Women’s leagues enter the home straight

In DEBL 2, DEC Salzburg Eagles II dominated the regular season with seven wins and just two overtime defeats. In the semi-final, they face Sportunion DHC IceCats LinzAG II, whom they have already beaten twice this season, but against whom they suffered one of their two overtime defeats on 13 January.

Behind Eagles II, the remaining match-ups were relatively evenly balanced. There is therefore no clear favourite between Villach Lady Hawks 2 and Red Angels Innsbruck either.

The semi-finals take place on Saturday, with the final and the game for 3rd place on Sunday.

Quarter-finals in the EWHL and 1. DEBL

HC SKP Bratislava caused a surprise with their quarter-final pick in the European Women´s Hockey League, choosing KSV Neuberg Highlanders, who impressed in the second half of the season with six wins from nine games. However, Bratislava can look back on an even more impressive run of eight consecutive wins. KEHV Lakers face MAC Budapest in the quarter-finals. The Hungarians won both previous regular-season meetings.

The good news in the 1. DEBL is that two domestic teams will be represented at the final tournament, although two will definitely be eliminated in the quarter-finals. Villach Lady Hawks, who finished the Placement Round in 1st place, face SPG Kitzbühel/Kufstein. Having finished third after the Placement Round, EAC Junior Capitals „Flyers“ picked DEC Devils Graz.

Outlook

What happens after this weekend? The EWHL title will be decided in Budapest next week, on 25./26 March. Should the final tournament take place without Austrian participation, the Austrian Championship will be decided on the same weekend. The final tournament in DEBL 1 takes place on 01./02 April.