1st EHC Althofen win top clash against USC Pirates Velden

League leaders 1st EHC Althofen faced the USC Pirates Velden for the second time this season, one day before Christmas Eve.

The Rhinos had narrowly won the first meeting in November 2:1. This game was similarly exciting to the first encounter, with both teams having to make do with short line-ups. Althofen had eleven skaters available, while Velden had 13 players. Florian Kurath gave the team coached by Gerald Ressmann a 1:0 lead in the eighth minute.

Both goaltenders – Fabian Horn for the home side and Markus Schmarl for the Pirates – were the centre of attention. Late in the first period, Valentin Leiler equalised for Velden at 1:1, with 18:39 showing on the game clock.

Little changed in the second period, with a taste of the playoffs in the air at Lake Ossiach. The final period then really came alive: first, it was Valentin Leiler again who put the team coached by Herwig Gressel 2:1 ahead with a shorthanded goal in minute 48.

However, the Rhinos, known for their fighting spirit, hit back through a major contribution from Maximilian Isopp: the defenceman first equalised at 2:2 in minute 52. Just under one and a half minutes later, Isopp scored the winning goal at 3:2.

Steindorf celebrate emphatic victory over Eisbären Huben

Title contenders ESC SoccerZone Steindorf faced UECR Eisbären Huben on Friday. The first meeting in November, played in front of a magnificent open-air crowd of 800 fans in Huben, went to Steindorf after an emotion-filled game, with the visitors winning 5:3.

At the Ossiacher See Halle, it took exactly 37 seconds for Markus Pöck to give the favourites a 1:0 lead. The East Tyroleans had a swift response: Martin Pewal equalised in the third minute. Daniel Gasser restored the lead for the team coached by Robert Moser in the twelfth minute, before Andreas Wiedergut made it 3:1 four minutes later.

Steindorf added to their lead in the second period, continuously extending their advantage in a scintillating middle frame. Following a quick-fire double from Franz Wilfan and Benjamin Petrik within 34 seconds to make it 5:1, the game was decided. Exactly two minutes after the 5:1, Kristian Kravanja scored to make it 6:1. Ruslan Gelfanov on the power play and Daniel Gasser with his second goal extended the home side's lead to 8:1 before the end of the second period.

The home side took things a little easier in the final period. Ruslan Gelfanov made it 9:1 for Steindorf with his second goal in minute 49. Two and a half minutes from the end, Johannes Fuetsch scored a power-play consolation goal for the Eisbären, who host the Jungadler of EC iDM VSV on Boxing Day.

South Group matchday

ESC SoccerZone Steindorf vs. UECR Eisbären Huben 9:2 (3:1,5:0,1:1)
Fri., 23 December 2022, 19:15, Ossiacher See Halle
Goalscorers for ESC SoccerZone Steindorf: Markus Pöck (00:37), Daniel Gasser (11:16, 37:03), Andreas Wiedergut (15:12), Franz Wilfan (24:15), Benjamin Petrik (24:49), Kristian Kravanja (26:49), Ruslan Gelfanov (28:32/PP1, 48:37)
UECR Eisbären Huben goalscorers: Martin Pewal (02:28), Johannes Fuetsch (57:32/PP1)

1st EHC Althofen vs. USC Pirates Velden 3:2 (1:1,0:0,2:1)
Fri, 23 December 2022, 19:30, Stadthalle Althofen
Goalscorers for 1. EHC Althofen: Florian Kurath (07:30), Maximilian Isopp (51:47, 53:14)
USC Pirates Velden goalscorers: Valentin Leiler (18:39, 47:27/SH1)

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