Dan Catenacci leads the champions to their opening victory

The first EBEL evening in the Eiswelle was initially all about the Foxes' title win last year. The resigned captain Alexander Egger pulled the official champion banner under the stadium roof while the images from the Salzburg championship night played on the video cube.

What the HCB initially delivered was masterful, but only rarely. Suikkanen's team had the only real highlight of the first third in the fourth minute of the game, when Brett Findlay played his way free with a fine physical deception and then served Dan Catenacci. He played around the Graz goalie and made it 1-0. This remarkable goal made the 2.720 spectators want more.

Graz dominates the middle section The fans were initially disappointed because after the third break the Foxes literally disappeared from the scene. In the 26th minute, the HCB defenders gave the goal behind their own goal, Matt Garbowski reacted quickly and pushed the puck around the post into the goal. Goalie Leland Irving arrived late. Seven minutes later, Colton Yellow Horn made it 2-1 with a shot into the top corner. The 99ers' new top scorer also failed to hit the post immediately afterwards. Bolzano was still well served with the 1:2 at the second break. HCB ignites the turbo again The tide only turned again in the last ten minutes of the game, when the Foxes' first attack block ignited the turbo again. Once again it was Catenacci who ran alone towards the Graz goal and dusted himself off completely: 2:2 - and suddenly the HCB was on fire again. With the next change the parade block struck again. This time Catenacci took on the role of assist provider and Blunden scored in the slot to make it 3-2. Within two minutes, Bolzano had turned the tables. The decision was finally made by Findley, who stole the puck from a Graz defender one minute before the end and put it in the empty goal.

The false start was averted with this final show of strength. The “Füchse” are now turning their attention to the new edition of last year’s final on Sunday in Salzburg. HCB Südtirol Alperia – Moser Medical Graz 99ers 4:2 (1:0, 0:2, 3:0) HSBC: Irving (Smith), Nordlund-Glira, Geiger-Campbell, Marchetti-MacKenzie, Brighenti; Catenacci-Findlay-Blunden, Deluca-Carozza-Insam, Miceli-Kuparinen-Petan, Schweitzer-Bernard-Frank Coach: Suikkanen

99ers: Höneckl (Troha); Setzinger-Caito, Jakobsson-Weihager, Kirchschläger-Lakos, Egger; Oberkofler-Oleksuk-Ograjensek, Hamilton-Yellow Horn-Loney, King-Garbowski-Grafenthin, Natter-Moderer-Zusevics Coach: Mason

Gates: 1-0 Dan Catenacci (3.18), 1-1 Matt Garbowski (25.43), 1-2 Colton Yellow Horn (32.26), 2-2 Dan Catenacci (50.24), 3-2 Mike Blunden (52.49), 4-2 Brett Findlay (58.58)

Viewers: 2.720 The other results of the 1st matchday: Fehervar AV 19 – KHL Medvescak Zagreb 2:5 1:0 Sofron (12.03), 2:0 Erdely (14.09), 2:1 Olden (22.49), 3:1 Koger (26.30), 4:1 Koger (31.49), 4:2 Hardy (35.17), 5: 2 Luttines (36.02) Audience: 3.150 EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz – Vienna Capitals 2:3 nP 1:0 Lebler (3.41), 1:1 Hackl (12.14), 1:2 Holzapfel (21.09), 2:2 Kearns (29.13), 2:3 DeSousa (decisive penalty) Audience: 4.865

HC TWK Innsbruck – EC Dornbirn Bulldogs 3:4 aet 0-1 Reid (2.56), 0-2 Cip (3.57), 1-2 Clark (14.21), 2-2 Spurgeon (25.56), 3-2 Clark (33.48), 3-3 Timmins (56.46), 3: 4 Dupont (61.00) Audience: 2.500

EC Red Bull Salzburg – EC Klagenfurter AC 2:4 1:0 Raymond (11.00), 1:1 Comrie (12.03), 1:2 Comrie (13.19), 2:2 Herburger (21.04), 2:3 Wahl (24.41), 2:4 Geier (27.05) Audience: 3.400

Panaceo Villacher SV – HC Orli Znojmo 4:3 aet 0:1 Luciani (15.06), 1:1 Maxa (15.19), 1:2 Kruckovyc (23.43), 2:2 Kromp (34.47), 3:2 Sharp (43.10), 3:3 Guman (48.16), 4: 3 Sharp (60.56) Audience: 2.641

ICE Regular Season ICE	SP	TV	P
1. Klagenfurt	47	183:101	102
2. Fehervar	46	146:126	89
3. Salzburg	46	142:107	87
4. HCB South Tyrol	46	137:125	76
5. Linz	46	146:116	75
6. Villach	46	155:136	74
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Dan Catenacci leads the champions to their opening victory

The HCB Südtirol Alperia made a perfect start in the EBEL. Driven by their parade block, which accounted for all HCB goals, the Foxes defeated the Graz 99ers 4-2.

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