The Rittner Buam are looking to win again

Collalbo, October 27, 2021 - After six victories in a row, last Thursday Santeri Heiskanen's team had to swallow a bitter pill by losing against Cortina (4:1). The blue-red intend to file away the loss as soon as possible, which was their second defeat of the season in the Alps Hockey League. They want to come back to celebrate on Thursday night at home against Asiago and two days later away in Klagenfurt.

These intentions will not be easy to realize, as the next two opponents of the Rittner Buam are two tough teams. Asiago is the only team in the Alps Hockey League that can boast such a positive balance against the Rittner Buam. Of the 167 challenges - against no other team of the cross-border championship the Rittner Buam have played so often - the "star players" have won 93 matches, 72 ended with a Buam victory and two others with a draw.

 

The reigning Italian champions are also in excellent condition this year. With 30 points scored in 13 games, Petri Mattila's team is second in the AlpsHL, one position ahead of the Rittner Buam. Moreover, Asiago has not lost a point in four games. The best scorer of the Giallorossi is Steven Iacobellis with 16 points. "Lately Asiago has convinced a lot also in the Continental Cup and managed to enter the third round. Maybe they will be a bit tired after their commitments in the tournament. In any case we will give our best to make all three points stay in Collalbo", says the sports director of the Rittner Buam, Adolf Insam. With the exception of Manuel Öhler, who has been injured for some time, coach Santeri Heiskanen will have all other players available on Thursday evening at 8 pm.

 

The EC-KAC Future Team is another very uncomfortable opponent, as the Rittner Buam have already seen this season. A month ago the South Tyroleans won 4:2 in Collalbo, the result of a strong comeback in the final third that overturned the 0:2 at the start. The return match in Carinthia will take place on Saturday starting at 7 pm.

 

The farm team of the "red jackets" has so far played 16 championship games and is sixth in the standings with 22 points. A big contribution to the successes has come from goalie Val Usnik, who with 93.4 save percentage is one of the best three goalies of the Alps Hockey League. At home, with six victories in eight games, the EC-KAC Future Team has been able to start strong so far.

Alps Hockey League 2021/22

Thursday, October 28, 2021 - 20.00 Ritten Arena

Rittner Buam - Migross Supermarkets Asiago Hockey

 

Saturday 30 October 2021 - 19.00 Stadthalle Klagenfurt

EC KAC Future Team - Rittner Buam

 

Alps Hockey League, current standings:

  1. HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice 30 points/12 games
  2. Migross Supermarkets Asiago Hockey 30/13
  3. Rittner Buam 25/11
  4. EHC Lustenau 23/12
  5. EK Die Zeller Eisbären 23/12
  6. EC-KAC Future Team 22/16
  7. EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel 19/11
  8. EC Bregenzerwald 18/10
  9. S.G. Cortina Hafro 18/12
  10. Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan 18/11
  11. HC Gherdëina valgardena.it 15/12
  12. Red Bull Hockey Juniors 14/14
  13. Steel Wings Linz 14/11
  14. HC Merano Pircher 14/12
  15. SHC Fassa Falcons 12/12
  16. BEMER VEU Feldkirch 8/11
  17. Vienna Capitals Silver 3/12

 

Photo: Max Pattis