Hot heptathlon

No KAC crack managed that before Hundertpfund

KAC captain Thomas Hundertpfund (right) will celebrate his 900th game today.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

The Carinthian ice hockey clubs delivered a super December! KAC scored 25 out of a possible 27 points, VSV 25 out of 30 and a hot heptathlon is looming in the table. When the Red Jackets visit Vienna on New Year's Day, captain Hundertpfund is about to celebrate a historic anniversary. VSV, meanwhile, will host the stumbling runners-up Fehervar.

Tight, tighter, ICE League! The top of the table really tightened up in December - there was a lot of shuffling. Leader Bolzano and seventh-placed VSV are now separated by just ten points. A seven-way battle for the six fixed play-offs tickets is in the offing.

140 minutes without conceding a goal
The KAC picked up a strong 25 out of 27 points in December - and have already stalked their way up to third place. "We've worked hard for this, the whole team is pulling together," said a delighted goalkeeper Florian Vorauer, who has gone 140 minutes without conceding a goal with his colleague Sebastian Dahm.

900th league game
The match in Vienna on New Year's Day will be historic! Captain Thomas Hundertpfund will be the first crack in the club's history to play his 900th league game for the Red Jackets. "As a child you dream of playing in the first division, now it's 900 - that makes me proud!"

He has words of praise for his squad: "We've got rolling, many of the youngsters have taken a step forward. But now we have to keep at it, January will be pretty decisive." "Hundi" spent New Year's Eve at home with his partner Melanie and the three kids: "Very cozy with raclette."

Captains Alex Rauchenwald (VSV/li.) and Thomas Hundertpfund take it easy on New Year's Eve.

(Bild: Kuess Josef/Kuess)

Sushi chef Rauchenwald
VSV also had a great December with 25 out of 30 points - even if the 3-2 defeat in Bolzano was a small blemish. "But we had 41 shots on goal, so not much was missing for the next win. We have to maintain our form and keep up the strong performance," said the injured captain Alex Rauchenwald, who is aiming to make his comeback on Sunday. He turned chef on New Year's Eve and made sushi for the family. "With the help of YouTube," he grins.

VSV striker Marco Richter scored his first brace.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Villach want to strike back
It was a first for Marco Richter in Bolzano - he scored his first ever league brace. "Of course that's good! It's more important that we get back on the winning track as a team right away - it's so tight in the table," says the Viennese, who sees little ice time. It should work again today against Fehervar - the second-placed Hungarians have stumbled somewhat, winning only two of their last six games.