Big win for Zell am See | Cortina and Kitzbühel secure final Pre-Playoff spots

Master Round
Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan – EK Die Zeller Eisbären 2–9 (1–2, 0–4, 1–3)

Zell am See once again clearly won their second Master Round clash. After a 7–2 home victory, the team from Pinzgau triumphed 9–2 in Sterzing. Putnik opened the scoring just 41 seconds into the game, and Coffman made it 2–0 on the power play before Conci struck back for Sterzing, also with a man advantage. The visitors led 2–1 after the first period. In a penalty-filled and physical game, Coffman added two more power-play goals to complete his hat trick as Zell pulled away to 6–1 after forty minutes. Early in the final frame, Coffman found the net again for his fourth of the night, while Putnik and Huard each recorded a brace. With their biggest win of the season, Zell strengthened their position at the top of the table.

Qualification Round A
Hockey Unterland Cavaliers – HC Meran/o Pircher 3–6 (1–2, 1–1, 1–3)

Unterland missed the Pre-Playoffs. After finishing last in the regular season, the Cavaliers managed two wins in Qualification Round A, but the home loss against Meran left them again at the bottom of the group. Three goals came within two minutes early on, giving Meran a 2–1 lead after the first. The visitors added another one, but Unterland cut the deficit to one goal again. Stefanson’s strike early in the third proved to be the game-winner. With the score at 5–3, Nousiainen sealed the victory with an empty-netter. Meran topped the qualification group and will face Bregenzerwald in the Pre-Playoffs.

S.G. Cortina Hafro – Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel 2–1 (0–0, 1–1, 1–0)

The stakes were clear: the winner would qualify for the Pre-Playoffs. Cortina came out on top in a tight encounter. Stoffling opened the scoring for the hosts in the 30th minute, with Loshing equalizing soon after on the power play. In the final period, Tolomelli netted the decisive 2–1 goal. The Italians moved up to second place and will meet Ritten in the Pre-Playoffs. Kitzbühel also advances and will face Gardena.

Qualification Round B
HC Gherdeina valgardena.it – Rittner Buam SkyAlps 1–3 (0–0, 1–2, 0–1)

Gardena suffered their first defeat in the sixth game of Qualification Round B but still finished on top. Dostalek put the hosts ahead in the middle frame of the derby, only for Crespi and Manuel Öhler to turn the game in Ritten’s favor before the break. Felicetti sealed the final score in the third.

Master Round
Thu, 26.02.2026
Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan – EK Die Zeller Eisbären 2:9 (1:2, 0:4, 1:3)
Referees: Hlavatý, Unterweger, Divis, Veselka
Goals WSV: Conci (13.), Sanvido (51./PP)
Goals EKZ: Putnik (1., 49.), Coffman (11., 24./PP2, 26./PP, 42.), Huard (32./PP, 53.), Schmid (40./SH)

Qualification Round A
Thu, 26.02.2026
Hockey Unterland Cavaliers – HC Meran/o Pircher 3:6 (1:2, 1:1, 1:3)
Referees: Pinie, Virta, Cristeli, Ilmer
Goals HCU: Kaufmann (7.), Eriksson (38.), M. Potsinok (43./PP)
Goals HCM: Nousiainen (7., 57./EN)), Tomasini (9./SH), Cruseman (22.), Stefanson (42.), Trivellato (44.)

S.G. Cortina Hafro – Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel 2:1 (0:0, 1:1, 1:0)
Referees: Leben, Rivis, Arlic, Rivis
Goals SGC: Stoffling (30.)
Goals KEC: Loshing (33./PP)

Qualification Round B
Thu, 26.02.2026
HC Gherdeina valgardena.it – Rittner Buam SkyAlps 1:3 (0:0, 1:2, 0:1)
Referees: Benvegnu, Moschen, Fecchio, Grisenti
Goal GHE: Dostalek (25.)
Goals RIT: Crespi (37.), M. Öhler (40.), Felicetti (48.)

Pre-Playoffs (best-of-three):
HC Meran/o Pircher - EC Bregenzerwald
Rittner Buam SkyAlps - Hafro Cortina Hockey
HC Gherdeina valgardena.it - Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel

Game days:
Tue, 03.03.
Thu, 05.03.
Sat, 07.03. (falls notwendig)

Photo: Vanna Antonello