Ice Hockey League

Pioneers Vorarlberg win sensationally at KAC

The Pioneers Vorarlberg defeated the KAC 2:0 in Klagenfurt on Sunday!

(Bild: GEPA)

The quarter-finals of the ICE Hockey League have begun with a big surprise! The Pioneers Vorarlberg defeated the KAC 2:0 in Klagenfurt on Sunday and took a 1:0 lead in the "Best Of Seven" series. Defending champions Red Bull Salzburg won their home game against Black Wings Linz 4-0, VSV lost 5-2 to HCB Südtirol in Bolzano, while Fehervar beat Pustertal Wölfe 3-2 at home after overtime.

The KAC was the clear number 1 in the basic round, but in the duel with the playoff debutants from Vorarlberg there was a capital false start in front of almost 4,400 spectators in the Stadthalle at home. The team from Feldkirch took the lead after just 17 seconds through Nick Pastujov, with league MVP Steven Owre (27) increasing the lead to 2:0 for the underdogs.

Strong Vorarlberg defense
Klagenfurt, by far the strongest offensive team of the season so far, gritted their teeth against the Vorarlberg defense and goalkeeper David Madlener, who saved all 28 shots on goal. "We were rusty after a ten-day break. We didn't have the precision we normally have in our passing or finishing," summarized KAC coach Kirk Furey.

After conceding a goal at the start, the team actually came back well and controlled proceedings for long stretches of the game. "But we were rarely able to penetrate the dangerous areas. It wasn't a question of effort and commitment, we pushed but didn't find our way to success." On Tuesday (7:30 p.m.), Game 2 will take place in the Vorarlberghalle in Feldkirch, where the KAC will host a playoff game for the first time in 21 years.

Salzburg picked up their first win on the way to their third championship title in a row. The team from Linz played at eye level in the first period, but in the 25th minute Peter Schneider once again proved his class on his comeback after an injury break of over a month. The team striker put the defending champions ahead while short-handed and set up captain Thomas Raffl's 2:0 (35'). In the final period, Drake Rymsha ensured the final decision with a powerplay brace in the space of 56 seconds (48th, 49th).

VSV had nothing to play for in Bolzano. The South Tyroleans were already 4:0 ahead after 30 minutes, but Villach added two goals (45th, 57th) to keep the game close before the home side made everything clear with the fifth goal.