EBEL - start of the season

The first thing that is noticed is of course good early season form from KAC Klagenfurt. They destroyed last year's champions Red Bulls Salzburg in an opening match in Klagenfurt 6:2. They did it again last night in Slovenia – they finished their match against the Slovenian champions comfortably with 4:1. They are leading the EBEL after two matches.

KAC is followed by EHC BW Linz who also won both of their first two games. They close a home win against Medvescak Zagreb on the opening night on Friday in Linz (3:2) and they managed to win over Vienna Capitals away in a defenceless game (7:5).

Hungarian Sapa Fehervar won their opening game in Jesenice (4:2), but faded that achievement with a home defeat from VSV Villach (1:2). Not a bad start for Hungarians though.

Olimpija Ljubljana surprisingly won their first match away in Villach (2:1), but had to stop the game in Ljubljana last night because of the problems with the ice. There was apparently too much water on the ice and the referee decided that the pitch is not good enough for playing. Olimpija was actually trailing against Graz 99ers after two periods with 0:1. League leaders decided that the missing 20 minutes will be played at Thursday, September 15th.

The renewed Vienna Capitals team won their opener in Graz on Friday with 4:2, but they lost last night's home game against BW Linz (5:7). It seems they have no difficulties of scoring goals, the only trouble is how to keep the puck from going onto their own net.

Medvescak Zagreb lost the opening game in Linz (2:3) and they gave a bit of a taste of EBEL league last night to the newcomer in the league HC Orli Znojmo (Orli was "team on the rest" in first round). The game went in over-time and penalty shooting and was decided in Medvescak's favour. Hovewer, Orli can be also satisfied with their first game in EBEL ever winning a point away in Zagreb.

VSV Villach is not in a good early season form, as they lost on the opening night a home game against Olimpija (1:2), but they managed to win over Hungarian Sapa away (also 2:1). They sure expect better performances in the future.

Graz 99ers – as always – have plans for this season. They actually lost their first home game against the Capitals (2:4), and didn't finish their match in Ljubljana last night (although leading after 2/3 with 1:0). They will have the chance to finnish the job on Thursday, September 15th.

Champions Red Bulls Salzburg – as mentioned before – were defeated and humiliated on an opening night in Klagenfurt and they were "team on the rest" in the second round, but they usually have a quiet start to the season.

HK Acroni Jesenice played two home games against Sapa (2:4) and KAC (1:4). They already sit on the last position in the league (where they were also at the end of the last season). It is quite obvious that the current team is not capable of competing in the league. Fans of the Slovenian champions are expecting some new players. Yet it is fair to say that the world could be the better place for them if the team manages to win the next game against traditional opponents Olimpija next Friday.

 

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