The Rittner Buam ran into two opaque victories away from home last week. In the derby against Merano the blue-reds clinched themselves only on penalties, in Kitzbühel MacGregor Sharp's goal saved the team just seconds before the end of the overtime. "We played with too little enthusiasm and got lucky in both games, as things could also have gone differently. Our team is still not showing everything it is capable of. I expect a growth in performance and I am convinced that our coach will find the right words to move the boys", says Renon's sport director Adolf Insam, commenting on the last two games by the blue-reds.
This week two teams, the HC Gherdëina and the KAC Future Team, will be guests in Collalbo, and they could not have had more different starts of the season. The Gherdëina team had to swallow three times the bitter taste of the defeat, while allowing 13 goals. Even in the offensive area, a strong point of the furies in the past years, only have two goals scored; so far things are still not going well. "After this false start Gardena will be determined and give 120 percent. In this derby Hannu Järvenpää's team will not give an inch in order to finally win. On Thursday we will have to be ready and react appropriately", Insam emphasizes. The 71st duel between the two historical South Tyrolean clubs (40 victories for the Rittner Buam, 29 for HC Gherdëina) will start at 8 pm.
The KAC Future Team has been the surprise of the Alps Hockey League 2021/22. Kirk Furey's team has gotten seven points in four games - led by an excellent Jannik Fröwis, who has scored five goals and is currently the top scorer. "These results don't completely surprise me. Klagenfurt is a big name in Austrian field hockey and is well structured. Three years ago they started their own Farm Team and have improved a little bit from year to year. Last season we lost in Klagenfurt (4:3, n.d.r.), so we have to be careful", Insam continues. On Saturday, September 25 at 6 pm, the Rittner Buam and the KAC Future Team will face each other for the eleventh time in the Alps Hockey League. The current statistics, with 8 victories to 2, are in favor of Simon Kostner and his teammates.
As far as the Rittner Buam's team is concerned, Santeri Heiskanen will not have available Manuel Öhler, who has been injured for a long time. The participation of the defenseman Marco Marzolini is in doubt. Spectators at the Ritten Arena must be in possession of the Green Pass. Tickets can be purchased online on the Rittner Buam website (www.rittnerbuam.com) or at the ticket office before the game. Both games will also be broadcasted live in streaming by valcome.tv (www.valcome.tv).
Alps Hockey League 2021/22
Thursday, September 23 - 8 pm Ritten Arena
Rittner Buam - HC Gherdëina
Saturday, September 25, 2021 - 6 pm Ritten Arena
Rittner Buam - KAC Future Team
Current standings:
- SG Cortina Hafro 9 points/3 games
- HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice 7/3 games
- EHC Lustenau 7/3 games
- Rittner Buam 7/3 games
- EC KAC Future Team 7/4 games
- Migross Supermarkets Asiago Hockey 6/3 games
- Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan 6/2 games
- Red Bull Hockey Juniors 5/4 games
- EK Die Zeller Eisbären 4/3 games
- EC Bregenzerwald 3/2 games
- EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel 3/2 games
- HC Merano Pircher 3/3 games
- Steel Wings Linz 3/3 games
- Bemer VEU Feldkirch 2/2 games
- Vienna Capitals Silver 0/2 games
- SHC Fassa Falcons 0/3 games
- HC Gherdëina valgardena.it 0/3 games
Photo: Max Pattis