Release from 29.12.2022
Six games are scheduled on Friday in the Alps Hockey League. On the last matchday of the year, league newcomer Hockey Unterland Cavaliers has the chance to become the fourth team to punch their playoff ticket. With a win at the HC Meran/o Pircher, the South Tyroleans would definitely be in the Top-5 by the end of Regular Season Phase 1. In the fight for the playoffs there is also a direct duel between the EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel and the EK Die Zeller Eisbären. Both teams are currently only one point behind the Rittner Buam SkyAlps, who hold the last playoff spot. The South Tyroleans will play at the SHC Fassa Falcons, against whom they have never lost in the AHL (21 games - 21 wins).
Alps Hockey League | 30.12.2022:
Fri, 30.12.2022, 19:30: EC Bregenzerwald - EHC Lustenau
Referees: OREL, WUNTSCHEK, Tschrepitsch, Wucherer. | >> PPV-LIVESTREAM <<
The EHC Lustenau celebrated a 4:2 prestige win against Zell am See on Wednesday, but still has no chance to reach the top-5 as they are eleventh in the table. The EC Bregenzerwald surprised Cortina with a 5:3 home win. The Italians nevertheless clinched their playoff ticket, as Lustenau defeated the Polar Bears. For the ECB, who as ninth in the table still has theoretical chances of reaching the top five, it was the sixth home win from the past seven games. However, in the Vorarlberg derby against Lustenau, they could only win one of the past six home games. Overall, the EHC has been victorious in the derby in nine of the past ten duels.
Fri, 30.12.2022, 20:00: EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel - EK Die Zeller Eisbären
Referees: BRUNNER, RUETZ, Eisl, Matthey. | >> PPV-LIVESTREAM <<
Three matchdays before the end of Regular Season Phase 1, the EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel and the EK Die Zeller Eisbären are tied on points in seventh and sixth place respectively, but only one point behind fifth place. In the derby on Friday it is therefore about big points in the fight for the playoffs. While Zell am See lost 2:4 at home to Lustenau on Wednesday, Kitzbühel celebrated a 3:1 win at fifth-placed Ritten. It was the second win in a row for the Eagles. At home, Kitzbühel is currently in impressive form, with five wins from the past six games. The Polar Bears, on the other hand, have only won one of their past five away games. In the first match of the season, Zell am See narrowly prevailed 3:2. All five goals were scored in the first period. Before that, Kitzbühel celebrated three wins in a row.
Fri, 30.12.2022, 20:00: Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan - Steinbach Steel Wings Linz
Referees: KAINBERGER, MOSCHEN, Rigoni, Rinker. | >> PPV-LIVESTREAM <<
With the Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan and the Steinbach Steel Wings Linz, two teams in poor shape face each other on Friday. Sterzing, which is twelfth in the table, has been waiting for a win since November 24th and the equivalent of five games. The Steinbach Steel Wings Linz, 14th in the table, ended a four-game losing streak with a 6:1 home win over Fassa on Wednesday. Away from home, the Upper Austrians have only won one of twelve games this season. The Broncos, in turn, are the weakest team in the league at home, with just three wins from eleven games.
Fri, 30.12.2022, 20:30: S.G. Cortina Hafro - HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice
Referees: LAZZERI, WIDMANN, Murnik, Telesklav. | >> PPV-LIVESTREAM <<
The only duel between two Top-5 teams will be played between S.G. Cortina Hafro and HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice. The league leader from Jesenice is currently 19 points ahead of third-placed Cortina. The Italians were surprisingly beaten 5:3 by Bregenzerwald on Wednesday, but still clinched a playoff ticket, as Lustenau defeated Zell am See. For the Italians it was the second defeat from the past ten games. The Slovenians won all of their last six games. In the first duel of the season, Jesenice clearly kept the upper hand with 4:0. Looking at the past ten duels, the score in H2H is 5:5.
Fri, 30.12.2022, 20:30: HC Meran/o Pircher - Hockey Unterland Cavaliers
Referees: BENVEGNU, VIRTA, Brondi, De Zordo. | >> PPV-LIVESTREAM <<
League newcomer Hockey Unterland Cavaliers can fix the playoff spot on their own. Currently, the lead of the fourth in the table to the sixth in the table is seven points, with three games left. With a win at the HC Meran/o Pircher after regular playing time, Unterland would would definitely be in the Top-5 by the end of Regular Season Phase 1. With a win after overtime or shootout, the South Tyroleans would be the playoff, if in the parallel game between Kitzbühel and Zell am See no team wins after regular playing time. In case of a defeat, no matter if after regular playing time, overtime or shootout, the playoff qualification for Unterland is possible at the earliest on Tuesday, January 3rd against Bregenzerwald. Meran, as tenth in the table, still has a theoretical chance to reach the Top-5, but must win and at the same time hope for a defeat of Ritten. In the first ever AHL duel between the two teams, Meran surprisingly clear won with 6:3 away from home. The current form of the Eagles also makes them hope for a surprise, with seven wins from the past ten games. Unterland won six of the past ten games.
Fri, 30.12.2022, 20:45: SHC Fassa Falcons - Rittner Buam SkyAlps
Referees: EGGER, PINIE, Fleischmann, Pace. | >> PPV-LIVESTREAM <<
The final match in 2022 will be played between the SHC Fassa Falcons and Rittner Buam SkyAlps. A clash where the role of the favorites is clearly distributed. In all 21 AHL duels so far, Ritten has been the winner. The Buam urgently need a victory on Friday. Although they are still in fifth place in the standings and thus on course for the playoffs, they suffered a setback on Wednesday in a 1:3 home defeat to Kitzbühel. The lead over the Tyrolean team and Zell am See is now only one point. For Ritten it was the second defeat in a row. Fassa is thirteenth in the table and will definitely play in the Qualification Round for the Pre-Playoffs. On Wednesday they lost clearly 1:6 at the Steel Wings. It was their fourth defeat from the past five games.