VSV wins season opener in Linz

EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV started the new season of the win2day ICE Hockey League in Linz on Sunday. In Upper Austria, the hosts got off to the better start and took the lead through Shawn St-Amant. The 26-year-old Canadian provided the only goal in the first period after Knott's assist. In the middle frame, however, the Carinthians turned the game in their favor. First Robert Sabolic equalized, then Alex Wall scored his first league goal in the Villach jersey to give the visitors the lead. After Felix Maxa increased the lead in the 46th minute, Knott pulled one back for the Linz team but it was not enough. Marco Richter scored an empty netter 15 seconds before the end to make the final score 2:4.

Goal spectacle in Innsbruck, shutout for Vorarlberg
Both Innsbruck and Pustertal celebrated victories at the start. On Sunday they delivered a dramatic duel. Innsbruck gave away a two-goal lead twice and Pustertal even netted a goal for a 5:4 lead in the 58th minute. The hosts forced overtime thanks to a Kroggsgaard goal. In the shootout David Morley finally became the matchwinner. The 33-year-old scored a hat-trick and finally scored the decisive goal in the shootout.

As in their premiere season in the win2day ICE Hockey League, the BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg again celebrated their first win on the second matchday. The team from Feldkirch won 2:0 at home against Asiago. While goalie Alex Caffi recorded a shutout with 21 saves, two newcomers provided the goals: Oskar Maier gave the hosts the lead in the 19th minute, Julian Payr (29th) increased in the middle period for the final score. This was the first time the Pioneers won against Asiago, last season all four duels went to the Italians.

Salzburg and Ljubljana turn games
The Moser Medical Graz99ers proved to be very efficient in their road game in Salzburg and were 3:1 ahead after a goal by Patrik Kittinger in the 44th minute. The reigning champions came back to tie the game in regulation - also thanks to Phillip Sinn's first goal in the win2day ICE Hockey League. In overtime, Dennis Robertson ensured the decision in favor of the hosts.

After goals by Lukas Kainz and Niki Hartl everything went according to plan for the spusu Vienna Capitals in their home game against Ljubljana, but then Olimpija turned up the heat. In the middle period Aljaz Predan pulled one back and the Slovenians turned the game in their favor at the beginning of the third thanks to two pp goals. In the end Olimpija celebrated their first win of the season with 5:2.

Win2day ICE Hockey League | 17.9.2023 | 2nd Round:
EC Red Bull Salzburg - Moser Medical Graz99ers 4:3 OT (0:1, 1:1, 2:1)
Referees: NIKOLIC K., PIRAGIC, Bedynek, Zgonc.
Goals Salzburg: Schneider (36.), Sinn (47.), Nissner (50.), Robertson (63.)
Goals Graz: Matson (18./SH), Gustav Bouramman (37./PP), Kittinger (44.)

BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg - Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey 2:0 (1:0, 1:0, 0:0)
Referees: HUBER A., SCHAUER, Martin, Sparer.
Goals Pioneers: Maier (19.), Payr (29.)

spusu Vienna Capitals - HK SZ Olimpija 2:5 (1:0 1:1, 0:4)
Referees: HRONSKY, SIEGEL, Durmis, Jedlicka.
Goals Vienna: Kainz (5.), Hartl (25)
Goals Ljubljana: Predan (32.), Bicevskis (43./PP2), Mahkovec (44./PP), Kapel (56.), Gooch (57./EN)

Steinbach Black Wings Linz - EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV 2:4 (1:0, 0:2, 1:2)
Referees: GROZNIK, TRILAR, Miklic, Riecken.
Goals Linz: St-Amant (11.), Knott (58.)
Goals Villach: Sabolic (25.), Wall (34.), Maxa (46.), Richter (60./EN)

HC TIWAG Innsbruck - HC Pustertal Wolves 5:6 SO (0:1, 2:0, 3:4)
Referees: HOLZER T., ZRNIC, Snoj, Wimmler.
Goals Innsbruck: Roy (22./PP), Lattner (22.), Winkler (43.), Mackin (49.), Krogsgaard (60.)
Goals Pustertal: Morley (18./PP, 45., 52., 65./decisive penalty), Atwal (51.), Petan (58./PP)