The EBEL and European Union organized Rookie Cup came to an end this past weekend in Salzburg, with two Hungarian clubs battling in the final 4.
Like the previous round of the Rookie Cup, the finals was a group stage as well with the team with the most points at the end would be crowned the champions.
On the first day of the competition Fehérvár AV19 took on the Vienna Capitals in a closely contested game. Volán had a 1-0 lead after the first period and a 4-3 lead after a high scoring second period, the Capitals scored the only goal of the third period to force overtime. In the last minute of extra time Vianna managed to score the game winner. Bence Dezsi, Bence Makovics, and Gergő Vincze all had a goal and an assist in the losing effort.
In the late game on Friday MAC Budapest took on Slovenian club Triglav Kranj. After both the first and second periods Triglav had a one goal lead but in the third period MAC managed to turn things around as they pulled out a 5-3 win after scoring three unanswered goals in the third period. Mirko Djumic lead all scores with two goals and an assist.
On the second day of the competition Volán like on Friday scored first but Traglav managed to tie the game up in the second period. After a scoreless third period and overtime, Traglav won the game in a shootout giving Volán their second extra time loss in two days, Balázs Sábián scored the only Fehérvár goal.
Like Volán on Friday MAC also played a tight overtime game against the Vienna Capitals. MAC had a 2-0 lead after the first period but Vienna scored twice in the second as the teams entered the third period all tied up. After a scoreless third period and overtime the Capitals won in shootout, Ákos Szigeti and Bence Korcsma scored the two MAC goals.
The last day of the finals brought a Hungarian derby, in the Hungarian league the two teams faced off in the finals which Volán won three games to two in the best of five series. With a MAC win and Vienna loss the Hungarian club would take the first ever Rookie Cup title. MAC had a two goal lead after both the first and second periods but Volán did not give up as they battled back with two goals in the third period with the second one coming in the last second of the game. After a scoreless overtime MAC won in a shootout, Bruno Kreisz lead all goal scorers with two goals for MAC.
