There is no doubt: Sam Harvey is currently the best goalkeeper in the ICE Hockey League. © Vanna Antonello

Sam Harvey “whispers” Bozen to the next victory

Now HC Bozen is serious! Just two days after their home victory against champions Salzburg, the Foxes also won in Klagenfurt. The decisive man was goalkeeper Sam Harvey, who saved everything, really everything, and then whispered a crucial tip into the winning goal scorer's ear.

17 January 2025

From: fop

After a slump in recent weeks, HCB Südtirol Alperia is suddenly in top playoff shape. Only 72 hours after the 2-0 against Salzburg In the top match, the Foxes defeated KAC, who had been unbeaten at home for nine rounds, 1-0 in a penalty shootout. Shortly afterwards, HC Pustertal suffered a debacle in Asiago. The 1:5 defeat is the first game in 16 rounds (!) that the Stellati have won.

As on Wednesday in the Sparkasse Arena, striker Matt Bradley and goalie Sam Harvey were the celebrated heroes for the Bozen team. The Canadian, who was finally playing well, lifted the winning penalty under the crossbar in a spectacular manner. He thus decided a tactically-driven but at the same time incredibly intense duel between two top teams. The 4.253 spectators in the completely sold-out Heide-Horten-Arena were served a real playoff appetizer.

But who was the South Tyrolean man of the match? Bradley gave the answer after the game: "Sam Harvey whispered the decisive tip to me before my penalty. So, he won this game." The 26-year-old goalie did not only stand out for this oddity, but primarily for his saves. Within three days, he drove the two most efficient offenses in the league to despair, stopping 26 shots against Salzburg and 30 in Klagenfurt. The one on Friday evening was Harvey's sixth shutout of the season.

“Harvey gave me a tip before the penalty” HCB winning goal scorer Matt Bradley

After months of struggling and tinkering, Bozen's coach Glen Hanlon, who is not a heel about his love of defensive hockey, can finally say: The defense is solid! Before Harvey, Scott Valentine, Peter Spornberger and Co. threw themselves into every shot, blocking everything. The strikers are now doing much more committed backchecking.

With this victory in the top match, the Bozen team has become the first pursuer of Fehervar. The Hungarians are two points ahead in the table, but have also played two more games. The HCB has the chance to overtake on Sunday in Linz. The HC Pustertal, who was beaten in Asiago on Friday, then welcomes Villacher SV.

Klagenfurter AC – HCB Südtirol Alperia 0:1 nP

KAC: Dahm (Vorauer); Strong-Nickl, Sablattnig-Maier, Unterweger-Preiml; Fraser-Obersteiner-Petersen, Herburger-Hundertpfund-From, Schwinger-Pastujov-Peeters, Lam-Van Ee-Hochegger.
Coach: Furey

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

Gate: 1:0 Matt Bradley (decisive penalty)

Viewers: 4.253

The other Friday games:

Asiago – Pustertal 5-1 (to the report)
Goals: 1-0 Turnbull (8.31), 2-0 Cairns (12.08), 3-0 Kaspick (14.40), 3-1 Coulter (30.51), 4-1 Gennaro (38.26), 5-1 Gennaro (46.01)
Audience: 1.719

Fehervar – Vorarlberg 3:2
Goals: 0:1 Keefer (6.42), 1:1 Hari (33.17), 1:2 Woger (34.16), 2:2 Gaunce (51.00), 3:2 Cheek (57.52)
Audience: 3.542

Villach – Salzburg 3:5
Goals: 0:1 Schneider (13.59), 0:2 Schneider (14.07), 0:3 Auer (22.07), 0:4 Krening (37.35), 1:4 Hancock (50.05), 2:4 Rebernig (56.03), 2:5 Schneider (58.23), 3:5 Van Nes (59.03)
Audience: 3.455

Vienna – Innsbruck 8:2
Goals: 1:0 Theirich (7.31), 2:0 Wallner (8.34), 3:0 Raskob (19.51), 4:0 Gregoire (20.52), 5:0 Wallner (23.44), 6:0 Cramarossa (24.38), 7:0 Raskob (26.41), 7:1 Mader (32.50), 8:1 Donohue (39.35), 8:2 Grasso (46.56)
Audience: 4.860