The Serie A2 players are tightening the reins

HC Eppan Sarah

Coach Jarno Mensonen's boys want to end the "English week" as best as possible in order to forget the unexpected defeat against Pergine on Tuesday as quickly as possible. The Pirates were leading 4-1, but then the tide turned and they ultimately lost 5-6. Nevertheless, they still occupy third place in the table, but they can't afford to make any more mistakes if they want to stay on the heels of the top duo Vipiteno and Neumarkt. On Friday evening, the Überetscher will face the Broncos in the top game of matchday 23, while they will host HC Gherdeina on Sunday. As far as the line-up is concerned, Eppan will also have to do without Patrick Wallenberg, Stefan Unterkofler, Alex Rottensteiner and Luca Sartore this weekend.

SV Kaltern Rothoblaas

With the home win against Meran on the last match day, the Hechte have gained a lot of self-confidence for the coming weekend. The fourth-placed teams now have their sights set on third place, which Eppan currently holds with a lead of seven points. This weekend there are two important matches on the program for the people of Kaltern: On Friday, the Überetscher have to play against HC Gherdeina in the Pranives Stadium. On Sunday, however, they ask the players from Pergine to dance. Coach Thomas Sandlin will have the entire team at his disposal.

HC Neumarkt Riwega

Neumarkt currently shares the top spot in the table with Sterzing. The Wild Geese were able to celebrate again on the last match day after suffering two defeats in a row. Now, after the win against Val Gardena on Tuesday, the Unterlanders want to continue on their winning ways in order to successfully defend first place and distance themselves from their direct pursuers Eppan and Kaltern. On Friday the players from Neumarkt will face Pergine in Vigalzano, and on Sunday they will host EV Bozen 84 in the Würth Arena. Coach Joe West's boys want to score fully in both games, but will have to go to work on Friday without the suspended Hannes Walter.

HC Gherdeina

The biggest news for the Ladin team is in the dugout on Friday evening: HC Gherdeina has hired a new coach, Gary Prior. Prior is not an unknown face in Italian ice hockey: in the 2000-2001 season he coached Vipiteno when the team was still playing in Serie A. For him it is important to get the people of Val Gardena back on the road to success. On Friday evening, HC Gherdeina wants to assert themselves against Kaltern in front of their home crowd, while they are expected in Eppan on Sunday. Neo-coach Prior only has to give Fabio Kostner this weekend.

HC Meran Pircher

Meran is in crisis: In the last six championship games there have been six bankruptcies, which is why the club from the Passer city has slipped to the penultimate place in the table, which it shares with HC Gherdeina and Pergine. Coach McKay's boys had to admit defeat to Kaltern on Tuesday evening, and now they are eager to make amends in the match against bottom team EV Bozen 84 on Friday. On Sunday, however, Ansoldi and Co. travel to Vipiteno with the intention of tripping up the class leader. At Meran, Vincenzo Marozzi returns in goal, while Michael Stocker will continue to be missing due to injury.

Hockey Pergine Sapiens

Pergine is the team of the hour: After three wins in a row, Marco Liberatore's team was finally able to hand over the red lantern. The people of Trentino seem to have picked themselves up and want to continue their winning streak. Leaders Neumarkt come to Vigalzano on Friday and an away game against Kaltern is on the agenda on Sunday. No easy task for the White and Reds, who will be in full force this weekend.

EV Bolzano 84 Groupon

The players from the state capital slipped to last place in the table after the last three defeats. A surprise for Battisti and Co., who were still going strong in October and were aiming for a place higher up in the table. On Friday, the people of Bolzano will be hunting for points in the basement duel against Meran, while on Sunday they have their second away game in a row against Neumarkt. It is still unclear whether Roland Battisti (flu) and Stanislav Jasecko (aftereffects of the bruised foot) will be on the ice. Christian Fabbretti will certainly be missed.

WSV Vipiteno Weihenstephan

The Broncos are currently the strongest team in the league: they have recorded eleven wins in the last twelve matchdays (nine of them in a row). Most recently they defeated EV Bozen and this weekend Coach Hicks' boys can play twice in front of their home crowd. The Wipptalers haven't lost since November 4th (1:3 against HC Gherdeina), and even at home since October 31st. HC Eppan comes on Friday, while the players from Vipiteno will cross sticks with Meran on Sunday. Daniel Maffia is back from playing at the U20 World Cup, while Patrick Mair, Luca Scardoni and Daniel Erlacher will not feature in the line-up.

Serie A2 – Matchday 23 regular season – Friday, December 21, 2012

Pranives Stadium in Wolkenstein, 20:30 p.m HC Gherdeina – SV Kaltern Rothoblaas

MeranArena in Meran, 20:30 p.m HC Meran Pircher – EV Bozen 84 Groupon

Weihenstephan Arena in Vipiteno, 20:30 p.m WSV Vipiteno Weihenstephan – HC Eppan Sarah

Ice rink in Vigalzano, 20:30 p.m Hockey Pergine Sapiens – HC Neumarkt Riwega

Serie A2 – Matchday 24 regular season – Sunday, December 23, 2012

Weihestephan Arena in Vipiteno, 18:00 p.m WSV Vipiteno Weihenstephan – HC Meran Pircher

Ice stadium in Eppan, 18:00 p.m HC Eppan Sarah – HC Gherdeina

Raiffeisen Arena in Kaltern, 18:00 p.m SV Kaltern Rothoblaas – Hockey Pergine Sapiens

Würth Arena in Neumarkt, 18:00 p.m HC Neumarkt Riwega - EV Bozen 84 Groupon

The Serie A2 table after matchday 22

1. WSV Vipiteno Weihenstephan 45 points 2. HC Neumarkt Riwega 45 3. HC Eppan Sarah 40 4. SV Kaltern Rothoblaas 33 5. HC Gherdeina 25 6. HC Meran Pircher 25 7. Hockey Pergine Sapiens 25 * 8. Ev Bozen 84 Groupon 23 *

* one game less

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The Serie A2 players are tightening the reins

Two game days await the eight teams in the Serie A2 championship this weekend. The main focus is on the game on Friday evening between Vipiteno and Eppan.

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