Videos
The Foxes had every reason to celebrate. In the middle: Scott Valentine. © HCB
Full steam ahead! HC Bozen races into the playoffs
The Foxes started the decisive phase of the season with an impressive demonstration of power. At the start of the quarter-finals, Villach was literally overrun by the HCB Express. One man was at the helm: Scott Valentine, or rather, the "Valentrain".
March 02, 2025
From the Sparkasse Arena
From:
Alexander Foppa
In ice hockey terms, the playoffs are described as the fifth season. It is the time when the players' beards grow longer, when the checks on the ice are completed. It is the time when an entire season is decided, when it becomes clear what players are made of. One thing is certain: HC Bozen can make the playoffs. That is the main conclusion from the clear 4:1 win at the start of the quarter-final series against Villach.
And if anyone at HCB can make the playoffs, it's Scott Valentine. For three years, the 33-year-old defensive specialist has been outdoing himself just in time for the start of the post-season. Whenever the fifth season begins, Valentine becomes the "Valentrain". He rolled over the opponents like a high-speed train. He made one powerful check after another and then scored the decisive 2-0 with a fine individual move.
Dustin Gazley scores twice
But Bozen has – besides Valentine – another player who shows his true colors every year in the knockout phase: Dustin Gazley. The 1,73 meter tall puck wizard hit the mark twice. He now has 42 points in 36 playoff games for the HCB.
In addition to these two cracks, the almost invincible Sam Harvey became the third match winner. He only had to reach behind him for the first time shortly before the end. Up until then, Bozen, which only allowed two locals, Peter Spornberger and Luca Frigo, ice time, showed a very composed performance.
5 goals and many excitement
| magic and cheer | The Foxes take the lead with the first power play in this series: Christoffer plays the puck in front of the goal with a no-look backhand pass to Gazley, who scores at the far post (15th minute). A dream goal! |
| Harvey is a bank | Villach rarely get into the attacking third, but when they do manage to get through, Harvey is there. Like in the second third, when he thwarted a "sure" goal by Scherbak. The Bozen goalie keeps going above and beyond. |
| Frigo to the crossbar | After a lackluster middle third, Bozen noticeably tightened the reins in the final period. Always in the thick of it: Luca Frigo, so important for the Foxes. In the 42nd minute, he hammered the puck into the top corner. |
| Valentine checks and hits | In the final phase, it was one man who put on a great show: Scott Valentine. First, he knocked Scherbak over with a monster hit, and the fans were already going wild. Just seconds later, he made it 2-0 with a fine solo effort during the power play (48th minute). |
| Gazley the Second | In the last minutes of the game, things happened in quick succession: Gazley (58th) and Bradley (60th) scored into the empty net, and in between, Rauchenwald (59th) prevented Harvey's eighth shutout of the season with the interim 1:3. But that was it! |
As confident as Bozen played, one thing is certain: they still need three wins to reach the semi-finals. The series is still completely open before the first away game on Tuesday in Carinthia. The same applies to HC Pustertal, which, however, was defeated 4-0 in the opening match against KlagenfurtThat series is now moving to Bruneck.
HCB Südtirol Alperia - IDM Wärmepumpen Villacher SV 4:1
HSBC: Harvey (Vallini); Valentine-Seed, Hults-Bourque, Spornberger-Di Perna, Salinitri-Bradley-McClure, Frigo-Mantenuto-Halmo, DiGiacinto-Finoro-Saracino, Helewka-Christoffer-Gazley, Brunner.Coach: Hanlon
VSV: Lamoureux (Swette); Katic-MacPherson, Wall-Lindner, Holway-Vallant; Rebernig-Hancock-Hughes, Scherbak-Pearson-Van Nes, Richter-Rauchenwald-Coatta, Wallenta-Maxa-Lanzinger.
Coach: Tuomie
Gates: 1:0 Dustin Gazley (14.50), 2:0 Scott Valentine (47.40), 3:0 Dustin Gazley (57.33), 3:1 Alexander Rauchenwald (58.43), 4:1 Matt Bradley (59.59)
Viewers: 3.512
Best of 7 series: 1:0
The other quarter-final duels:
Klagenfurt - Pustertal 4:0 ( Click here for the report)Gates: 1:0 Maier (14.59), 2:0 From (22.25), 3:0 Hochegger (47.00), 4:0 Petersen (54.45)
Viewers: 4.400
Best of 7 series: 1:0
Salzburg - Fehervar 3:2
Gates: 1:0 Nissner (4.56), 2:0 Nissner (20.18), 2:1 Erdely (20.39), 3:1 Schneider (53.01), 3:2 Magosi (59.57)
Viewers: 2.781
Best of 7 series: 1:0
Linz - Graz 6:9
Gates: 0:1 Huber (1.25), 0:2 Hora (2.27), 1:2 Roe (2.38), 2:2 St-Amant (5.54), 2:3 Ticar (9.23), 2:4 Bailey (10.23), 3:4 Stuart (13.01), 4:4 Knott (16.26), 4:5 Roy (30.32), 4:6 Schiechl (31.25), 5:6 Collins (43.31), 5:7 Huber (44.15), 6:7 Würschl (51.13), 6:8 Bailey (52.30), 6:9 Haudum (57.57)
Viewers: 4.209
Best of 7 series: 0:1
Edit Profile
You have to sign into use the comment function.
Comments (0)