Release from 03.12.2023
EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV won against Salzburg on Sunday in the home debut of neo-head coach Marcel Rodman - with John Hughes gaining his 1000th league point. While Manuel Ganahl scored a brace in the KAC victory at Asiago, the spusu Vienna Capitals returned to winning ways. In addition, HCB Südtirol Alperia turned around their clash with Graz in the final period and climbed into the top six of the win2day ICE Hockey League for the first time this season.
The home debut of neo-head coach Marcel Rodman against EC Red Bull Salzburg gave Villach plenty to celebrate. Goalie Jean-Philippe Lamoureux was honoured for his 600th league game, then VSV got off to a perfect start in the almost full arena. Elias Wallenta (8th) scored after a quick attack from the right face-off circle. Three minutes later, Andrew Desjardins increased the lead to 2:0 with a rebound on powerplay, assisted by ex-Salzburg player John Hughes, who gained his 1000th point in the league. The Red Bulls then got better into the fast-paced encounter and pulled one back through Dennis Robertson before the first break. The league leaders took control at times in the middle period, but it was the Carinthians who scored next - Anthony Luciani restored the two-goal lead. In the 31st minute, Paul Stapelfeldt picked up the puck at the blue line and, after a short solo run, shot into the corner of the net for his first goal of the season - 2:3. In the final period, it was still hard-fought but fair and the tempo remained extremely high. VSV increased the lead to 4:2, Maximilian Rebernig (46) scored at the right post with a rebound. Four minutes later, Thomas Raffl netted on power play to bring the Red Bulls back to 3:4. The score remained the same, with Villach also winning their second home game against Salzburg this season.
Local rivals Klagenfurt remain one point ahead of Villach in fourth place. The KAC celebrated a 5:2 victory in Asiago on Sunday. The Italians took the lead after just 50 seconds, but Manuel Ganahl turned the game in the visitors' favour with a brace. In the final period, the guests pulled away to 4:1 with goals from Herburger (45') and Vallant (51'). In the end, the Red Jackets celebrated a well-deserved victory and this time picked up three points a month after the overtime defeat in Asiago.
Bolzano climbs into the top 6
HCB Südtirol Alperia ended the Moser Medical Graz99ers' four-game winning streak thanks to a strong final third. The team from Bolzano got off to the better start and took the lead through Sikura (5') on power play. The efficient Styrians turned the game in their favour within four minutes, but Bolzano's Miceli equalised before the break. The only goal in the middle period was scored by the 99ers: Ograjensek and Anthony Salinitri were on a breakaway, with Salinitri adding his second of the game. In the third period, the Foxes scored three goals by the 48th minute and were now firmly in control of the game. The Styrians hardly had any attacks and Miceli fixed the final score at 6:3. With their sixth home win in a row, the runners-up climbed into the top six for the first time.
Caps beat Pioneers again
In the race for the pre-playoff spots, the spusu Vienna Capitals celebrated an important home win against the BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg, who once again got off to a poor start. The home side took the lead in the fourth minute thanks to a powerplay goal from Nico Brunner, and Trevor Cheek increased it to 2:0 before the break. The Vorarlberg side equalised within four minutes in the middle period. First Steve Owre scored and then Michael Pastujov deflected a shot to equalise. However, another penalty proved fatal for the visitors, with Carsen Twarynski restoring the Vienna lead two seconds before the end of the period. The hosts defended their narrow lead, with Cheek scoring into an empty net one second before the final buzzer to make it 4:2. With their seventh win in their seventh duel, the now tenth-placed Caps ended a three-game losing streak and moved to within four points of the Pioneers.
win2day ICE Hockey League | 03.12.2023:
spusu Vienna Capitals – BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg 4:2 (2:0, 1:2, 1:0)
Referees: NIKOLIC K., PIRAGIC, Bedynek, Snoj
Goals Vienna: Brunner (4.), Cheek (19., 60./EN), Twarynski (40.)
Goals Vorarlberg: Owre (21.), M. Pastujov (25.)
EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV – EC Red Bull Salzburg 4:3 (2:1, 1:1, 1:1)
Referees: FICHTNER, HRONSKY, Durmis, Jedlicka
Goals Villach: Wallenta (8.), Desjardins (11./PP), Luciani (24.), Rebernig (46.)
Goals Salzburg: Robertson (18.), Stapelfeldt (31.), Raffl (50./PP)
Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey – EC-KAC 2:5 (1:1, 0:1, 1:3)
Referees: BERNEKER, ZRNIC, Hribar, Martin
Goals Asiago: Vallati (1.), M. Marchetti (58.)
Goals KAC: Ganahl (11., 25.), Herburger (45.), Vallant (51.), Bischofberger (59./EN)
HCB Südtirol Alperia – Moser Medical Graz99ers 6:3 (2:2, 0:1, 4:0)
Referees: OFNER, PALKÖVI, Mantovani, Pardatscher
Goals Bolzano: Sikura (5./PP), Miceli (17., 53.), Frank (43.), Thomas (46./PP), McClure (48.)
Goals Graz: Viksten (12.), Salinitri (16., 30.)
Photo: VSV / Krammer