VSV clinches playoff ticket after ICE thriller

VSV clears quarterfinal ticket

EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV is the fourth quarterfinal opponent after HCB Südtirol Alperia, EC Red Bull Salzburg and HC TIWAG Innsbruck. However, the playoff qualification had to be fought hard in the match against Steinbach Black Wings Linz. At the Retro Night in Linz, the Upper Austrians and EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV delivered a duel on eye level in the first period with the better chances for the hosts from Linz. In the first 20 minutes goalies Rasmus TIrronen (BWL) and J.P. Lamoureux (VSV) initially stood out. But Tirronen's workday was promptly ended in the second period when he conceded three goals within ten minutes. Chris Collins first laced a brace - his tenth in the win2day ICE Hockey League - before Robert Sabolic made it 3-0. The Upper Austrians had nothing to counter the strong VSV offense in the second period. The speech in the second break by Black Wings coach Phil Lukas seemed to have an effect. In the first 90 seconds of the final period, goals from Brian Lebler and Michael Haga reduced the score to 2:3 and Thomas Höneckl kept his box clean. The crowd in Linz immediately got loud and more than 3,500 fans were treated to a real thriller. When Linz had already put all their eggs in one basket, Michael Haga tied the game with 17 seconds left and sent the game into overtime. After a goalless overtime, the two teams played out a penalty shootout that was hard to beat in terms of excitement, with Anthony Luciani finally deciding the game in favor of Villach.



Layne Viveiros moves from the bottom of the league BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg to the fourth EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV for the rest of the season. The defenseman played 39 games (8 points) for the league newcomer. The biggest success in the 27-year-old's career so far was winning the championship in the 2015/16 season with the EC Red Bull Salzburg. For the upcoming season, Viveiros has a contract with option with the Pioneers Vorarlberg. A return to Feldkirch is therefore very likely.

Sharks defeat league leader

HC TIWAG Innsbruck is putting a lot of pressure on the league leader just before the International Break. In Sunday's top duel with EC Red Bull Salzburg, the Sharks managed a 3:1 win, reducing the gap to the reigning champions to four points - second-placed HCB Südtirol Alperia is three points away. For the Tyroleans, this was the first win of the season against one of the top two teams. It also ended Salzburg's seven-game winning streak. The hosts from Innsbruck managed a dream start in the person of Nico Feldner, who needed less than 100 seconds for the opening goal. The reigning champions equalized on the power play in the 14th minute, but the Sharks had the right answer and regained the lead four minutes later - also on the power play. The goal to make it 2-1 went to the account of the league's top scorer Brady Shaw, who celebrated his 22nd goal after five goalless games for the first time this season. Simon Bourque finally provided the decision in the final period and the final score of 3:1.



KAC stops Asiago Express

The EC-KAC recorded a perfect weekend. After the important win in Székesfehérvár on Friday, the KAC followed it up with a commanding victory over Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey on Sunday and promptly made it back into the top-6. Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey was stopped for only the second time in the last nine games. An early goal by Manuel Ganahl put the home side in the "Heidi Horton Arena" on the road to success right from the start. Still in the first period Riha Bukarts could add for the KAC. In the middle period, Allan McShane struck once again in a shorthanded situation, scoring the connecting goal for Asiago and extending his Socring streak to six games. Shortly before the end of the second period, Fabian Hochegger scored on powerplay. In the final period, Sebastian Dahm and the KAC defense managed to hold on to the advantage. With the 3:1 win against Asiago, the KAC managed to jump to fifth place in the table - its best ranking since October 16, 2021.



Graz celebrates OT win over Olimpija

The Moser Medical Graz99ers captured an important two points in the race for the pre-playoffs. Against HK SZ Olimpija, who just recently ended their negative streak against the Caps, they managed a 3:2 overtime win. The Slovenians presented themselves under new head coach Antti Karhula much more aggressive than in the weeks before and gave the Styrians a hard fight over almost 62 minutes. The guests from Graz managed a dream start with a goal after 95 seconds by Sam Antonitsch. After Ljubljana equalized in the second period, the Styrians regained the lead, which the hosts equalized again at the beginning of the final period. In the overtime Ken Ograjensek finally provided the decision. This extra point increased the lead over HC Pustertal and the eleventh place from two to three points.

Fehérvár prevails in shootout

In the duel between HC Pustertal and Hydro Fehérvár AV19 especially the defensive departments as well as both goalkeepers knew how to convince. For 65 minutes no crack managed to overcome Tomas Sholl (PUS) or Olivier Roy (AVS). Then in the shootout Janos Hari provided the decision and the extra point for Fehérvár, who are nine points behind the top-6 before the national team break.

win2day ICE Hockey League:

EC-KAC - Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey 3:1 (2:0,1:1,0:0)

Referees: K. NIKOLIC, PIRAGIC, Bärnthaler, Zgonc
Goals KAC: Ganahl (4.), Bukarts (15.), Hochegger (39./PP1)
Goals ASH: Mcshane (27./SH1),

Steinbach Black Wings Linz - EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV 3:4 S.O. (0:0,0:3,3:0)
Referees: RENCZ, SMETANA, Gatol-Schafranek, Muzsik
Goals BWL: Lebler (41.), Haga (42./60.),
Goals VSV: Collins (21.), Collins (25.), Sabolic (31.), Luciani (65./des.pen.)

HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie - EC Red Bull Salzburg 3:1 (2:1,0:0,1:0)
Referees: BERNEKER, M. NIKOLIC, Martin, Sparer
Goals HCI: Feldner (2.), Shaw (18./PP1), Bourque (46.)
Goals RBS: Robertson (14./PP1)

HK SZ Olimpija - Moser Medical Graz99ers 2:3 O.T. (0:1,1:1,1:0)
Referees: HRONSKY, OFNER, Durmis, Konc
Goals HKO: Magovac (26.), Sturm (42.)
Goals G99: Antonitsch (2.), Granholm (37.), Ograjensek (62.)

HC Pustertal Wölfe - Hydro Fehervar AV 19 0:1 S.O. (0:0,0:0,0:0)
Referees: GROZNIK, STERNAT, Nothegger, Seewald
Goals AVS: Hari (65./ des. Pen)