Brad McClure & Co. received a slap. © René Krammer

Derby magic gone: foxes are presented in Villach

HCB Südtirol Alperia was unable to keep up the momentum of the derby win against HC Pustertal and suffered a serious defeat at Villacher SV on Friday evening. After all: The Foxes remain in the top 6 of the ICE Hockey League.

16. February 2024

Villach appears with a new face in the final phase of the regular season. In the last few days, the Eagles announced three new signings: Max Golod, Ethan Cap and Tyler Steenbergen. The latter two made their debut against HCB. The trio did a good job in the Villach town hall - even if in the end it was the first line of strikers around John Hughes, Kevin Hancock and Robert Sabolic that inflicted the 3:7 defeat on HC Bozen.

Coach Glen Hanlon again had to do without the ailing Mike Halmo in Villach, and new signing Andreas Söderberg was not yet available. But they would have needed a player like the Swede, because the defensive department once again didn't make a solid impression. The reason for this was also that the strikers in the neutral zone had no access to the opponent and the opponent was hurting the Foxes badly with quick counterattacks. Four goals were preceded by quick counterattacks.

But it's not just the defense that has to put up with questions, the other departments didn't leave a good impression either. In the attack, the invisible Cristiano DiGiacinto and his teammates didn't make enough of the chances - especially in third period number 1. Goalie Sam Harvey was often let down, but numerous rebounds didn't give the Canadian a good report. In its current state, the HCB - and the last two thirds of the derby cannot hide this - is only mediocre. It continues on Friday in the home game against Asiago (18 p.m.). Then three points are mandatory.

Villacher SV – HCB Südtirol Alperia 7:3

VSV: Lamoureux (Swett); Cap-MacPherson, Viverios-Katic, Wetzl-Wall; Sabolic-Hancock-Hughes, Steenberger-Desjardins-Golod, Rebernig-Rauchenwald-Benjamin Lanzinger, Wallenta-Maxa-Florian Lanzinger.
coach: Rodman

HSBC: Harvey (Vallini); Valentine-Vandane, Teves-Di Perna, Miglioranzi-Parlett, Pietroniro; Gazley-Ford-DiGiacinto, Frank-McClure-Thomas, Frigo-Mantenuto-Miceli, Felicetti-Alberga-Brunner.
coach: Hanlon

Gates: 1:0 Wallenta (22.17), 1:1 Thomas (32.31), 1:2 Frigo (33.30), 2:2 Hancock (35.06), 3:2 Sabolic (37.40), 4:2 Hancock (46.57), 5: 2 Sabolic (48.45), 5:3 Di Perna (55.41), 6:3 Sabolic (57.57), 7:3 Hughes (59.07)

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ICE Hockey League:

Graz 99ers – Asiago 3:4
Goals: 0:1 Oksanen (9.06), 0:2 Gennaro (9.52), 1:2 Ograjensek (32.26), 2:2 Ograjensek (40.51), 3:2 Viksten (48.25), 3:3 Magnabosco (49.45), 3:4 Ierullo (59.57)
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Goals: 0:1 Ganahl (8.56), 1:1 Ticar (41.19), 1:2 Fraser (56.22)
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Goals: 1:0 Atkinson (2.18), 1:1 Knott (53.43), 2:1 Mihaly (55.54)
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Goals: 1:0 Oden (19.14), 2:0 Erne (29.31), 2:1 Bär (32.56), 3:1 Maier (33.26), 3:2 Roy (33.53), 4:2 Maver (48.06), 4:3 Roy (49.15), 4:4 Albano (59.20), 5:4 van Nes (62.32)
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