Release from 11.10.2019
© (c) hockey24/7 - Bernd Stefan
Sat, 12.10.2019, 6.00 pm: HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice – Rittner Buam
Referees: BAJT, OFNER, Holzer D., Schweighofer.
HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice heads into its fourth consecutive home-game, as last year’s semifinalist faces current leader Rittner Buam. While the Slovenian side got three out of six this season, former Alps Hockey League champion Ritten has a four-game winning-streak available, ranked first in standings. The South Tyrolean impressed on the offensive end, scoring 5,1 goals per game. Further, the “Buam” have the best PP available of all teams, with almost scoring on the half of their PP occasions (45,7%).
Winning Streak RIT: 4
Head-2-Head: 6:6
Sat, 12.10.2019, 7.15 pm: Red Bull Hockey Juniors – VEU Feldkirch
Referees: BRUNNER, RUETZ, Bärnthaler, Weiss.
Two neighbors in standings meet in Salzburg, as the Red Bull Hockey Juniors (#12) take on the VEU Feldkirch (#11). Both teams gained two wins out of the last five wins, in six Alps Hockey League meetings each team got three victories. Feldkirch arrives after the second road-win in row, while Salzburg celebrated a shutout-win in the last home-game against Asiago. The Juniors struggled on the PP so far, scoring only once out of 24 PP occasions.
Head-2-Head: 3:3
Sat, 12.10.2019, 7.30 pm: EK Die Zeller Eisbären – Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan
Referees: LENDL, LOICHT, Kainberger, Wimmler.
On Saturday, second-ranked Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan travel to the EK Die Zeller Eisbären, which cheered only one win in three home-games this season. The Broncos – they have the same amount of points in standings as leader Ritter – impressed on the PK, allowing only 3 goals being one man down (91,2% | 34/3). With 16,6%, the „polar bears“ have the best scoring efficiency available among all teams, showing their strength past Thursday, turning around an early 0:2 deficit at Klagenfurt. The Broncos won the past three duels with Zell am See.
Head-2-Head: 5:3 (WSV)
Sat, 12.10.2019, 7.30 pm: EC Bregenzerwald – Steel Wings Linz
Referees: DURCHNER, HOLZER T., Huber, Martin.
In the battle of both bottom-placed teams, EC Bregenzerwald hosts Alps Hockey League newcomer Steel Wings Linz. Both teams grabbed only one win, as the Vorarlberg side snatched up a 1:2 home-win after shootout against reigning champion Ljubljana and the Upper Austrians defeated Cortina in shootout. While the “Wälder” struggle on the defensive-end with 36 goals against, Linz has a lot of room to improve on the offensive-end with only six goals scored.
Sat, 12.10.2019, 8.00 pm: HC Pustertal Wölfe – EC-KAC II
Referees: FAJDIGA, LESNIAK, Matthey, Moidl.
The HC Pustertal Wölfe welcomes EC-KAC II, aiming the sixth consecutive win against the Austrian side. While the “wolves” sail on a three-game winning-streak, the form curve of Klagenfurt points downwards, as they lost the past five games in the running season, despite leading in the last four with at least one goal. Pustertal has the second-best PK available, allowing only 2 goals in 22 occasions being one man down.
Winning Streak PUS: 3
Losing Streak KA2: 5
Head-2-Head: 5:1 (PUS)
Sat, 12.10.2019, 8.30 pm: Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey – HK SZ Olimpija Ljubljana
Referees: NIKOLIC M., SCHAUER, Rinker, Sparer.
In the clash of two former Alps Hockey League champions Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey hosts HK SZ Olimpija Ljubljana. While the Slovenian side came out with points in the past six games, the Italian team grabbed at least one point in the last four games. With only allowing one goal against each game, Asiago remain undefeated in home-games. Ljubljana booked only one win out of three road-games this season. Both teams met four times in the past, as the “dragons” cheered a victory in every game.
Winning Streak HKO: 2
Head-2-Head: 0:4 (HKO)
Sat, 12.10.2019, 8.30 pm: SHC Fassa Falcons – EHC Lustenau
Referees: BULOVEC, REZEK, Bedynek, Javornik.
In Saturday’s last game the SHC Fassa Falcons take on EHC Lustenau at home in a neighbor-battle and looks for the first win ever against the Austrian side. While Fassa is ranked 14th, the Vorarlberg side is placed 13th – both gained seven points so far. They meet each other after two straight losses each, but they had two consecutive wins prior that. Lustenau heads into the fourth road-game, winning the past two.
Losing Streak FAS: 2
Losing Streak EHC: 2
Head-2-Head: 0:6 (EHC)
Sun, 13.10.2019, 5.30 pm: S.G. Cortina Hafro – HC Gherdeina valgardena.it
Referees: LEHNER, SUPPER, Markizeti, Miklic.
With one more day off, S.G. Cortina Hafro and HC Gherdeina valgardena.it opens Alps Hockey League gameday on Sunday. Cortina has an impressive winning-streak available against Gherdeina, winning the past eight meetings. Only once, on January 17th, 2017 the guests snatched up a 5:4 win after overtime. Past gameday Cortina lost for the first time this season, dropping to fifth place in standings. But they remain undefeated on home-ice, winning its lone game. Gherdeina arrives after two consecutive road-wins.
Winning Streak GHE: 2
Head-2-Head: 9:1 (COR)
Sun, 13.10.2019, 6.00 pm: VEU Feldkirch – Steel Wings Linz
Referees: BERNEKER, HUBER A., Huber J., Rinker.
The VEU Feldkirch and the Steel Wings Linz have two games ahead on the coming weekend. After the VEU plays at Red Bull Hockey Juniors on Saturday, they host Linz, which have a road-trip scheduled, facing EC Bregenzerwald before. Both teams meet for the first time.
Sun, 13.10.2019, 6.30 pm: Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey – EHC Lustenau
Referees: KUMMER, OREL, Bergant, Snoj.
The EHC Lustenau finishes its road-trip at Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey. While the Italian team plays its second game on home-ice within less than 24 hours, Lustenau hits the road for the second time this weekend, after stopping by at Fassa on Saturday. Former champion Asiago won both battles past season.
Head-2-Head: 5:3 (ASH)
Fotocredit: (c) hockey24/7 - Bernd Stefan