Hockey Hilarity: Alto Adige Foxes vs. Married Vienna Capitals
Grab your tickets and your foam fingers, folks! After a nail-biting victory on penalties against Olimpija Ljubljana, the HCB Alto Adige Alperia Foxes are ready to hit the ice once again. Tomorrow night at 7:45 PM, they’re facing off against the married Vienna Capitals—and yes, that sounds like a bizarre hockey spin-off of a reality show where players get paired off in matrimonial bliss.
Now, let’s talk standings. Frank and his crew find themselves tantalizingly close to the top, just two points shy of the mighty Fehervar. Meanwhile, the Capitals seem to be in a bit of a convalescent phase after a truly disastrous 2023/24 season. Ninth place with 7 wins? Spare us the sympathy; we’re already on the edge of our seats!
The Capitals’ main issue, bless their hearts, lies in the scoring department. With a meager average of 2.1 goals per game, it’s like watching your grandmother slowly making toast—painfully slow and not nearly as satisfying as it should be. Somehow, they’ve landed Joseph Cramarossa, a 32-year-old Canadian forward who brings a bit of NHL flair—but let’s face it, he’s not a magic wand with a scoring spell. If only all their hopes could ride on Zane Franklin, their unique exception to the rule, scoring 9 goals and racking up 7 assists like he’s auditioning for the NHL’s next best thing.
Meanwhile, the Capitals’ goalkeeping situation is as chaotic as a toddler in a candy store. Tyler Sparks falls victim to injury, and now they’re rotating between goalies like it’s a game of musical chairs. Their latest acquisition, Peyton Jones—who, might we add, has a German passport (because who doesn’t want options?)—is set to make his debut this weekend. Hope he’s got a good short-term memory and the reflexes of a cat on a hot tin roof!
So if you want to catch all the action and who knows, maybe some glove saves or slapshot slapstick, head to buy your tickets here. You can also pre-order them like a sensible person doing Christmas shopping on December 24th—today from 4 PM to 6 PM or tomorrow from 11 AM to 1 PM and then again from 5:45 PM onwards. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!
The Lineup and Injuries
Good news for the Foxes, folks! They’ll have all hands on deck, with the exception of Enrico Improvenzi. Enrico, who unfortunately has a ticket to the sidelines for this game, could make a comeback next Friday against KAC. Tune in for those last-minute lineup shake-ups—it’s like waiting for a surprise twist in a soap opera!
Current Standings
| Rank | Team | Games Played (GP) | Points (PTS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hydro Fehervar AV19 | 18 | 42 |
| 2 | HCB Alto Adige Alperia | 18 | 40 |
| 3 | Moser Medical Graz99ers | 17 | 35 |
| 4 | EC Red Bull Salzburg | 15 | 29 |
| 5 | Steinbach Black Wings Linz | 17 | 28 |
| 6 | HK Olimpija Ljubljana | 17 | 28 |
| 7 | EC CAC | 18 | 27 |
| 8 | HC Val Pusteria | 19 | 24 |
| 9 | Married Vienna Capitals | 19 | 21 |
| 10 | EC iDM heat pumps VSV | 17 | 20 |
| 11 | HC TIWAG Innsbruck | 18 | 18 |
| 12 | Migross Supermarkets Asiago | 19 | 17 |
| 13 | Pioneers Vorarlberg | 18 | 16 |
So, will the Foxes continue their rise up the ranks, or will the Vienna Capitals finally kick their performance into gear? One thing’s for sure—whatever happens, we’ll be watching with popcorn in hands and bated breaths. See you at the rink!
Photo: Vanna Antonello
Following their thrilling victory on penalties against Olimpija Ljubljana, HCB Alto Adige Alperia is gearing up for a highly anticipated return to the ice. Tomorrow, Saturday, November 23, at 7:45 PM, the Foxes will face off against the married Vienna Capitals at the Sparkasse Arena, promising an evening of intense action for fans.
Frank and his teammates are currently just two points shy of the top position in the standings, which is held by Fehervar. With four points amassed from their last three outings, the red and whites are eager to find their rhythm again, setting their sights on securing a decisive victory against their Viennese opponents.
The Capitals, reeling from a challenging 2023/24 season, are still in recovery mode, positioning themselves in ninth place. They have achieved 7 wins, which includes two overtime victories, but have suffered 12 defeats, two of which were decided after the regulation time expired. The squad, guided by coach Gerry Fleming, is grappling with significant issues in their scoring department. Currently, they have managed to score only 40 goals, averaging a mere 2.1 goals per game, which ranks their offense as the second weakest in the league. In light of this, the club has taken proactive measures by signing Canadian forward Joseph Cramarossa, who brings two seasons of experience in the DEL along with a robust career that features 68 NHL appearances and over 400 in the AHL. Zane Franklin stands out as a key player for the Capitals, having scored 9 goals and provided 7 assists this season. The team’s goaltending situation has been tumultuous, highlighted by the injury to Tyler Sparks, the temporary contract with Swedish goalie Anders Lindbäck, who has since been released, and the recent acquisition of American goaltender Peyton Jones, who is set to make his debut this weekend as Vienna competes tonight at the Intercable Arena in Brunico.
Tickets for tomorrow night’s matchup are readily available online at https://www.midaticket.it/eventi/hockey-club-bolzano/. Fans can also purchase tickets through pre-sales occurring today from 4 PM to 6 PM and tomorrow from 11 AM to 1 PM, as well as from 5:45 PM onward at the box office.
The roster
The coaching staff will have the luxury of fielding all available players, with the solitary exception being Enrico Improvenzi, who is anticipated to make his return to the ice next Friday when they face KAC. The final roster, including any players designated for rotation, will be determined after tomorrow morning’s pregame preparations.
The ranking
How has goaltender Peyton Jones’ performance influenced the Iowa Heartlanders’ success in the ECHL this season?
Ltender Peyton Jones, and the overall instability in net. With such challenges, it’s clear the Capitals will need more than a bit of luck to turn their fortunes around.
As we look forward to the upcoming matchup, the stakes are high: will HCB Alto Adige Alperia consolidate their position as strong contenders, or will the Vienna Capitals defy expectations and emerge victorious? The tactical battles, individual star performances, and perhaps even some unexpected drama are all part of the excitement as these two teams face off.
Make sure you don’t miss out on the action at the Sparkasse Arena this Saturday! The atmosphere is sure to be electric, and fans won’t want to miss the chance to see what unfolds in this pivotal game. Grab your tickets and prepare for a night filled with thrilling hockey action!
