The hunt for HC Bozen can begin

The league officials couldn't have done it better when putting together the game calendar: The 2014/15 season begins exactly as the old one ended. Namely with the duel between HC Bozen and Red Bull Salzburg. While the South Tyroleans were the blatant outsiders in last year's final, this time they are traveling to the city of Mozart with the broad chest of defending champions. The “Bulls” are once again the big favorites going into the duel due to their transfer campaign, but the HCB has no need to hide. The two most recent appearances in the Champions League showed this. On top of that, the White-Reds are sending an even stronger team into the race this year, at least on paper.

On Friday, neo-coach Simioni will send a kind of top line-up onto the ice for the first time. Only the ailing Philip DeSimone and Rick Schofield will be missing. Although you have started training again, a deployment would come much too soon. Sean McMonagle, Guntis Galvins and Justin Keller will make their debut in the HCB dress. The same applies to the latest newcomer Tom Zanoski.

Tom Zanoski steps in

The 30-year-old Canadian with Croatian roots was given a one-month tryout contract. He should take over DeSimone's offensive position in the first few games. The deal seems to have been well thought out, as Zanoski comes to Bolzano with the recommendation of 125 EBEL games. He collected a total of 62 scorer points for Zagreb, Klagenfurt and Linz. The winger has also made 44 appearances in the AHL (12 points) and 162 matches in the ECHL (130 points). In the last season finale he played for the Swedish second division club Troja-Ljungby. Zanoski will arrive in Bolzano on Thursday and begin the journey with the team to the first championship game. By the way, this will be broadcast live by ServusTV from 19.30 p.m.

Home debut against Villach

Just two days after the eagerly awaited season opener in Salzburg's Volksgarten, the HCB will meet again with a playoff opponent from last year. On Sunday (18.45 p.m.) the defending champions have to face Villach in their home league premiere. The Carinthians will try everything to make them forget last year's semi-final defeat and to take the full points from the ice wave. The VSV can rely on a Bolzano champion player in Mark Santorelli. This is just a small detail on the side, but it gives HC Bozen's season opener even more explosiveness.

The first EBEL match day (Friday, 1:19.15 p.m.):

Orli Znojmo – Vienna Capitals (18.30 p.m.) SAPA Fehervar – Villacher SV Graz 99ers – Dornbirner EC Innsbruck Sharks – Black Wings Linz Klagenfurter AC – Olimpija Ljubljana Red Bull Salzburg – HCB Südtirol (19.30 p.m.)

The 2th EBEL match day (Sunday, 17.30 p.m.):

Graz 99ers – Black Wings Linz Dornbirner EC – Olimpjia Ljubljana Vienna Capitals – SAP Fehervar Orli Znojmo – Red Bull Salzburg Innsbrucker Haie – Klagenfurter AC (17.40 p.m.) HCB Südtirol – Villacher SV (18.45 p.m.)

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The hunt for HC Bozen can begin

On Friday evening, HCB Südtirol starts its second season in the Erste Bank Ice Hockey League. At the start of the championship, coach Mario Simioni's newly assembled team has to go to the place of last year's triumph: the Salzburg ice arena.

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