Release from 26.04.2019

Tension until the last second

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Some more chapters were added to the success story of Erste Bank Eishockey Liga in their 16th season. The playoffs could not have been more exciting with 15 games going into overtime. In the final series there were as many spectators in the arenas as never before.

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On Wednesday the Erste Bank Eishockey League season 2018/19 came to an end with EC-KAC winning the title for the 31st time in club history. In the last four seasons there were four different champions. In the same period all current league teams made it at least once to playoffs with eight (EHL, G99, HCB, KAC, RBS, VIC, VSV, ZNO) of them going through to semis.

More than 1 million spectators for the 10th successive time
spusu Vienna Capitals opened the season with twelve successive wins and equalled their own starting record until they were beaten 7:2 by KAC. With 2.260 goals scored, a new record was set. In mid-November Fehervar forward Zack Philipps even scored the 25000th goal in league history. 1.102.815 fans came to the arena with having on average 3.124 specators per game (second-best in the last six years). With 34.429 spectators a new record was set in the final series.

Tension until the last second was offered to the fans in most games as 42 per cent ended with only a one-goal difference. In playoffs it were 56 per cent one-goal games with 15 games going into overtime that's most in international comparison. Bolzano and Klagenfurt played the longest game in playoff history on March 15 with KAC winning it after midnight (3:4 after 120:53 minutes).

Victories in Champions Hockey League
By reaching the semifinals in Champions Hockey league, EC Red Bull Salzburg managed to raise international awareness. Because of the further good results of the spusu Vienna Capitals and HCB Südtirol Alperia, the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga ended the CHL season in third place behind Sweden and Switzerland. Despite the strong international appearances, Salzburg will not be represented in the upcoming CHL season for the first time. However the Moser Medical Graz99ers celebrate their premiere on the big European ice hockey stage. With their win of the regular season, the Styrians were the first team to celebrate their CHL participation. Furthermore the spusu Vienna Capitals qualified by winning the Pickround. The Austrian trio is completed by EC-KAC. The reigning champion returns to the European stage after a one-year break.
 
For these three teams, it will be exciting for the first time on Wednesday, 22 May, as the group stage draw will be held in Bratislava during the IIHF World Championship 2019.
 
The individual marks
With 83 points the Canadian Chris DeSousa was the topscorer of this season. Moreover he became top goal scorer by finding the net 46 times. With a total of 52 John Hughes managed to make the most assists once again. Klagenfurt's champion Lars Haugen won the goalkeeper ranking with a save percentage of 93.3% and a GAA of 1.74. Teammate and scorer of the championship winning goal, Adam Comrie was the most punished player in the league with 129 PIM.
 
Final Table Erste Bank Hockey League Season 2018/19
1. EC-KAC ***
2. spusu Vienna Capitals **
3. Moser Medical Graz99ers *
4. EC Red Bull Salzburg
5. Fehervar AV19
6. HCB Südtirol Alperia
7. EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz
8. HC Orli Znojmo
9. HC TWK Innsbruck "Die Haie"
10. EC Panaceo VSV
11. Dornbirn Bulldogs
 
Because of sports-related issues, Medvescak Zagreb has not participated in the championship after the regular season (phase 1).
 
*** Erste Bank Ice Hockey League Champion 2018/19 and Austrian Ice Hockey Champion and CHL participant 2019/20
** Austrian Vice Champion 2018/19 and CHL participant 2019/20
* CHL participant 2019/20