Release from 14.08.2017
In the upcoming three days the Pre-Season continues for HC Orli Znojmo, EC Red Bull Salzburg and Champion UPC Vienna Capitals, while for Fehervar AV19, that welcomed Finish League-star Artuu Luttinen, KHL Medvescak Zagreb and the Moser Medical Graz99ers the first friendly games are on their schedule.
„Red Eagles“ with three games in three days
HC Orli Znojmo continues their Pre-Season on Tuesday at a tournament at Prerov! There the Czechs play three games within three days. Their first opponent is HC Zlin. The Extraliga-club has with Oldrich Horak, Dalibor Reznicek and Marek Zagrapan three players, who are also best known in the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, in their roster. One year ago the two teams also faced each other in the Pre-Season. In those days both clubs won their home-game. In the following two days Jiri Beroun and Co. will face host HC ZUBR Prerov (Wed) and HC Slavia Praha (Thu). Both clubs participate in the second highest League in Czech Republic.
After two defeats at the beginning of the season the „Red Eagles“ were successful and on Fire in their home-opener lately. The Czechs beat BK Mlada Boleslav with 7:6. Defenseman Josef Zajic scored three goals: „We all work hart in the practice. Each game is a big welcome for us. We all look forward to the tournament at Prerov. We had a good preparation so far and we are ready for the games there!“
Red Bulls with last test before the Champions Hockey League against one of their CHL-opponents
EC Red Bull Salzburg plays their home-opener on Tuesday. The Mozart Citizens welcome DEL-club Grizzlys Wolfsburg, a team the Mozart Citizens will face then also in the group stage of the Champions Hockey League. While the Mozart Citizens lost their first two Pre-Season games at the Red Bulls Salute 2017 at Garmisch Partenkirchen against HC Sparta Praha (3:4 after Overtime) and SC Bern (1:3), the German Vice-Champion won both friendly games against Bremerhaven (2:1) and ERC Ingolstadt (4:1) so far. The Red Bulls will miss Raphael Herburger, John Hughes, Matthias Trattnig, Alex Aleardi and Manuel Latusa (all injured).
Fehervar AV19 signed Finish League-star and starts Pre-Season
On Tuesday HK SPK Poprad makes their first friendly game at HK SPK Poprad in the Slovakia. Today the Hungarians announced the signing of Finish Liiga star Arttu Luttinen, who played totally 869 games in Finlands highest League, in which he scored totally 397 points. The 33 years old Forward was three times Vice-Champion in Finland with Espoo Blues (2011), the Pelicans (2012) and IFK Helsinki (2016). The last five years he spend at HIFK and was Captain of the team since 2015.
99ers open Pre-Season against Stavanger Oilers at Maribor
At Maribor the Moser Medical Graz99ers start their Pre Season with a friendly game against Norwegian Champion Stavanger Oilers on Wednesday. In the past the two teams faced already twice. Both times - in August 2014 and past season - the team from Norway was successful. For Headcoach Doug Mason the friendly game at Maribor is the first chance to see his team performing on the ice, especially the new arrivals Brock Nixon, Brock Higgs, Justin Buzzeo, Aleksi Laakso, Jonathan Carlosson and goalie Hannu Toivinen, as well as returnee Florian Iberer.
Also the Bears and Capitals face Hockey Club Lyon during the Pre Season
After the Carinthan teams - EC VSV (4:2-win) and EC-KAC (3:4-defeat) - in this week KHL Medvescak Zagreb (Wed) and Champion UPC Vienna Capitals (Thu) will face in Maribor French League-club Lyon. For Medvescak it is the first friendly game before their comback-season in Erste Bank Eishockey Liga. The Vienna Capitals have played already one game in this PreSeason against MAC Budapest, which they also won 2:1. „At the start of the season there are always things to improve, but winning the first match is always good for the confidence“, knows Viennas Head Coach Serge Aubin. Just 24 hours later the Caps will face then on Friday at Maribor Norwegian Champion Stavanger Oilers with the former Caps Tony Romano and Josh Suares.
Next friendly games of the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga-clubs:
Tue, 15.08.2017: HC PSG Zlin - HC Orli Znojmo (Prerov. 18:00)
Tue, 15.08.2017: HK Poprad - Fehervar AV19 (19:00)
Tue, 15.08.2017: EC Red Bull Salzburg - Grizzlys Wolfsburg (Salzburg, 19:30; Referees: KELLNER, SMETANA; Seewald, Verworner)
Wed, 16.08.2017: KHL Medvescak Zagreb - Lyon Hockey Club (Maribor, 16:30)
Wed, 16.08.2017: HC ZUBR Prerov - HC Orli Znojmo (18:00)
Wed, 16.08.2017: Stavanger Oilers - Moser Medical Graz99ers (Maribor, 19:30)
Thu, 17.08.2017: HC Slava Praha - HC Orli Znojmo (Prerov, 15:30)
Thu, 17.08.2017: UPC Vienna Capitals - Lyon Hockey Club (Maribor, 16:00)