Asiago is in the finals again!

Andreas Alber and Markus Spinell were always absent in Renon while the visitors could not line up Rok Avsenek, Gasper Sersen and Miha Brus. In front of the 803 fans present at the Arena Ritten, the Ritten immediately started strong. Tommaso Traversa served the puck to Roland Hofer, who scores the goal of 1: 0. After 15 minutes of play the hosts doubled thanks to the goal scored by Hanno Tauferer. For the 20-year-old wad the first goal in 115 appearances with the shirt of Ritten. On this result the first half ended. In the central period the Ritten slowed down the pace, allowing the Jesenice to return to the game. With Brad Cole in the penalty bench, the topscorer Luka Basic shortened the distances on 2: 1. Then the Slovenians created more scoring actions, but Patrick Killeen didn’t collapse. In the second period, the extreme defender of the Renon saved as many as 18 opposing conclusions. In the last period, the visitors checked the match and try to start again on the break. At seven minutes from the final siren the "Buam" closed the game with Alex Frei, who scored 3: 1. Then Jesenice played with extra attacker, but it was useless. On the contrary, at 73 seconds from the end, Oscar Ahlström scored the final 4: 1 in the empty goal. So, the Ritten also won game 3 as they took the lead for 2: 1 in the series.

 

The Asiago played Game 3 of the semi-final with the exact same team of Game 2.  Thomas Tragust returned to the net of the Wolves. Jean-Francois Jacques and Thomas Erlacher were absent, adding to the already known absences of Elias Thum and Danny Elliscasis. Super start of home team that after just 37 seconds of play went ahead with the goal of Giulio Scandella who took advantage of a mistake of the opposing defence. The home team continued to insist. After seven minutes there was the doubling: Federico Pace passed the puck to Anthony Bardaro who scored with a wrist shot under the crossbar. Then the Wolves defended in penalty killing for four minutes. In the final time the visitors are braver: very dangerous action by Oberrauch and Bruneteau. In the second period there was again Asiago with his powerplay: Bardaro's perfect assist for Scandella, who corrected readily on the net. The guests, however, didn’t give up and immediately after, with powerplay action, they scored with Pance. Shortly after they returned in the game taking advantage of a general carelessness on the blue line of defense of home team: De Lorenzo Meo reopened the game. The game lived on a substantial balance, Tragust controlled the conclusions of Gellert and Nigro, while the visitors were careful to put pressure on the third opponent with a certain continuity without finding spaces to build something dangerous from the parts of Cloutier. In the third period Cloutier was careful to stop the attacking opponents. The balance remained the constant of the third fraction that slipped away without too much interruption and then arrived in the final minutes when the decisive emotions: Scnadella again. The forward of home team scored 4-2 at the end of a great action of the first line finalized with one timer. After 34 seconds Sean Ringrose scored after a carelessness of home team. But this time the Wolwes couldn’t went back: Federico Pace scored in the empty net an important goal. Last throbbing minutes... Helfer hit the crossbar but at the sound of the last whistle was the Asiago to celebrate the achievement of the final series 2018, eliminating a Pustertal who fought until the end.

Alps Hockey League, semifinals 3 (best of five):

Referees: BULOVEC, GAMPER, Rezek, Snoj; spectators: 803
Goals RIT: 1:0 R.Hofer (9./Traversa); 2:0 H.Tauferer (15./V. Ahlström -O. Ahlström ); 3:1 Frei (53./Fauster); 4:1 O. Ahlström (58./EN/S.Kostner);
Goal JES: 2:1 Basic (29./PP1/Tavzelj-Cimzar).

Mon, 26.03.2018 Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey 1935 - HC Pustertal Wolves 5:3 (2:0;1:2;2:1)
Referees: LAZZERI, RUETZ, Cristeli, Tschrepitsch; spectators: 1.050
Goals ASH: 1:0 Scandella (1’/Nigro-Rosa); 2:0 Bardaro (7./Rosa-Pace); 3:0 Scandella (22./Bardaro-Gellert); 4:2 Scandella (56./Benetti-Nigro); 5:3 Pace (58./EN/Rosa);
Goals PUS: 3:1 Pance (25./DiCasmirro-Tauber); 3:2 De Lorenzo Meo (28./Laner-Bona); 4:2 Ringrose (56.Oberrauch-Bruneteu).
Picture: David S. Wassagruba