Bolzano or Salzburg? That's what the ex-captains say

Both were strikers during their playing days. Both led their team onto the ice as captains. Both became champions in the ICEHL (previously EBEL). And both now work as experts at the Austrian private broadcaster Puls24: Anton Bernard spent most of his career at HCB Südtirol, with whom he became champions in 2014 and 2018, while Daniel Welser hunted for goals for Red Bull Salzburg for 11 seasons and 6 in total won the multinational championship for the first time.

Actually, Daniel Welser would have been scheduled for the all-important seventh final game today as an expert alongside commentator Martin Pfanner. The 7-year-old former Austrian national striker had to miss out for health reasons, which is why Anton Bernard has the honor of analyzing the last minutes of the 40/2022 season for Puls23, which recently extended its cooperation with the ICEHL for another 24 years and take a closer look. In the following double interview, Bernard and Welser take a look at the previous 3 final games and look ahead to today's game 6.

What is your verdict on the 6 finals so far? Anton Bernard: “Even though the first three games were very low-scoring, it has been an exciting final series so far. Salzburg was the better team in the first 3 games. Since the overtime victory, the HCB has been on the rise. Salzburg has become more nervous in the last 4 games. So far we have seen high-class ice hockey and 2 games at a high level. The two goalkeepers were extremely strong. In addition, both teams were perfectly set up tactically.”

Daniel Welser played for Red Bull Salzburg for 11 seasons and became champions a total of 6 times.

Daniel Welser: “These 6 games were just awesome. It was impressive how the two teams haven't given each other anything away so far. After the first game I was worried that it would be a boring series. But this was not so. The level got better from game to game. Both goalies have held up incredibly so far. In addition, the defensive and offensive lines on both sides were extremely strong. In any case, it’s a very fair and interesting series that deserves a 1th game.”

For 4 games, there was a lot pointing to a Salzburg triumph: Why did HCB Südtirol manage to save itself into a 7th game again? Bernard: In contrast to the first two title wins, the HCB was not the blatant outsider this time and could not cope with the role of favorites. Only when my ex-team was up to their necks in water did they wake up and improve. From the 5th game onwards the penalty killing got better. Bozen defended well and remained compact. And the most important thing: The HCB finally scored goals and gained a lot of self-confidence. That also had to do with the fact that goalkeeper Atte Tolvanen was no longer so fresh because the many and strenuous games had left their mark on him.”

Welser: “Salzburg were better at the beginning, but could never really pull away. Bolzano was actually always there, but always failed because of Tolvanen. This has inhibited strikers like Bard McClure and Angelo Miceli, who were 'cold' for a long time. At some point the HCB realized that Salzburg was not overpowering, took courage and survived the first overtime on Sunday until a small mistake decided the fifth game.”

Will the Salzburg players have their club's two final defeats against HCB in mind? Bernard: “I don’t think it’s a mental story. Salzburg has a hardened team that has great class. Dominique Heinrich and Thomas Raffl are the only 2 players who were part of the final defeats in 2014 and 2018 and may have this in mind. I am convinced that they can ignore these moments and show a top game.”

<a data-caption="Der frühere HCB-Kapitän Anton Bernard (rechts) wird heute an der Seite von Martin Pfanner das 7. Finalspiel zwischen dem HCB Südtirol und Salzburg kommentieren." data-fancybox="inline-155432" target="_image" href="https://s3-images.sportnews.bz/_images/scale/1280x1280/img/2023/04/der-fruehere-hcb-kapitaen-anton-bernard-rechts-wird-heute-an-der-seite-von-martin-pfanner-das-7-finalspiel-zwischen-dem-hcb-suedtirol-und-salzburg-kom.jpg"> Former HCB captain Anton Bernard (right) will comment on the 7th final game between HCB Südtirol and Salzburg alongside Martin Pfanner today.

Welser: “The club will keep these defeats away from the players as much as possible. And the players will also say that they have long forgotten them. Nevertheless: Everyone knows that it has already happened twice that Salzburg lost a decisive final game against Bolzano. After all, this was also a media topic recently. My former team knows that they missed the chance to win the title for the time being and have therefore breathed new life into their opponents.”

What will be the deciding factor on Friday? Bernard: “The first goal. Whoever takes a 1-1 lead has a clear advantage. I don't think luck will decide in the end. But the home advantage could be decisive. The atmosphere in the Sparkasse Arena is worlds better than in the Volksgarten. When the anthems are played and you stand on the ice in front of full stands, you get goosebumps. This is a special moment that doesn't exist in any other stadium. You play ice hockey for moments like this.”

Welser: “It will be crucial that if a team falls behind, they don't lose their head and have to do everything they can to survive the next few minutes. Under no circumstances should the opponent gallop away like Bozen did on Tuesday. I don't think the first goal will be decisive. But the minutes afterwards did. A 1-1 lead is nice, but it is no guarantee of victory, even though the team that scored the first goal has always left the ice as the winner. Salzburg will do everything in its power to turn the tables this time after two home defeats in the decisive game and triumph in Bolzano. Bozen, on the other hand, definitely doesn't want to have to congratulate their opponent on their title for the second time on their own ice - as they did against Klagenfurt in 0. Of course it's nicer to become champion in front of your own fans. I only won my first title with the KAC at home. With Salzburg, however, I became champion five times in foreign stadiums.” Who will be champion? Bernard: "That is hard to say. I can't estimate it. But I hope that Bolzano will make it. On Sunday I would have bet that it would all be over for the HCB. But now the situation looks different. And yet: Both teams are on equal terms; The chances are 50:50.”

Welser: “Unfortunately I cannot answer this question. That depends on many factors. Therefore a forecast is not possible. But I would be happy for Salzburg. After all, I spent 11 years there and am still working as a U15 coach at the club. I would begrudge it to everyone: from the players to the club management. It would also be nice to bring the pot to Salzburg for the patron Dietrich Mateschitz, who died this season.

ICE Regular Season ICE	SP	TV	P
1. Graz99ers	5	17:8	15
2. EC Salzburg	5	23:16	12
3. HCB South Tyrol	5	18:12	12
4. EC Klagenfurt	7	22:20	12
5. Olimpija Ljubljana	5	11:10	11
6. Fehervar	5	17:10	9
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Bolzano or Salzburg? That's what the ex-captains say

Who will win the Karl Nedwed Trophy in Bozen Süd on Friday evening? The two former captains of HCB Südtirol, Anton Bernard, and Red Bull Salzburg, Daniel Welser, assess the chances.

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