Innsbruck wins the western derby! – Villach beats leaders.
In the first round after the international break, the Carinthian teams in the win2day ICE Hockey League made a strong comeback. While the EC iDM heat pump VSV defeated the table leader HCB Südtirol Alperia 6:3, the EC-KAC celebrated a 3:1 success in the pack derby against the Moser Medical Graz99ers. HC TIWAG Innsbruck is the new runner-up in the win2day ICE Hockey League after beating the BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg. Hydro Fehérvár AV 19, meanwhile, was able to extend their East Derby series against Vienna. League newcomers Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey celebrated a win against HK SZ Olimpija Ljubljana on Tuesday to move the Slovenians on their heels.
VSV defeats leaders
The EC iDM heat pumps VSV started the league with a statement after the break. The Villachers celebrated a 6:3 win against leaders HCB Südtirol and climbed up to fifth place in the table. The Foxes remain at the top of the table despite their fifth away defeat. At first, however, it looked like a goalless game in Villach. It wasn’t until late in the second period that celebrations began in the Villach town hall – but then twice: Alexander Rauchenwald gave his team a 2-0 lead within four minutes with a brace. The momentum could also be carried into the final section. Philipp Lindner made it 3-0 in the 42nd minute, before Rauchenwald added what he believed to be the third goal of the evening. However, the supposed 4:0 was denied after video studies because of an offside position. The table leader reared up again and reduced the majority to 3:1. However, the Eagles never let the Foxes get any closer and kept going ahead with goals from Benjamin Lanzinger and John Hughes. In the end, Rauchenwald’s hat-trick should work out. The 29-year-old Austrian made it 6:3 with an empty netter.
KAC wins PACK derby
Already on the last match day before the national team break, EC-KAC made a clear statement after their negative series with a thrashing victory against the Caps. The positive trend could now continue after the break. In the pack derby, the “Red Jackets” celebrated a 3:1 win against the Moser Medical Graz99ers and thus made it into the top 6 of the win2day ICE Hockey League. Klagenfurt dominated the first third and were rewarded with goals from the two Austrians Manuel Ganahl and Lukas Haudum. In the second period, the Styrians came into play better, the hosts made life difficult for themselves with penalties. The Graz99ers then did not miss a chance with a double majority and died shortened to 1:2 in the person of Viktor Granholm. In the middle third, however, Lucas Lessio restored the old 2-goal lead. Sebastian Dahm and the KAC defense didn’t allow anything in the final section and finally celebrated a 3-1 win. For the Styrians this was – after a series of points from four games – the second “zero” in a row. The gap to the sixth-placed Klagenfurt is now four points.
Innsbruck climbs to second place
HC TIWAG Innsbruck was able to continue its run after the break. The Haie’s 5-2 victory over league newcomers BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg was the Tyroleans’ fourth full success in a row. With this victory, the Innsbruckers moved up to three points behind the leader of the table Bozen, but finished one game less than the leader. The Pioneers, on the other hand, lose touch with the other teams as they are bottom of the table. In the first 45 minutes, however, the Vorarlbergers held out well against the defeat. After a goal from Innsbruck in the first and second period, newcomer Guus van Nes scored the first goal for the pioneers. A brace from Daniel Leavens within 20 seconds made the decision for the sharks. Innsbruck finally celebrated a 5:2 home win.
Fehérvár extends East Derby series
Both the spusu Vienna Capitals and Hydro Fehérvár AV 19 are weakening a bit before the international break. After the break, the Wieners got off to a better start. Caps top scorer Max Zimmer put his team ahead in the third minute and thus scored the first goal in the league after the ICE break. The guests from Hungary increased the pressure from this point on and were finally able to defeat Caps goalie Starkbaum that evening through Andrew O’Brien in the middle third. Alex Petan provided the game winner in the 55th minute. For Fehérvár this was already the fourth win against the Viennese in a row – the second this season. In the table, the runner-up from the previous season was able to leave the Caps behind. While the Hungarians climbed to seventh place whenever federal capitals are currently content with eighth place.
Asiago is on the heels of Ljubljana
Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey decided the duel between two laggards in the table. The positive trend continued with the 2:1 away win of the Yellow-Reds against HK SZ Olimpija – Asiago won four of the last five ICE games. The lead of the Slovenians over the league newcomers is only two points after the defeat in a direct encounter. Asiago played a 2-0 lead up to the 32nd minute on Tuesday. Ljubljana could be shortened a little later, but Gianluca Vallini didn’t allow anything, despite a powerful final section by the Slovenians.
Photo: Theresa Nairz