Release from 29.12.2017
The last eight games of the year 2017 are on the schedule in Alps Hockey League on Saturday.
Alps Hockey League, round 37:
Sat, 30.12.2017: HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice – HK SZ Olimpija (18:00)
Referees: LENDL, WIDMANN, Bizalj, Legat.
Sat, 30.12.2017: HC Neumarkt RIWEGA – HC Gherdeina valgardena.it (19:00)
Referees: LAZZERI, LEGA, DeZordo, Egger.
Sat, 30.12.2017: Red Bull Hockey Juniors – EC-KAC II (19:15)
Referees: HOLZER, STRASSER, Kalb, Oberhuber.
Sat, 30.12.2017: Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey 1935 – WSV Sterzing Broncos Weihenstephan (20:30)
Referees: FAJDIGA, KAMSEK, Bedana, F. Giacomozzi.
Sat, 30.12.2017: HC Fassa Falcons – Rittner Buam (20:45)
Referees: OFNER, WALLNER, Holzer, Rinker.
Alps Hockey League, round 38:
Sat, 30.12.2017: EC „Die Adler“ Stadtwerke Kitzbühel – EC Bregenzerwald (20:00)
Referees: BAJT, RUETZ, Markizeti, Rezek.
Sat, 30.12.2017: HC Pustertal Wolves – Sportivi Ghiacchio Cortina Hafro (20:00)
Referees: PIANEZZE, VIRTA, Ch. Cristeli, P. Giacomozzi.
Alps Hockey League, round 41:
Sat, 30.12.2017: EK Zeller Eisbären – EHC Alge Elastic Lustenau (19:30)
Referees: DURCHNER, PODLESNIK, Bedynek, Kainberger.
Sat, 30.12.2017: HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice – HK SZ Olimpija (18:00)
Referees: LENDL, WIDMANN, Bizalj, Legat.
HC Pustertal Wolves (2:1/SO), HC Neumarkt RIWEGA (6:5), Red Bull Hockey Juniors (1:3) and EC-KAC II (7:1) visited Jesenice already around Christmas. On Saturday the „Red Steelers“ will welcome now in their fifth home-game in a row or in the big Slovenian derby HK SZ Olimpija! The Steel Citizens won so far all three meetings with their big rival this year (6:4, 3:2, 3:0). But take attention: HK SZ Olimpija played successful around Xmas. Since losing the last Slovenian derby on December 16th at home 0:3, Robert Kristan and Company won all four games and received totally just five goals.
Sat, 30.12.2017: HC Neumarkt RIWEGA – HC Gherdeina valgardena.it (19:00)
Referees: LAZZERI, LEGA, DeZordo, Egger.
With HC Neumarkt RIWEGA (15.) and HC Gherdeina valgardena.it (14.) two neighbours in the standing will face on Saturday at Neumarkt. The wild-geese are ranked on place 15 with 21 points (eight wins), while the wild horses are ranked on place 14 with 27 points (nine wins). Both teams are without a victory after Christmas: Gherdeina lost both games after X-mas, Neumarkt is without points even for four games. The wild-geese welcome HC Gherdeina valgardena.it with good memories, because the team of Martin Ekrt got their last win on December 16th against the „Blue & Reds“ on the road. – Just three days later the teams will face at Gherdeina. The last five meetings of this two Italian clubs were won by the road team…
Sat, 30.12.2017: Red Bull Hockey Juniors – EC-KAC II (19:15)
Referees: HOLZER, STRASSER, Kalb, Oberhuber.
For the first time since November 29th 2017 the Red Bull Hockey Juniors will face a team from Austria on Saturday. Guest at Salzburg is EC-KAC II. Both teams will try to return on the winning-street after defeats in Slovenia on Thursday: The Mozart Citizens lost at Ljubljana with 1:4. The Red Jackets were defeated at Jesenice 1:7. For Klagenfurt it meaned the fourth defeat in a row or the 25th defeat of the season. The Red Bull Hockey Juniors, who received so far the fewest numbers of goals (50), have won the first season-clash clearly with 6:2.
Sat, 30.12.2017: EK Zeller Eisbären – EHC Alge Elastic Lustenau (19:30)
Referees: DURCHNER, PODLESNIK, Bedynek, Kainberger.
With EK Zeller Eisbären (10) and EHC Alge Elastic Lustenau (11) two neighbours in the standing will try to get closer to the Top 8 or Playoff spots on Saturday at Pinzgau. EKZ is ranked on place 10 with 37 points (13 wins) from 27 games, EHC follows close behind with 36 points (12 wins). The teams are missing eight or nine points for place 8. Both clubs had problems around Christmas: The Polar Bears lost both games after X-mas and received totally 14 goals. The Lions also celebrated just one win in the last three rounds. In the year 2017 EKZ won so far all three meetings with Lustenau with one goal difference (4:3, 3:2, 2:1/OT).
Sat, 30.12.2017: EC „Die Adler“ Stadtwerke Kitzbühel – EC Bregenzerwald (20:00)
Referees: BAJT, RUETZ, Markizeti, Rezek.
EC Bregenzerwald (7.) is the last guest at Kitzbühel (13.) in the year 2017. The Tyroleans could not convince in December so far. The „Eagles“ got just two points (one win) from six games in this month. EC Bregenzerwald on the other side had a good run lately. The Wälder got points from their last four games (three wins): Lately the Vorarlberger were on Fire too, Daniel Ban and Co. scored 13 goals in the last 120 minutes. The last three meetings were won by the home-team.
Sat, 30.12.2017: HC Pustertal Wolves – Sportivi Ghiacchio Cortina Hafro (20:00)
Referees: PIANEZZE, VIRTA, Ch. Cristeli, P. Giacomozzi.
Around New Year HC Pustertal Wolves (5) and S.G. Cortina Hafro (8) will fight twice for important points for a Playoff spot. On Saturday the two clubs face at Bruneck and on Tuesday at Cortina. In this moment both teams would be qualified for the Playoffs. The wolves had a good run lately. Bruneck won their last three games and got points from their last four matches. Now the Wolves welcome Cortina on Saturday, which is a fear-opponent of Bruneck. Against Cortina the HCP-players lost their last five meetings and they stayed without points for the last time. Besides Cortina made problems Leader Ritten on Thursday and won twice before.
Sat, 30.12.2017: Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey 1935 – WSV Sterzing Broncos Weihenstephan (20:30)
Referees: FAJDIGA, KAMSEK, Bedana, F. Giacomozzi.
Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey 1935 (2) and WSV Sterzing Broncos Weihenstephan (9) will face twice around New Year! On Saturday the two Italians meet at Asiago and then on Tuesday at Sterzing. The „Yellow Reds“ are the team of the hour: The Vice Champion collected the maximum of 21 points (seven wins) so far in December and is the first persecutor of Leader Rittner Buam. The Broncos managed the turn-around after Christmas. Sterzing won their last two games and is now back in the race for the Top 8 and the Playoffs. The Broncos were successful in the first season-clash at Asiago 2:1, but lately the Vice-Champion had the upper hand twice 4:2.
Sat, 30.12.2017: HC Fassa Falcons – Rittner Buam (20:45)
Referees: OFNER, WALLNER, Holzer, Rinker.
HC Fassa Falcons (16.) and Leader Rittner Buam will face twice around New Year. On Saturday the two Italian teams will meet at Fassa and then on Tuesday at Ritten. The Leader and Champion had problems lately, got just four points (one win) from the last three games. Nevertheless the Rittner Buam are the favorit: The Falcons from Fassa lost their last ten games and stayed without points in the last six meetings with the Rittner Buam.
Picture: David S. Wassagruba