Release from 09.12.2023
On Saturday, the top duo of the Alps Hockey League each notched up their 17th win of the season: League leaders Rittner Buam SkyAlps won 4-2 against Celje thanks to a brace from Kevin Fink within 26 seconds, while league’s top scorer Tomi Wilenius cleared it for runner-up EK Die Zeller Eisbären with three points (1G|2A) in a 4-2 home win against Linz.
EC Bregenzerwald moved up to fourth place with their seventh win in a row. Roberts Lipsbergs shone for the "Wälder" with a hat-trick. SIJ Acroni Jesenice and S.G. Cortina Hafro also notched up important victories in the battle for the top six.
There were also home victories for HC Gherdeina valgardena.it and SHC Fassa Falcons.
The Alps Hockey League returns on Tuesday, December 19th with a full matchday and eight games from the upcoming IIHF break.
The Rittner Buam SkyAlps immediately got back on the winning track after their defeat on Thursday in Merano (2-3). The Alps Hockey League leaders defeated HK RST Pelle Celje 4-2 to win their second game of the season against the Slovenians, which were beaten for the seventh time in a row. Kevin Fink scored a brace within 26 seconds to decide the game in favor of the South Tyroleans, which also had to come back from a deficit in this game.
Wilenius gives „Eisbären“ another home win
Tomi Wilenius led the EK Die Zeller Eisbären to a 4-2 home win over the Steel Wings Linz, as the Alps Hockey League top scorer first provided two assists and then scored the last goal of the night himself. Salzburg side, which won their fourth consecutive game against the Upper Austrians, were already 3-0 ahead after two periods. Nick Huard, who scored the goal to make it 3-0 in the meantime, lit the lamp for the fourth consecutive game.
Lipsbergs hat-trick extends Bregenzerwald’s winning streak
EC Bregenzerwald recorded its seventh win in a row with a 5-3 victory at the Hockey Unterland Cavaliers to take fourth place in standings. Roberts Lipsbergs scored a hat-trick, as he opened the game with two goals and added the game-winning goal. The "Wälder" also won their second game of the season against the South Tyroleans.
Jesenice and Cortina takes huge wins in the race for the top-6
SIJ Acroni Jesenice (#6) and S.G. Cortina Hafro (#7) celebrated important victories in the race for a place in the top six required for the Masterround: The reigning champions prevailed 5-1 at home against HC Meran/o Pircher, as the Slovenians led already 3-0 after 29 minutes and were never in trouble.
Cortina, meanwhile, celebrated a 5-2 road win at the Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan (#5) and are now only one point behind Jesenice in seventh place. In Sterzing, the runners-up took the lead after just 64 seconds and already had a three-goal advantage after the second period (4-1). It was the third win in a row for the Italians.
Gherdeina and Fassa cheer home wins each
HC Gherdeina valgardena.it and SHC Fassa Falcons secured important home victories on Saturday in the battle for a good starting position for the Qualification Round. Val Gardena defeated EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel 7-3 at home, with three goals in the second half of the middle frame deciding the game. Anthony De Luca shone with four goals and one assist.
The SHC Fassa Falcons recorded a 4-2 win at home against EHC Lustenau. Two powerplay goals ultimately made the difference for the Italians, which celebrated their fifth home win in a row.
Alps Hockey League | 09.12.2023 | Results:
Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan - S.G. Cortina Hafro 2:5 (0:2, 1:2, 1:1)
Referees: LEHNER, MOIDL, Matthey, Moidl. | Spectators: 365
Goals WSV: Livingston (24./Capanelli-Zecchetto), Capannelli (46./Conci)
Goals SGC: Parini (2./Barnabo), Toffoli (17./Barnabo-Colli), Sanna (31./Zanatto-Seed), Cuglietta (39.PP1/Carozza, 53./Lacedelli-Zanatta)
SIJ Acroni Jesenice - HC Meran/o Pircher 5:1 (2:0, 2:1, 1:0)
Referees: KUMMER, VOICAN, Klemm, Legat. | Spectators: 524
Goals JES: Selan (4./Pance-Sersen M.), Jezovsek (5./Sersen G.-Sersen M.), Pance (29./Bohinc R.-Bohinc M.), Bohinc M. (38.PP1/Selan-Lesnicar), Lesnicar (60./Selan M.-Planko)
Goal HCM: Gellon (30./Ritchie-Anderson)
Rittner Buam SkyAlps - HK RST Pellet Celje 4:2 (1:1, 2:0, 1:1)
Referees: HUBER, VIRTA, Eisl, Rinker. | Spectators: 712
Goals RIT: Szypula (16./Kostner J.), Fink (36.PP1/Szypula-Koster S., 37./Amorosa), Kostner S. (55./Coatta)
Goals HKC: Freidenfelds (13., 46.)
Hockey Unterland Cavaliers - EC Bregenzerwald 3:5 (0:2, 2:0, 1:3)
Referees: FAJDIGA, OREL, Murnik, Puff. | Spectators: 478
Goals ECB: Lipsbergs (12./Kulintsev, 14.PP1/Kulintsev-Embrich, 45./Embrich-Metzler), Embrich (43./Lipsbergs-Wempe), Auvinen (53.PP1/Pöschmann-Metzler)
Goals HCU: Käyrä (31.PP1/Nyman-Markkula), Markkula (32./Kaufmann-Wieser), Brighenti (53.SH1/Käyrä)
EK Die Zeller Eisbären - Steel Wings LINZ AG 4:2 (1:0, 2:0, 1:2)
Referees: BULOVEC, WIDMANN, Jeram, Miklic. | Spectators: 1876
Goals EKZ: Ban (15./Wilenius-Huard), Berger (38./Unterluggauer-Posch), Huard (40./Ban-Wilenius), Wilenius (60.EN/Artner)
Goals SWL: Saha (50./Persson), Persson (52.)
SHC Fassa Falcons - EHC Lustenau 4:2 (2:1, 1:1, 1:1)
Referees: RICCO, SORAPERRA, De Zordo, Pace. | Spectators: 377
Goals FAS: Schiavone (3.PP1/Selin-Sylwander), Biondi (9./Selin-Costantin), Deluca (30.PP1/Schiavone-Iori), Sylwander (60.EN/Iori-Selin)
Goals EHC: Öhrvall (7./Haberl-Johansson), Wilfan (47.SH1)
HC Gherdeina valgardena.it - EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel 7:3 (2:2, 3:0, 2:1)
Referees: BENVEGNU, PIRAS, Brondi, Cristeli. | Spectators: 712
Goals GHE: De Luca (3./McGowan-Cristellon, 34./McGowan-Cristellon, 38.PP1/Kasslatter-McGowan, 50./Cristellon), Cristellon (12.PP1/Kasslatter-McGowan), Kasslatter (31.PP1/Glück-De Luca), Moroder (46.)
Goals KEC: Podlipnik (5./Rotter-Seto), Niemelä (19./Hochfilzer-Lehtonen, 50./Hochfilzer)
Fotocredit: Max Pattis