Two more teams have the chance to qualify for the playoffs

Alps Hockey League | 30.12.2023 | Schedule:
Sat, 30.12.2023, 6.00 pm: Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan – HK RST Pellet Celje
Referees: BAJT, LAZZERI, Abeltino, Murnik. | >> valcome.tv <<
The Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan put an end to their five-game losing streak on Thursday with a 5-2 home win over Kitzbühel and found their way back into the top six. Sterzing wants to carry this momentum over to HK RST Pellet Celje and with another win, the team led by top scorer Adam Campannelli (23G|19A) won the first game in Slovenia 4-2, defend its potential place in the Master Round and the associated direct participation in the playoffs.

Sat, 30.12.2023, 6.00 pm: EHC Lustenau – Hockey Unterland Cavaliers
Referees: HOLZER, RUETZ, Jäger, Seewald J. | >> valcome.tv <<
The Hockey Unterland Cavaliers have recently suffered three defeats in a row but want to put an end to the negative trend against one of their favorite opponents. The team in twelfth place in the table still has a clean slate against EHC Lustenau, having won all three games so far. A defensive improvement is needed to extend this streak, as the South Tyroleans have conceded 16 goals in their last three defeats. The "Stickers" are on the up: Two recent victories against direct rivals for the best starting position for the Qualification Round - but an improvement in penalty-killing is needed: In the last five games, Lustenau have conceded at least twice while short-handed.

Sat, 30.12.2023, 7.00 pm: SIJ Acroni Jesenice – Red Bull Hockey Juniors
Referees: HLAVATY, WUNTSCHEK, Legat, Markizeti. | >> valcome.tv <<
The Red Bull Hockey Juniors have the chance to qualify for the 2024 playoffs at SIJ Acroni Jesenice. With a win after regulation and a four-goal difference, the "Juniors" would have the advantage over the reigning champions from Slovenia in the final standings. For any other result, the parallel games between Sterzing and Cortina must also be taken into account. However, Jesenice also still have to worry about their participation in the Master Round: Three wins in a row – and only two goals conceded in the process – have put the defending champions back in a good starting position. However, in fifth place, they are only one point ahead of the teams from Sterzing and Cortina behind them.

Sat, 30.12.2023, 7.30 pm: EK Die Zeller Eisbären – HC Meran/o Pircher
Referees: BULOVEC, WIDMANN, Arlic, Puff. | >> valcome.tv <<
EK Die Zeller Eisbären have yet to lose a game at home against their upcoming opponents HC Meran/o Pircher. They have won three games in the past with a goal difference of 17:1. The Salzburg team is currently in good form, having come back from a deficit in each of their last two victories. Meran put up a good fight on Thursday, narrowly losing 5:6 at home to Lustenau. The South Tyroleans are in tenth place in the table and still have every chance of improving - but also worsening - their starting position for the qualification round. The points difference between eighth (EHC) and 14th (SWL) is just seven points.

Sat, 30.12.2023, 7.30 pm: EC Bregenzerwald – Rittner Buam SkyAlps
Referees: LEGA, SCHAUER, Brondi, Rinker. | >> valcome.tv <<
EC Bregenzerwald also has the opportunity to qualify for the playoffs on the third-to-last matchday of the regular season. The third-placed "Wälder" have a five-point advantage over Sterzing (#6) and Cortina (#7). If the team from Vorarlberg gain two points more than one of their two rivals, they are guaranteed a place in the Master Round. The same applies if Richard Schlögl and his team win against the Rittner Buam in regulation and Jesenice lose against the Red Bull Hockey Juniors at the same time. However, their opponents are the league leaders Rittner Buam SkyAlps, who are on a six-game winning streak the South Tyroleans have also won the last two meetings with the ECB. However, Ritten's last win in the Ländle after regular time was almost four years ago (5-1 | 4th January 2020). This game pits the best power play in the AHL (ECB 32.0%) against the best penalty kill (RIT 84.4%).

Sat, 30.12.2023, 8.00 pm: EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel – SHC Fassa Falcons
Referees: LEHNER, WENUSCH, Eisl, Moidl. | >> valcome.tv <<
The duel between EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel (#9) and SHC Fassa Falcons (#11) is also about the best possible starting position for the Qualification Round: The two teams are separated by just two places and two points in the table - and eighth place is within reach for the duo. On Thursday, however, they suffered defeats against teams from the top six. With the exception of Kevin Szabad, Kitzbühel will be fielding their best line-up and Niklas Wetzl from cooperative club Villach should also be available.

Sat, 30.12.2023, 8.30 pm: HC Gherdeina valgardena.it – EC-KAC Future Team
Referees: BENVEGNU, MOSCHEN, Cusin, Grisenti. | >> valcome.tv <<
The EC-KAC Future Team is making its 14th attempt at its first away win of the season: On Thursday in Celje, the young "Red Jackets" came close in a 4-5 defeat after overtime, putting up a fighting performance after trailing 3-0. Klagenfurt have only managed to pick up a point once in Val Gardena in the past, losing 3-2 to the "Furie" after a shootout on February 20th, 2021. Val Gardena is unbeaten at home against Klagenfurt, winning eight times. Their form is also good: they have won four of their last five games and would even have the chance to move up from twelve to nine with another win.

Sat, 30.12.2023, 8.30 pm: S.G. Cortina Hafro – Steel Wings LINZ AG
Referees: KUMMER, STEFENELLI, Cristeli, Wucherer. | >> valcome.tv <<
Important points in the race for the top six are at stake for S.G. Cortina Hafro: The runners-up will host Steel Wings LINZ AG and would still be within striking distance of direct qualification for the quarter-finals with a win. The Italians have won all five of their home games against the Upper Austrians so far. However, the first duel of the season on November 4 was a clear 6-1 win for Linz, who have recently suffered three defeats in a row.

Fotocredit: EC Bregenzerwald Facebook-Page von Melanie