Release from 22.01.2025

Tension and balance characterize the season

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The first phase of the Regular Season of the Alps Hockey League is in the hot final phase. There are still games to be played until February 4 before the league moves on to the Master and Qualification Round. While three teams have already secured their playoff ticket, four more teams are fighting for the remaining two spots in the Master Round. Overall, the league is extremely evenly balanced this season: Five of the past six encounters alone have been decided by just one goal difference. A look at the key figures shows just how close the teams are.

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Defending champion Rittner Buam SkyAlps, EK Die Zeller Eisbären and SIJ Acroni Jesenice are already qualified for the playoffs. Behind them, Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel and last year's finalist S.G. Cortina currently have the best chance of also qualifying for the quarter-finals early. However, the Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan and league newcomers KHL Sisak could also make the battle for the remaining Master Round places even more exciting with a strong finish.

Division into Master and Qualification Round
After the end of the first phase of the Regular Season on Tuesday, February 4, the teams will be divided into the Master Round and Qualification Round. The teams in the Master Round have already secured their play-off ticket and will play in a round robin for the best possible starting position for the postseason. In the Qualification Round, the remaining teams compete in two groups to qualify for the pre-playoffs, in which the remaining three quarter-final tickets are played off. The seeding list for the Qualification Round is drawn up on the basis of the placings in the first phase of the Regular Season. The best-placed teams in each group receive bonus points, which give them an advantage. Currently, bottom-placed Val Gardena is only six points behind the ninth-placed Cavaliers. This means that there could still be some, possibly decisive, changes in the table in the final games. The intermediate round starts on Tuesday, February 11.

More than 50% of all games decided by just one or two goals difference
An exciting battle for the remaining playoff tickets and subsequently in the playoff series is to be expected, as the density in the Alps Hockey League is probably higher than ever before this season. All teams have already recorded at least ten wins this season, meaning they have won almost a third of their games. It is particularly noteworthy that 120 of the 207 matches so far have been decided by a difference of just one or two goals. This means that in more than 50% of all matches, action was guaranteed right up to the last second. In 38 games, the decision was even made in overtime or shootout. Yesterday, Tuesday, both games ended with just one goal difference and last Saturday, three out of four matches were also decided with just one goal difference.

Offensive spectacle and spectator magnets
The current season also offers plenty for fans of attacking hockey. With a total of 1,319 goals scored, there is an average of 6.40 goals per game. The strongest offense is currently provided by league leaders and defending champions Ritten with 138 goals, followed by Kitzbühel with 130 goals.

In the stands, EK Die Zeller Eisbären is once again proving to be a magnet for spectators in the league. On average, 2,045 fans go to the KE KELIT Arena to watch the games of the team from Pinzgau live. They are followed by league newcomers KHL Sisak, who attract an average of 1,423 spectators per game. A total of eleven games were played in front of more than 2,000 fans, while 44 games attracted over 1,000 spectators.

This season, the Alps Hockey League has thrilled fans with a perfect mix of excitement, balance and offensive spectacle and is therefore well prepared for the future. Fans can look forward to an exciting final phase of the Regular Season and thrilling playoffs in which every goal can decide who advances and ultimately wins the title.