The 2023 Dolomitencup is open! Swiss record champions HC Davos and Rögle BK, the 2022 Champions Hockey League winners, put on a great ice hockey show for almost 1,000 spectators in the Würtharena, with the Swiss team celebrating their place in the final. The HCD won a thrilling opening game 3:1.
The exceptional players from Davos and Rögle took to the ice in Neumarkt for the first time ever. However, they have already faced each other twice on the international stage, with the cult club from Switzerland winning twice. Now Davos followed this up with a third victory in the Dolomitencup.
In front of a crowd of 928 spectators, both teams set a good tempo from the start and allowed the puck to glide across the ice at a comfortable pace. However, it took nine minutes for the first real chance to materialise, but the puck was in the net straight away: Davos forward Raphael Prassl moved into the opposing third on the right wing, took a shot in the face-off circle and put it into the short corner of the net. The 150 or so Swiss fans in the Würtharena raised their arms for the first time. In the 17th minute, the second cheer stuck in their throats when Yannik Frehner finished off a counter-attack with a shot off the bar.
Rögle increases the pressure
Rögle seemed really energised and came back onto the pitch with a lot of energy after the first break. Captain Anton Bengtsson had the best chance to date, but failed to beat Davos goalkeeper Sandro Aeschlimann from close range. However, the team from the Grisons refused to be intimidated by the Swedish top team, standing extremely compactly in defence and repeatedly creating danger when the pressure was released. It was not until the second overtime game that the Swedish top team was able to break Davos’ resistance. In the final minute of the middle period, Rodrigo Abols dusted off a fine backhand pass from Adam Tambellini and tied the score at 1:1 in ice-cold style.
Knak advances to match winner
The Scandinavians kept the pressure on after the second half and created the next top chance through Linus Sandin. However, the winger failed to beat goalkeeper Aeschlimann on the breakaway. However, Rögle’s strength waned as the game wore on and Davos capitalised on this to gain the upper hand in the final phase. The Swedes were now repeatedly stung by the Swiss’ pinpricks – especially the one by Simon Knak in the 58th minute. The 21-year-old Swiss international striker pushed a Dahlbeck shot over the line. But that was not all, as Knack struck again in the final minute: his shot into the now deserted goal sealed the 3:1 final score in Davos’ favour.
The players of the traditional Swiss club can now sit back and watch the second semi-final between Augsburger Panther and Dynamo Pardubice on Saturday (8pm). The winner of this duel will follow them into the final, while the loser will face Rögle in the match for third place on Sunday.
