recorded another three points in the race for the top six with a 2:1 win over Vienna. The South Tyroleans took the lead after 15 minutes through Alex Petan, who capitalised on an ideal Atwal assist. But just 17 seconds after the restart, Reid Stefanson equalised for the visitors on power play - the new signing's first goal in his fourth game. In the 37th minute, Pustertal went ahead again thanks to the third line, with captain Raphael Andergassen beating goalie Steen to make it 2:1. The visitors were then unable to capitalise on a 5-on-3 advantage and were also denied a goal in the final period. The now seventh-placed hosts held on to their narrow lead to win their fourth game of the season against Vienna and are now just one point behind VSV.

Fehérvár celebrates last-minute win
Just one day after the defeat in Bolzano, Fehérvár had reason to celebrate again. The Hungarians prevailed thanks to a last-minute goal in Asiago. It looked like a clear-cut affair at the start of the game. Janos Hari put the visitors ahead after just 20 seconds and Anze Kuralt (11th) added a second. In the middle period, the Italians reduced the deficit to 1-2 and later to 2-3, but their efforts were really rewarded in the 42nd minute when Randy Gazzola equalised. Matteo Gennaro conceded a penalty in the final minute and Daniel Leavens scored 16 seconds before the final buzzer to decide the game. The Hungarians, who have won all four of their season duels with Asiago, are now back in second place behind league leaders KAC.

win2day ICE Hockey League, 20.1.2024:
Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey - Hydro Fehérvár AV19 3:4 (0:2, 2:1, 1:1)
Referees: HUBER, NIKOLIC K., Mantovani, Rigoni
Goals Asiago: Vallati (28.), M. Marchetti (40./PP), Gazzola (42.)
Goals Fehérvár: Hari (1.), Kuralt (11.), Nemeth (33.), Leavens (60./PP)

HCB Südtirol Alperia - EC Red Bull Salzburg 4:1 (0:0, 2:1, 2:0)
Referees: SMETANA, STERNAT, Pardatscher, Sparer
Goals Bolzano: Ford (24./PP), Halmo (33., 45.), Vandane (59./EN)
Goal Salzburg: Hochkofler (23rd)

HC Pustertal - spusu Vienna Capitals 2:1 (1:0, 1:1, 0:0)
Referees: FICHTNER, OFNER, Riecken, J. Seewald
Goals Pustertal: Petan (15.), Andergassen (37.)
Goal Vienna: Stefanson (21./PP)