Bozen warms up for the battle of the giants

HC Bozen is one of the hottest contenders for the championship this year - just like the Graz99ers, who upgraded more in the summer than any other ICE club. In a week's time on Friday, league leader Graz and its runner-up Bozen will cross sticks in Styria for the first time this season - and HCB is ready for this fight. The Foxes showed this on Friday evening with a 5:2 away win at third-placed Olimpija Ljubljana.

For Bozen, it was the dress rehearsal for the summit meeting, as Daniel Frank & Co. have a day off on Sunday. The Foxes are in great form and mood, having only really suffered in the first third on Friday against the strong home team Ljubljana. But with Sam Harvey in this condition, the White-Reds can even afford the odd defensive slip-up. The goalie was also the best HCB player on the ice against Olimpija, with a number of brilliant saves.

What was also noticeable: Bozen's shorthanded game worked like clockwork. The Foxes "killed" all five situations with one man less - this is also an indication that everyone in this team fights for each other. With Cole Hults, Giordano Finoro, Matt Bradley, Luca Frigo and Dustin Gazley, five different players were on the list of goalscorers. In addition to the long-term injured Mike Halmo and Enrico Miglioranzi, Pascal Brunner, who plays for the farm team Meran, was also missing from the lineup on Friday. The scenes of the evening San Harvey The first third was a show by Bozen goalie Sam Harvey, who defused one Olimpija high-profile shot after the other. He only had to admit defeat against Ziga Pance, who outsmarted the HCB goalie with a backhander (19th minute). Before that, Cole Hults had scored from the slot to give Bozen a 1-0 lead (4th minute). goal show After a goalless middle third, things really got going in the final period. Giordano Finoro (after Daniel Mantenuto's assist) and Matt Bradley (after a brilliant pass from Cristiano DiGiacinto) scored to make it 2-1 and 3-1 respectively (48th, 49th). Tension? Blaz Tomazevic puts Sam Harvey behind with a deflection to make it 2:3 (50th minute) – will it be exciting again? No, because the Bozen team wants the win more. Luca Frigo hammers the puck under the crossbar without hesitation (56th minute), then Dustin Gazley scores into the empty net (57th minute). Bolzano can now enjoy a free Sunday and then prepare for the summit meeting with Graz. HC Pustertal has a crazy victory against Salzburg in the penalty shootout and will face Villach at home on Sunday at 18 p.m.

Olimpija Ljubljana – HCB Südtirol Alperia 2:5 Olympia: Horak (Kolin); Masic-Atwal, Gregorc-Ege, Cosic-Pavlin, Crnovic-Zajc; Sabolic-Bicevskis-Lavoie, Tomazevic-Cerveny-Kapel, Mahovec-Simsic flours, Pance-Bericic sodja Coach: Karhula

Bolzano: Harvey (Vallini); Hults-Di Perna, Valentine-Seed, Bourque-Spornberger; Frigo-Mantenuto-Frank, Helewka-Bradley-Gazley, Marchetti-Christoffer-McClure, DiGiacinto-Finoro-Salinitri Coach: Hanlon

Gates: 0:1 Cole Hults (3.06), 1:1 Ziga Pance (18.49), 1:2 Giordano Finoro (47.04), 1:3 Matt Bradley (48.25), 2:3 Blaz Tomazevic (49.27), 2:4 Luca Frigo (55.36), 2:5 Dustin Gazley (56.47)

Viewers: 2.541

The other games Red Bull Salzburg – HC Pustertal 5:6 nP Goals: 0:1 Findlay (8.01), 1:1 Bourke (9.52), 2:1 Auer (16.27), 3:1 Bourke (25.28), 4:1 Bourke (29.28), 4:2 Traversa (30.15), 4-3 Bourke (32.15), 5-3 Robertson (33.37), 5-4 Coulter (44.10), 5-5 Findlay (48.06). Decisive penalty: Frycklund Audience: 2.224

Vienna Capitals – Asiago 2:1 Goals: 1:0 Willms (16.26), 2:0 Franklin (48.37), 2:1 Kaspick (49.13) Audience: 3.240

Villacher SV – Pioneers Vorarlberg 5:3 Goals: 1:0 Lindner (18.27), 1:1 Erne (23.10), 2:1 Maxa (42.35), 2:2 Gilmour (44.48), 3:2 Wallenta (47.46), 3:3 Cooper (55.02), 4:3 Holway (58.15), 5:3 Maxa (59.14) Audience: 3.015

Graz 99ers – HC Innsbruck 3:2 Goals: 0:1 Klassek (5.16), 0:2 Mackin (5.30), 1:2 Holzer (21.56), 2:2 Ticar (36.23), 3:2 Gooch (43.56) Audience: 2.396

Table SP G U V TV P 1. Graz99ers 7 6 0 1 23:14 19 2. HCB South Tyrol 7 6 0 1 26:14 18 3. Olimpija Ljubljana 7 5 0 2 18:17 14 4. EC Salzburg 6 4 0 2 28:22 13 5. EC Klagenfurt 8 4 0 4 25:26 12 6. Vienna Capitals 8 4 0 4 14:17 11 7. Fehervar 6 3 0 3 17:13 9 8. HC Innsbruck 7 3 0 4 16:18 8 9. HC Pustertal 8 3 0 5 26:32 8 10. EC Villach 6 2 0 4 20:22 6 11. Linz 6 2 0 4 13:18 6 12. Asiago Hockey 6 1 0 5 17:21 4 13. Vorarlberg 6 1 0 5 17:26 4

	SP	TV	P
1. Ilves Tampere	6	24:7	18
2. KalPa Kuopio	6	24:8	17
3. Frölunda Gothenburg	6	21:11	15
4. Sparta Prague	6	18:9	14
5. Lukko Rauma	6	21:14	13
6. ERC Ingolstadt	6	23:15	12
View all

	SP	TV	P
1. EC Klagenfurt	43	153:103	91
2. Graz99ers	42	141:90	87
3. EC Salzburg	44	148:96	84
4. HCB South Tyrol	43	153:115	80
5. Olimpija Ljubljana	43	162:123	77
6. HC Pustertal	43	145:120	75
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Bozen warms up for the battle of the giants

HC Bozen continues to race from victory to victory in the ICE Hockey League. The Foxes also mastered the tricky away game in Slovenia with flying colors. This means they are ready for the summit meeting.

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