Release from 14.09.2023
win2day ICE Hockey League | 14.09.2023:
Fri, 14.09.2023, 7.15 pm: Moser Medical Graz99ers – spusu Vienna Capitals
Referees: RENCZ, TRILAR, Hribar, Muszik. | >> live.ice.hockey <<
The Moser Medical Graz99ers and the spusu Vienna Capitals will cross sticks at the start of the new season in the win2day ICE Hockey League. The last time this duel took place on an opening gameday was in 2019, when Graz won 2-1 after overtime. Both teams have made some roster changes over the summer, as the "Caps" are now coached by Marc Habscheid and also helped themselves - such as Dominique Heinrich (RBS), Rok Ticar (KAC) and Zintis Zusevics (G99) - abundantly with league rivals. The preseason went less smoothly on both sides, as Graz, which went scoreless three times, won one game, Vienna two. Of the last seven meetings between the two teams in Graz, the Styrians have won six. In the four encounters last season, the home team always prevailed – three times 60 minutes were not enough. Graz should be able to play the opener with a full lineup.
Fri, 14.09.2023, 7.15 pm: HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie – HCB Südtirol Alperia
Referees: BERNEKER, Huber A., Seewald, Wimmler. | >> live.ice.hockey <<
Further west, it comes to a Tyrolean derby, as the two Champions Hockey League participants HC TIWAG Innsbruck - The Sharks and HCB Südtirol Alperia meet each other in Innsbruck. Their previous games at the highest European level went differently: While the "Sharks" won twice at home against Geneva and Belfast, the "Foxes" lost in all four games, conceding 21 goals. The South Tyrolean team – under new head coach Niklas Sundblad – played a remarkable preseason program, with eleven games including CHL.
Speaking of eleven: Bolzano has always scored in its last eleven appearances in Innsbruck, as the “Haie” last home victory after regulation over the "Foxes" dates back to September 8th, 2017 (5:3). Last year, the vice-champion won all four encounters with the North Tyroleans.
The two teams have competed in Innsbruck three times to open the season: in 2013 Bolzano (6:1) won, in 2016 and 2017 both the "Sharks". The South Tyroleans, which face Hydro Fehérvár AV19 at home just under 24 hours later, could be missing Kris Pietroniro and goalie Gianluca Vallini, who is suffering from muscle fatigue.
Fri, 14.09.2023, 7.15 pm: HK SZ Olimpija – Steinbach Black Wings Linz
Referees: NAGY, SOOS, Bärnthaler, Vaczi. | >> live.ice.hockey <<
In their third year of being part of the win2day ICE Hockey League, HK SZ Olimpija starts the season with a home game for the first time, hosting the Steinbach Black Wings Linz. Both teams have a positive record from the preseason, as the "Dragons" won four out of six games, the "Black Wings" won five out of eight encounters – most recently twice against DEL teams. In the past campaign, the Upper Austrians managed the season sweep over the Slovenians, which made some changes at the legionnaire sector. Overall, Linz, which has strengthened itself with Nico Feldner, Matt MacKenzie and recently Martin Stajnoch, won six of the eight duels against each other.
The Linz team can almost draw on a full complement of players for the weekend. With the exception of the long-term injured Gerd Kragl, Dennis Sticha and Andreas Kristler, head coach Philipp Lukas has the entire squad at his disposal. Patrick Söllinger, who will start the season with the Steel Wings LINZ AG this weekend, will not be part of the team.
Fri, 14.09.2023, 7.30 pm: EC Red Bull Salzburg – EC-KAC
Referees: GROZNIK, NIKOLIC M., Eisl, Nothegger. | >> ab 18.45 Uhr auf PULS 24 <<
The reigning champion of the win2day ICE Hockey League EC Red Bull Salzburg welcomes EC-KAC for the start of the new season. It is the duel of the teams that have secured twelve championships together in the last 16 years. This is the fifth time the two teams have met on the first gameday of a new season, with Salzburg winning only in 2009. Klagenfurt won in 2004, 2011 and 2018, and the "Red Bulls" have always opened the last four seasons victorious.
Salzburg's preparation was mixed: including Champions Hockey League, the eight-time champion played nine games, won only two. The "Rotjacken" won five of their seven preparation games.
Since the league was founded in 2000, the EC-KAC has not faced an opponent more frequently than EC Salzburg: the record champion has played the Red Bulls 162 times, and both teams have enjoyed home advantage 81 times each. The historical balance is in favor of the team from Salzburg, with 88 victories compared to 74.
The EC-KAC will have to do without Jesper Jensen Aabo, Luka Gomboc and Daniel Obersteiner (all injured) in their opening game of the new ICE season. Sebastian Dahm and Matt Fraser could be out too.
The game will be broadcasted live on PULS 24, the Joyn app and www.puls24.at/eishockey starting at 6:45 pm.
Fri, 14.09.2023, 7.45 pm: Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey – Hydro Fehérvár AV19
Referees: REZEK, ZRNIC, Mantovani, Rigoni. | >> live.ice.hockey <<
A purely international duel takes place in Italy: Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey receives Hydro Fehérvár AV19 and gets revenge for the 0-2 in last year's pre-playoff. While the Italians kept Allan McShane (25) and Giordano Finoro (28), together they were the two most goal-destroying players of the previous season, the Hungarians had to let go their best goal-scorer Alex Petan (17). Late on, head coach Kevin Constantine jumped ship and his former assistant David Kiss took over and at 33, he is the youngest head coach in the league. In preparation, the runners-up of 2022 remained winless. Asiago has won two of its three home games against Fehérvár past season.
A road trip awaits the Hungarians right from the start, as after the game in Asiago, Kiss' team will play in the Sparkasse Arena in Bolzano.
Fri, 14.09.2023, 7.45 pm: HC Pustertal Wölfe – BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg
Referees: SMETANA, STERNAT, Gatol-Schafranek, Puff. | >> live.ice.hockey <<
HC Pustertal Wölfe enters its third season in the win2day ICE Hockey League with big ambitions. The South Tyrolean team upgraded its squad prominently, brought Rick Scofield back into the league and convinced Jason Akeson – two-time top scorer in the DEL – to an ICE signing. In preparation, three victories were achieved, including a clear 6-1 win against rival HCB Südtirol Alperia. The BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg won twice in the preseason. Both teams lost their first game of the season last year. In the direct duel, the "Wolves" are ahead by three to one.
win2day ICE Hockey League | 15.09.2023:
Sat, 15.09.2023, 7.45 pm: HCB Südtirol Alperia – Hydro Fehérvár AV19
Referees: MOSCHEN, SMETANA, Gatol-Schafranek, Pardatscher. | >> live.ice.hockey <<
The two teams have played each other 50 times in the past. HCB Südtirol Alperia celebrated 32 victories. The Hungarians have not won a game in Bolzano since January 9th, 2021 (1-0).
Rule changes:
- If a minor penalty is assessed against a player of both teams during a stoppage of play, the game will continue with five skaters on both sides. There is no longer a reduction to four-on-four. The two penalized players shall all take their places in the penalty boxes and cannot be used again until the next stoppage of play after the two minutes have elapsed.
- If a goal is scored by a kicking motion with the foot, this goal is valid if the contact happens outside the crease. Within the crease, same rules as before.