Clap in Slovenia: Pustertal desperately needs the break

While the rival is out Bolzano celebrated its seventh win in a row on Sunday, HC Pustertal suffered a 3-6 defeat at HK Olimpija in Ljubljana - that was their fifth defeat in the last six games. After the phenomenal start to the season, the Wolves recently ran out of steam, which also has a lot to do with the tense personnel situation.

Against Olimpija Ljubljana, HC Pustertal was behind 26-0 after just 4 minutes. Goalie Jake Smith, who had just celebrated his first shutout against Innsbruck on Friday, had a bad day and was therefore replaced early on by Andy Bernard. Afterwards, the 1200 fans - including some die-hards from Bruneck - got to see the Wolves' heart in its purest form: with three goals in a very short space of time, the HCP started to catch up, but they didn't have the strength for a coronation.

Pustertal and Ljubljana in a duel. © HKO/Domen Jančič

The almost two-week international break comes at just the right time for the HCP. Also because three injured players, Rick Schofield, Arvin Atwal and probably also Simon Berger, will return afterwards and thus provide relief. The Wolves are in 6th place in the table, but HC Bozen is already lurking three points behind. The highlights 1, 2, 3 & 4 It feels like every shot from Olimpija Ljubljana is a goal in the early stages: Maris Bicevskis and Ville Leskinen score after rebounds, Kristjan Cepon with a blueliner and Ziga Pance can only push the slipped disc over the line. For Pustertal goalie Jake Smith, who looked particularly bad on goals two and four, the game was over after 26 minutes. 1, 2 & 3 What's going on here? Suddenly the HCP really turns up the heat. Christian Kasastul (after a fine Dante Hannoun pass, 29th), Hannoun himself (with a fine individual action, 31st) and Jason Akeson (after Joel Messner's preparatory work, 37th) ensure within a few minutes that the Wolves only Going into the final third with a 3-4 deficit. No wonder But there is no mega catch-up. In the final section, the Slovenians recovered and finally won the match with Miha Zajc (precise shot in the slot, 43rd) and Rok Kapel (after a rebound, 55th). The ICE Hockey League continues on Friday, November 17th. Then the Wolves have to go to the Black Wings from Linz, while the HCB meets Villach at home.

HK SZ Olimpija – HC Pustertal 6:3 HKO: Kolin (Kavcic); Crnovic-Pavlin, Stojan-Cosic, Cepon-Magovac, Hebar-Mehle; Leskinen-Simsic-Mahkovec, Gooch-Bicevskis-Kapel, Pance-Predan-Sodja, Zajc-Bercic storm Coach: Karhula

HCP: Smith (Bernard); Stanton-Messner, Kasastul-Ege, Glira-Althuber, Baumgartner; Hannoun-Sill-Akeson, Morley-Frycklund-Petan, Mantinger-Andergassen-Deluca, Hasler-Gschliesser, Öhler Coach: Valtonen

Gates: 1:0 Maris Bicevskis (13.35), 2:0 Ville Leskinen (14.40), 3:0 Kristjan Cepon (25.14), 4:0 Ziga Pance (25.44), 4:1 Christian Kasastul (28.16), 4:2 Dante Hannoun (30.05), 4:3 Jason Akeson (36.55), 5:3 Miha Zajc (42.48), 6:3 Rok Kapel (54.01)

Viewers: 1236

The other Sunday games Graz99ers – HCB Südtirol Alperia 0:2 Goals: 0:1 Frank (26.51), 0:2 Gazley (58.40) Audience: 2.389

Red Bull Salzburg – Black Wings Linz 2:1 aet Goals: 1:0 Myllymaa (27.29), 1:1 St-Amant (52.46), 2:1 Mario Huber (64.17) Audience: 2.707

EC-KAC – VSV 4:2 Goals: 1:0 Haudum (12.59), 2:0 Vallant (25.48), 2:1 Sabolic (35.05), 2:2 MacPherson (42.22), 3:2 Kraus (53.32), 4:2 Ganahl (59.29) Audience: 4.401

Fehervar – Vienna Capitals 4:2 Goals: 1:0 Leclerc (1.14), 2:0 Stipsicz (4.44), 2:1 Weinger (8.08), 3:1 Terbocs (30.04), 4:1 Hari (30.41), 4:2 Fischer (59.42) Audience: 2.378

HC Innsbruck – Asiago Hockey 5:4 aet Goals: 1:0 Lattner (5.13), 2:0 Shaw (7.49), 3:0 Bär (13.01), 3:1 Gennaro (18.27), 3:2 Rapuzzi (26.29), 3:3 Michele Marchetti (37.10) , 3:4 Gazzola (48.13), 4:4 Green (51.16), 5:4 Green (62.43) Audience: 2.000

Table SP G U V TV P 1. EC Salzburg 18 14 0 4 55:34 41 2. Fehervar 18 13 0 5 65:46 38 3. EC Villach 18 13 0 5 62:48 37 4. Linz 19 11 0 8 61:42 35 5. EC Klagenfurt 19 11 0 8 61:47 33 6. HC Pustertal 19 10 0 9 59:50 31 7. HCB South Tyrol 19 10 0 9 45:46 28 8. HC Innsbruck 17 9 0 8 44:45 26 9. Vorarlberg 18 8 0 10 58:59 24 10. Olimpija Ljubljana 19 7 0 12 50:57 22 11. Asiago Hockey 18 5 0 13 36:59 18 12. Vienna Capitals 18 6 0 12 43:68 16 13. Graz99ers 18 2 0 16 25:63 8

ICE Regular Season ICE	SP	TV	P
1. EC Klagenfurt	48	183:121	97
2. EC Salzburg	48	173:130	95
3. HCB South Tyrol	48	155:113	93
4. Linz	48	155:121	88
5. EC Villach	48	173:143	86
6. Graz99ers	48	149:121	86
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Clap in Slovenia: Pustertal desperately needs the break

The HC Pustertal recently resembled a marathon runner who has to drag himself over the last few meters. Now the personnel-stricken Wolves can take a breather - even if they have to start the journey from Slovenia with a defeat in their luggage.

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