Scored a goal: Michael Purdeller © Toblach Icebears

The spell is broken: Toblach wins for the first time

The Toblach Icebears have lost their first 16 games (!) in the Italian Hockey League. This incredible series came to an end on Saturday. At the same time, leaders Kaltern lost a game that had actually already been won.

09 December 2023

From: leo

A lot has gone wrong with the Toblach Icebears recently. The biggest weakness of the Pusterers was their defense: Patrick Rizzo & Co. conceded an average of 4,68 goals per game. That was one of the reasons why Ivo Machacka had to step down as head coach and Roman Vanek replaced him. The Czech achieved his first victory on Saturday in front of his own fans. The Polar Bears beat Valpellice 3-0.

There couldn't be more of a basement duel: on the one hand, the bottom of the table, Toblach, on the other hand, the Bulldogs, who had recently lost eight games in a row. Given these numbers, it was even more important to get off to a good start. And the home team succeeded: Lukas Tauber took the lead after five minutes and increased it to 2-0 three seconds before the end of the period. As a result, the Toblach defense, which was so porous, held tight. Luca Burzacca celebrated the first shutout of the season, while Michael Purdeller made it all clear with an empty-net goal in the final minutes.

Last minute defeat

Meanwhile, SV Kaltern gave up a victory they thought was certain and lost to Fiemme 4:5 after a penalty shootout. After Marko Virtala made it 1-0, de Hechte twice overcame a deficit through double goalscorer Moritz Selva before Michele Volcan scored ten minutes before the end to make it 4-3. The Trentino team only managed to equalize 15 seconds before the end. It went into extra time and finally a penalty shootout, where Tomas Mlynar, who had already scored twice before, brought about the decision.

HC Eppan, on the other hand, had reason to be happy: the Pirates defeated Como 5-0 in their own stadium. Captain Daniel Erlacher shone as a two-goal scorer. At the same time, despite a 3-1 lead, the Falcons Brixen had to give way to Feltre 3-4 after extra time.

Italian Hockey League:

Falcons Brixen – Feltre 3:4 aet
Goals: 1:0 Leitner (6.10), 1:1 Broch (10.10), 2:1 Mazzarini (16.10), 3:1 Fauster (19.35), 3:2 Blaha (49.45), 3:3 Nimenko (54.54), 3:4 Fantiel (61.52)
Audience: 211

Pergine – Varese 2-0
Goals: 1:0 Buono (34.26), 2:0 Foltin (56.56)
Audience: 525

HC Eppan – Como 5:0
Goals: 1:0 Radin (11.11), 2:0 Piechenstein (15.28), 3:0 Erlacher (18.23), 4:0 Erlacher (23.47), 5:0 Räisanen (29.22)
Audience: 160

SV Kaltern – Fiemme 4:5 nP
Goals: 1:0 Marko Virtala (23.28), 1:1 Mlynar (25.42), 1:2 Chelodi (27.54), 2:2 Selva (29.51), 2:3 Mlynar (32.57), 3:3 Selva (47.47) , 4:3 Volcan (50.14), 4:4 Moucka (59.45); decisive penalty: Mlynar
Audience: 240

Dobbiaco Icebears – Valpellice 3:0
Goals: 1:0 Tauber (4.49), 2:0 Tauber (19.57), 3:0 Purdeller (58.58)
Audience: 181

The table