Series A2: Third place is hotly contested

HC Eppan Sarah Eppan's medium-term goal for the season is to take third place after the regular season. If you look at the table, there are currently four teams fighting for the position behind Neumarkt and Vipiteno. To do this, the “Pirates” have to get back into shape, because in the last four appearances, the Überetscher left the ice as losers three times. However, HC Eppan has two difficult games on the weekend, which doesn't make things any easier: Neumarkt comes to Überetsch on Friday, and the neighborhood derby against Kaltern is on Sunday. The HCE has to do without Patrick Wallenberg, Alex Rottensteiner and Luca Sartore.

SV Kaltern Rothoblaas In principle, the same applies to Kaltern as to Eppan: third place should be for the Hechte at the end of the basic round. The people of Kaltern also have a small negative series of two defeats in a row. In both games, the Kalterer team fought exemplary and fought back against defeat, but they didn't have the luck of the brave on their side. On Friday evening the Überetscher have to go to EV Bozen in the ice wave, while on Sunday the derby against Eppan will take place in the Raiffeisen Arena. Thomas Waldthaler and Daniel Spinell may return to the team.

HC Neumarkt Riwega Morale is good at Neumarkt. The long-distance duel with Vipiteno for the top spot in the table is thrilling the spectators in the lower country - even though the duo is already almost certain of a direct semi-final place. Who ultimately has home advantage in a possible play-off final between the two clubs would be determined by the outcome of the “Coppa di Lega”, which the first two teams contest after the regular round. But no one wants to think that far yet. The West team, which recently celebrated a win against Kaltern, has to go to Eppan on Friday, while the duel with Vipiteno takes place in front of their own audience on Sunday. Alexander Sullmann could return to the team after recovering from the flu, while Matteo Peiti and Paolo Bustreo are missing.

HC Gherdeina After three wins in a row, Val Gardena is bursting with self-confidence. The Ladins are currently tied for fourth place in the table with Meran, but are only three points behind Eppan (51 points). You can immediately notice the joy of playing in the Val Gardena team, which was missing at one point or another at the beginning of the season. The Prior team would like to confirm this upward trend in the next matches - ideally this weekend. On Friday the Ladins have to go to Vipiteno, while on Sunday HC Meran plays in the Pranives Stadium. As far as the squad is concerned, the coaching duo Prior-Linder has to specify Fabian Kosta, but can perhaps rely on the returnee Fabio Kostner.

HC Meran Pircher At Meran, too, the shape curve is pointing upwards. The Eagles have clinched as many wins in the last three matches - and are getting a taste of high altitude again. Third place is within reach, the Passerstädters are only three points short of it. This would be a nice interim goal for the club sponsored by the Pircher company. "We're fine. The team scores points because they have now internalized our new, more defensive game. That’s what Coach McKay asked for. We may not be playing as attractively anymore, but we have found balance and are scoring points. We will continue on this path,” said President Patrick König. The Eagles face Pergine at home on Friday, while the away match against Val Gardena is on Sunday. It is questionable whether Patrick Turrin, who was missing last week, can be used.

Hockey Pergine Sapiens Pergine will also play the last two games of the third round this weekend. The people of Trentino will have to deal with Meran and EV Bozen. On Friday the Lüchse have to compete against the Passerstädter in the MeranArena. If you analyze the four meetings so far, this pairing promises pure emotions. The Eagles beat Pergine three times, while Pergine celebrated a 7-2 win in early December. EV Bozen will compete in Val Sugana on Sunday. This team has one point less in the table than the Lüchse. Coach Marco Liberatore, on the other hand, can draw on the full potential.

EV Bolzano 84 Groupon For the club from the Talferstadt, it's about finishing the season with their heads held high. Coach Fred Carroll's team still has nine games ahead of them in which EV Bozen can put this goal into practice. On Friday the bottom team will go to Kaltern, while on Sunday the match against Pergine will take place in Vigalzano. As far as the squad is concerned, Oliver Schenk and Stanivslav Jasecko, who moved to Dresden, are missing from the Talferstadt team. Attacker Dylan Stanley could potentially sign with A-League club Alleghe. If the deal does not go through, it will be available to the people of Bolzano on Friday.

WSV Vipiteno Weihenstephan With two wins in the next two games, the Broncos could secure a direct entry into the semi-finals of Serie A2 and the final of the “Coppa Lega”. The Wipptalers are leaders and are now preparing for the final phase of the championship. Oly Hicks' team is currently in top form, having won five of the last six championship games. The Broncos host Val Gardena on Friday before Wieser & Co. travel to Neumarkt on Sunday - the team that wants to push Vipiteno out of first place. Oly Hicks has to do without Alex Lanz (back problems) as well as the long-term injuries Stefan Ramoser, Luca Scardoni and Tobias Erlacher.

Serie A2, 34th matchday of the regular season (Friday, January 25, 2013) Eppan Ice Stadium (20.30 p.m.) HC Eppan Sarah – HC Neumarkt Riwega

MeranArena (20.30 p.m.) HC Meran Pircher – Hockey Pergine Sapiens

Ice wave Bolzano (20.30 p.m.) EV Bozen 84 Groupon – SV Kaltern Rothoblaas

Weihenstephan Arena in Sterzing (20.30 p.m.) WSV Vipiteno Weihenstephan – HC Gherdeina

Serie A2, 35th matchday of the regular season (Sunday, January 27, 2013) Würth Arena in Neumarkt (18 p.m.) HC Neumarkt Riwega - WSV Vipiteno Weihenstephan

Raiffeisen Arena in Kaltern (18 p.m.) SV Kaltern Rothoblaas – HC Eppan Sarah

Ice stadium in Vigalzano (18.30 p.m.) Hockey Pergine Sapiens – EV Bozen 84 Groupon

Pranives Stadium in Wolkenstein (20.30 p.m.) HC Gherdeina – HC Meran Pircher

The table after the 33th matchday 1. WSV Vipiteno Weihenstephan 70 points 2. HC Neumarkt Riwega 68 3. HC Eppan Sarah 51 4. SV Kaltern Rothoblaas 51 5. HC Gherdeina 48 6. HC Meran 48 7. Hockey Pergine Sapiens 29* 8. EV Bozen 84 Groupon 28* * one game less

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Series A2: Third place is hotly contested

At the weekend, Serie A2 will continue with the 34th and 35th matchdays of the regular season. Vipiteno and Neumarkt are only a few steps away from direct qualification for the semi-finals, while four teams behind them are within a few points and are therefore fighting for third place.

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