KAC chose Pioneers

Ländle-Cracks make their debut with the record champions

The Pioneers Vorarlberg were selected by the KAC in their first play-off in the club's history. Now the Ländle-Cracks want to make life as difficult as possible for the record champions, with the first clash in Klagenfurt on Sunday.

"An easy pick for the KAC," said Pioneers Vorarlberg head coach Dylan Stanley after the first-placed team in the basic round picked the tenth-placed team as their quarter-final opponents. The most difficult of all playoff tasks for the Ländle-Cracks, if you look at the table. "They're the only team to break 100 points, they're the strongest team in the league," says Stanley, "but it's still the best time of the year for us to play the KAC."

The Pioneers improved steadily towards the end of the basic round and especially in the pre-playoffs against Innsbruck. "We're a little tired, but we're in good rhythm. The KAC, on the other hand, are more rested," says Stanley, "we need a lot of positive energy now, we want to make life difficult for them."

The first clash with the record champions is on Sunday (17:15). Away for the Pioneers, the KAC has the home advantage.

Special teams are crucial
Veteran Patrick Spannring was also not surprised by the KAC's pick. "It's actually logical. If the rule didn't exist, they would have picked us," says the 33-year-old. He sees the special teams as an important factor against the Carinthians. "We have to be efficient there. Avoid penalties as much as possible, but then play a good penalty-killing game. And make the most of our superior numbers," Spannring clarifies, "but above all we mustn't oversleep at the start."

The Ländle cracks are feeling the tension ahead of the first playoff series in the club's history. "Of course you put a bit of pressure on yourself, you really want to progress," says the Dornbirn native, "but the KAC has the big pressure." And the pressure will be even greater in the second clash on Tuesday in the Vorarlberghalle. "The KAC also has a history with the former VEU," explains Spannring, "so the arena will certainly be packed!"