Hanging heads at HC Pustertal. © HC Pustertal/I.Foppa

4th defeat in a row: Are the Wolves in a mini-crisis?

The tense personnel situation is putting pressure on the mood at HC Pustertal: The Wolves, weakened by replacements, suffered their fourth defeat in a row at the Graz 99ers on Wednesday. The way this came about is extremely annoying.

01 November 2023

The already full hospital of the HC Pustertal received an addition this week after... Daniel Catenacci injured his knee in the game against Fehervar and will be out for around two months. At least Zach Sill returned to the lineup in Graz. Leonhard Hasler from the Wipptal Broncos farm team ensured that coach Tomek Valtonen had four forward lines at his disposal. Although this circumstance led to the top cracks getting more breathing room, it did not solve the HCP's offensive problems. At least the South Tyroleans showed their morale by catching up with a 0-2 lead. In the end, the home team still celebrated, winning 3-2 after extra time.

In addition to the aforementioned Catenacci, Rick Schofield and Arvin Atwal as well as the long-term injured Simon Berger and Lukas De Lorenzo Meo were also unavailable. In goal, Andreas Bernard was preferred over Jacob Smith for the third time in a row. With numerous brilliant saves, the Kalterer was responsible for the fact that the Wolves were only 0-2 behind after a third and a half. The people in front only woke up after Ivan Deluca made it 1-2. Wyatt Ege's supposed winning goal was disallowed shortly before the end due to being offside before the 99ers scored the lucky punch in overtime.

The lead over the competition is disappearing

Raphael Andergassen & Co. lost the first duel of the season with the 99ers after the game, as we know, fell apart at the beginning of October and was verified as a penalty in favor of the Wolves. Valtonen's squad is still in sixth place in the table, but the gap to their pursuers has continued to shrink. The next game is on Friday against HC Innsbruck. The game in the Intercable Arena starts at 19.45:XNUMX p.m.

Graz 99ers – HC Pustertal 3:2 aet

G99: Volden (Wieser); Egger-Gregorc, Kernberger-Kirchschläger, Jardeskog-Bouramman, Pfeffer; Salinitri-Matson-Ograjensek, Antonitsch-Wemmenborn-Engelhart, Krainz-Schiechl-Schira, Reiner-Hanl-Schwarz.
coach: Pennerborn

HCP: Bernard (Smith); Stanton-Messner, Kasastul-Ege, Glira-Althuber; Morley-Frycklund-Akeson, Hannoun-Sill-Petan, Mantinger-Andergassen-Deluca, Öhler-Gschliesser-Hasler.
coach: Valtonen

Gates: 1:0 Salinitri (10.53), 2:0 Salinitri (26.19), 2:1 Deluca (37.14), 2:2 Morley (45.04), 3:2 Ograjensek (64.03)

Viewers: 1288

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