Alps Hockey League

[HungryFrank]

New league formed between hockey federations of Austria, Italy and Slovenia, it will be governed by EBEL organisation.

Teams participating:
1.Asiago Hockey 1935 (ITA)
2.Sportiva Hockey Club Fassa (ITA)
3.Hockey Club Gherdeina (ITA)
4.HC Pustertal Amateursport (ITA)
5.Ritten Sport Hockey As (ITA)
6.Sportivi Ghiaccio Cortina Hafro (ITA)
7.WSV Sterzing Eissport (ITA)
8.EC "Die Adler" Stadtwerke Kitzbühel (AUT)
9.EC Red Bull Salzburg II (AUT)
10.EHC Bregenzerwald (AUT)
11.Eishockeyclub EK Zeller Eisbären (AUT)
12.Verein Eishockey Union Feldkirch (AUT)
13.EHC Alge Elastic Lustenau (AUT)
14.EC KAC II (AUT)
15.HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice (SLO)
16.AHC Neumarkt (ITA - waiting for a decision by Italian federation)

Click to read more...

 

[Giskard]

Well this will be interesting. After the HC Bolzano left for the Austrian Hockey League, you knew that the Serie A were doomed. This new league could be helpful to relaunch the ice hockey in Italy.

 

[joshyhockey26]

Will be keeping an eye on this league. Even if Italian hockey doesn't have a domestic league, this is essentially that previous leagues teams correct??

 

[Kiev the Great]

Will be keeping an eye on this league. Even if Italian hockey doesn't have a domestic league, this is essentially that previous leagues teams correct??

Minus one team, Valpellice. Don't know if they are dropping to a lower Italian league or if they are just ceasing.

 

[S E P H]

Is Milano in this league or in Serie B?

Well this will be interesting. After the HC Bolzano left for the Austrian Hockey League, you knew that the Serie A were doomed. This new league could be helpful to relaunch the ice hockey in Italy.

Actually for Italy, if they want a relaunch, they have got to have teams on the south side of the country past the likes of Bologna or Florence. It's absolutely nuts the amount of teams they have in the North, even if it's because of the mountains. Just look at France, they have a lot of the teams in the Alps, no questions about that, but they have a couple throughout the country like Amiens, Rouen, Angers, Bordeaux, and Nice to name a couple.

 

[3 Minute Minor]

how many imports?

 

[Rigafan]

Is Milano in this league or in Serie B?


Actually for Italy, if they want a relaunch, they have got to have teams on the south side of the country past the likes of Bologna or Florence. It's absolutely nuts the amount of teams they have in the North, even if it's because of the mountains. Just look at France, they have a lot of the teams in the Alps, no questions about that, but they have a couple throughout the country like Amiens, Rouen, Angers, Bordeaux, and Nice to name a couple.

I agree it was never much of an 'Italian' league more of South Tyrol league but you can't put a team in say Bari just for the sake of it. Travel costs would rocket and it would destabilise everything.

Maybe Italy needs a North/South conference system if teams ever appear in the south.

 

[Rigafan]

how many imports?

Going off rosters only it looks like 4 non local imports per team so far.

 

[chupanibre]

Minus one team, Valpellice. Don't know if they are dropping to a lower Italian league or if they are just ceasing.

Valpellice had to cease due to funding issues, they announced at the end of last season. They just couldn't afford to join the new league, maybe also due to distance issues? They would be the furthest Italian team, as they are based all the way in west Piemonte.

 

[chupanibre]

Is Milano in this league or in Serie B?

Yes Milano Rossoblu are in Serie B

Actually for Italy, if they want a relaunch, they have got to have teams on the south side of the country past the likes of Bologna or Florence. It's absolutely nuts the amount of teams they have in the North, even if it's because of the mountains. Just look at France, they have a lot of the teams in the Alps, no questions about that, but they have a couple throughout the country like Amiens, Rouen, Angers, Bordeaux, and Nice to name a couple.

It also doesn't help that many of the Italian teams are from German speaking regions and all of the highlights they broadcast online are in German. It doesn't make it very accessible to the general population.

 

[chupanibre]

Me again,

For those who are looking for ways to watch Alps Hockey League, Asiago are streaming all of their games live on their youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_z86bOCthajRuB6ueWYcig/videos for anyone interested.

Commentary is in Italian.

 

[SoundAndFury]

Thanks for heads up.

 

[joshyhockey26]

Me again,

For those who are looking for ways to watch Alps Hockey League, Asiago are streaming all of their games live on their youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_z86bOCthajRuB6ueWYcig/videos for anyone interested.

Commentary is in Italian.

Appreciate this!

 

[HungryFrank]

First phase done.

Standings: http://www.erstebankliga.at/standings-ahl-en

 

[kabidjan18]

Playoffs are set. Here also are the points leaders for the RB2 Squad.

Name GP TP
Lukas Kainz 37 32
Marcus Jorgensen 38 22
Daniel Wachter 32 21
Tobias Eder 32 21
Christof Wappis 31 21
Alexander Lahoda 37 20
Patrik Kittinger 33 20
Dario Winkler 31 19
Marek Valach 36 18
Kodi Schwarz 21 16

 

[chupanibre]

Rittner Buam won the playoffs final series 4-1 against Asiago. They iced a pretty well balanced team this year that came 1st in the regular season and dominated playoffs. Asiago put up a pretty good fight at the start of games but always looked pretty gassed by the 3rd, didn't help that Kolanos was invisible for some of the games.

 

[kabidjan18]

Just out of curiosity, is Alex Petan planning to join the Italian NT at the conclusion of the 2018-19 season?

 

[Albatros]

Mair may have had such plans bringing him in, I don't know if Beddoes does.

 

[kabidjan18]

Makes little sense not to. He's deserving of an extension and at that point he'd be one of their leading individuals, whilst maintaining ties through birth.

 

[Dueling Banjos]

I think Alps League is coming along nicely, teams sitting in the upper half in the standings are playing decent hockey. The addition of Italian clubs has enriched previously named INL significantly, you can't ask for much more realistically if you are aware of it's limits - small towns league for the most parts. I like the name too, speaks for itself.

 

[odhaguy]

I think Alps League is coming along nicely, teams sitting in the upper half in the standings are playing decent hockey. The addition of Italian clubs has enriched previously named INL significantly, you can't ask for much more realistically if you are aware of it's limits - small towns league for the most parts. I like the name too, speaks for itself.

Are there players in this league likely to move to EBEL next season ?

 

[Dueling Banjos]

Are there players in this league likely to move to EBEL next season ?

Not saying some won't or can't if given proper chance but that step is unfortunately rather big. Even if you're well above ppg in Alps League that doesn't mean anything and chances you ll get minutes required to produce are slim to none. EBEL is 'artificially' strengthened with North Americans, so even promising local boys often don't get the chance because clubs can't afford to be step behind because of their development. Clubs are relatively rich so it's easier to just buy top 6 imports and stay competitive. There are exceptions but that's the general picture.

 

[odhaguy]

Why are Alps HL quarter-finals and finals four-out-of-seven and the semi-finals three-out-of-five???

 

[TheWhiskeyThief]

Seen 2 games this week: Olimpija-Kitzbuhel and Milan-Zell am See

The Austrian sides were pretty skilled, just a bit undersized.

Milan just had their coaching staff relieved, they play a lot of 1 on 3 hockey so I see why. Not a lot of structure.

 

[Dueling Banjos]

Jesenice - Pustertal was a great series, good hockey for this level. Probably best Alps League series ever.

Olimpija - Pustertal in the finals, starting today in Bruneck/Brunico.