HC Bozen is visiting Asiago. © 2024, Vanna Antonello

Before the “Grande Classico”: Asiago throws out coach

After the Christmas holidays, things are moving along at a rapid pace in the ICE Hockey League. On Saturday, HC Bozen will be visiting Asiago, while HC Pustertal will face Olimpija Ljubljana at home.

27 December 2024

From: azl

Asiago is currently going through a difficult phase. After eight defeats in a row, the Stellati are in eleventh place with 27 points and have lost touch with the pre-playoff places. The Venetians have now reacted and fired coach Ron Fogarty. In his place, Giorgio De Bettin, current assistant coach of the Italian national team, is to help Asiago out of the crisis.

However, HC Bozen is also currently in a small crisis. The Talferstädter lost on St. Stephen's Day suffered their second consecutive defeat against Klagenfurt and also failed to score for the first time this season. "We have to forget yesterday's game and definitely learn from our mistakes. Today we trained hard and intensively. We will need this intensity tomorrow against Asiago," said Luca Frigo.

“We absolutely have to learn from our mistakes.” Luca Frigo, HC Bozen

The special teams will also be crucial. The Foxes are particularly unconvincing in the power play and recently failed to capitalize on four power play situations against KAC. In addition, Asiago has the second-best power play in the league with a success rate of 26,2 percent. "The power play definitely has room for improvement and needs to be used better. We also can't concede goals when we're shorthanded, like we did against Klagenfurt," explains Frigo.

Pustertal welcomes Ljubljana

For HC Pustertal, however, the 1:4 defeat in Villach against Olimpija Ljubljana for important points in the battle for the pre-playoffs. The Wolves are currently in 10th place in the table, five points ahead. With a win, captain Raphael Andergassen & Co. can collect important points and also reduce the gap to the Slovenians, who have won the last two games.

HC Pustertal welcomes Ljubljana. © HC Pustertal / I. Foppa

For the Pusterer team, it's mainly about playing consistently throughout the entire game. The Wolves started furiously against Villach, then lost momentum and then reared up again in the final third. "After the excellent start to the game, the rest of our play wasn't good enough. Our team needs to pull together and everyone needs to take responsibility to ensure that this doesn't happen again," says coach Jason Jaspers.

Ice Hockey League

Saturday December 28th:
Fehervar – Vienna Capitals (17.30 pm)
HC Innsbruck – Villacher SV
Graz 99ers – Black Wings Linz (18.30 p.m.)
Red Bull Salzburg – Pioneers Vorarlberg (19.15:XNUMX p.m.)
Asiago – HC Bozen (19.45 p.m.)
HC Pustertal – Olimpija Ljubljana

Table