„Buam“ back on top, Cortina close to Playoffs

Great number of public in Pranives stadium for the big match between Gherdeina and Cortina. Both teams played tonight respectively with three lines of attack and from the first faceoff were cautious. Then minutes after minutes the guests were able to engage more than once Gianluca Vallini. The home team, however, was completely absent in attack zone. In the last five minutes of the game was made several interruptions, which highly influenced the pace of the game. After 18 minutes of game the "Squirrels" went ahead with Nicola Fontanive. During the second period the Gherdeina started in the worst possible way: in the numerical superiority Cortina doubled fortuitously with Tanner Burton. The home team grew up, but the goalie of opponents, Marco De Filippo, in all the circumstances was manage to protect and save the double advantage. After 33 minutes, Jonas Johansson failed the first goal of the Gherdeina, while Benjamin Kostner and Josef Straka only hit the post. Subsequently, and before the second rest, the Cortina it is dangerous on the break but the netminder Gianluca Vallini responded present with three or four really extraordinary saves.  During the third period the Gherdeina played with intensity until to the end. The first goal of home team was canceled for high sticking. Then the formation of the house halved the disadvantage with Benjamin Kostner after 55 minutes of play. Diego Iori had the possibility on the stick of 2:2 but missed. In the same action the Cortina scored for 3: 1 with Zach Torquato. Francesco Adami closed the match two minutes later with the empty net to make the final 4: 1 of Cortina. The team of coach Drew Omicioli with this victory was in full swing towards the playoffs. The Gherdeina was eliminated from the run to the playoffs.

 

The duel between Steelers and Wolves has always served with an uncertain match. Thus, it was also this time. Jesenice did attacked a lot and guests scored from rare actions and that kept the tension until the end. In the first third the home team did organize one attack after another, twice they had a player more on ice, but they shake only the frame, while guests reach the advantage in the power play. Max Oberrauch scored from close up.
With advantage of one goal Pusteral strolled into the second part of the game, which was pretty much same as the first third. Jesenice attacked more, but the guests threatened with dangerous counterattacks. We could see a long tough fight without scoring. Than the home team carried out a nice and effective action, which ended Sašo Rajser. The last minutes of this part were extremely interested. Pusteral came to leadership at game four against four. In the counterattack scored Victor Schweitzer. Only 11 seconds before ending, when the punishment for home team ended, Aleksandar Magovec gave a goal. 

The decision fell down in the last third. Jesenice were in this part of the match more active, but not as much as in first two thirds. The match was hard but fair. The tension was increasing and all were waiting who will make the first mistake. Four and a half minutes before the end of the match, the home team manage a counterattack, which ended Eric Pance. In the last minute Sebastjan Hadžič scored an empty net and also confirmed the victory of a home team.

The Lustenau challenged Renon at home. The guests started well as they took the the lead after 4 minutes of games with Roland Hofer who scored in powerplay using an assist od Dan Tudin (Dominik Oberscheider was in the penalty bench). For the defender was fourth goal of the season. After 15 minutes Dusan Devečka had to sit on the bench for 2 minutes of penalty and a little later the Rittner Buam doubled with Janis Sprukts. Just 76 seconds after doubling of the guests, the hosts, however, shorten the gap with Marcel Witting. Then it did not happen again until one minute left in the second period, when Victor Ahlström achieved the third goal of Buam in shorthanded situation as they found the double advantage. For the topscorer of "Buam" is the 19th goal in the league. During the third period the Ritten definitively closed the game. Alex Frei scored with seven minutes remaining during a power-play action the 4:1 and when missing 41 seconds to the finish of third period Simon Kostner was able to score the 5:1 always with a powerplay action. In total, the Renon tonight it scored four of five goals in powerplay. With this victory, the "Buam" back at the top of the Master Round with 21 points after the defeat of the Pustertal which lost in Slovenia against Jesenice for 4:2.

 

The Feldkirch challenged Asiago. Two important players were absent for the italian team: Andreas Lutz and Giulio Scandella.The Austrian team has a slight territorial superiority, thanks to an early powerplay, and was able to run with the puck more continuity on offense. Asiago answered with swift counter-attacks and they had a great chance with Anthony Nigro that hit the post. The first period ended without goal. The Asiago opened the scoring after 46 seconds of the second period with Michael Sullivan who was good in front of the net to overcome the netminder Alex Caffi. After few minutes the hosts found the equalizer with a counter-attack of Martin Mairitsch. The yellow-read team played more in offense as they suffered a fast action of Veu in counterattack: the home team scored with Diethard Winzing in the middle of the match. The team of coach Barrasso reacted as they found the draw with Krys Kolanos (2:2), with one of his classic shots from the side. The Asiago returned on the ice for the 3rd period very determined to find three fundamental points for the Master Round standings. During the third period Asiago maintained the initiative and built several chances to take the lead. After 10 minutes of third period the result changed, and it was still Kolanos, in situations of 4 on 4, found a new goal (2:3). But the vein realization of the number 11 of Asiago didn’t end here, and in fact after just under three minutes Kolanos realized the 4-2 that definitively closed the game. The strong Canadian made hat trick for the second consecutive game in a row.

 

Referees: FICHTNER, LESNIAK, Legat, Pagon.

Goals Jesenice: 1:1 Rajsar (34./Manfreda-Ankerst); 2:2 Magovac (39./PP1/Ankerst-Pance); 3:2 Pance (55./Sotlar-Magovac); 4:2 Hadzic (59./EN/Cimzar-Kalan); 

Goals Pustertal: 0:1 Oberrauch (13./PP1/Bona-Wiebe); 1:2 Schweitzer (38./Sirokovs); 

 

Referees: HOFER, PIANEZZE, Krausz, Rigoni.

Goals Feldkirch: 1:1 Mairitsch (24./Birnstill-Stanley); 2:1 Winzig (29./Birnstill-Breuss); 

Goals Asiago: 0:1 M.Sullivan (20./Long-Nigro); 2:2 Kolanos (34./Long-Nigro); 2:3 Kolanos (50./Long-Nigro); 2:4 Kolanos (53./Marchetti)

 

Referees: COLCUC, HOLLENSTEIN, Kalb, Stefenelli. 

Goal Lustenau: 1:2 Witting (16./Oberscheider-Gricinskis)

Goal Rittner Buam: 0:1 Hofer (4./PP1/Tudin); 0:2 Sprukts (14./PP1/Tudin -T.Spinell); 1:3 V. Ahlström (38./SH1/O. Ahlström); 1:4 Frei (53./PP1/Borgatello); 1:5 S.Kostner (59./PP1/Borgatello-O. Ahlström); 

 

 

Referees: LAZZERI, MOSCHEN, P. Giacomozzi, F. Giacomozzi.

Goal Gherdeina: 1:2 B.Kostner (55./I.Demetz-Johansson); 

Goals Cortina: 0:1 N.Fontanive (18./Caletti-Burton); 0:2 Burton (21./PP1/De Biasio-N.Fontanive); 1:3 Torquato (56./Brace-Ciccarello); 1:4 Adami (57./EN/Torquato-Brace); 

 

1. Rittner Buam 21 points (8 games)

2. HC Val Pusteria Lupi 18 points (8 games)

3. Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey 17 points (8 games)

4. HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice 17 points (8 games)

5. EHC Alge Elastic Lustenau 9 points (9 games)

6. VEU FBI Feldkirch 6 (9 games)

 

1. SG Cortina Hafro 20 points (6 games)

2. Red Bull Hockey Juniors 15 points (6 games)

3. HC Gherdeina valgardena.it 14 points (6 games)

4. HC Fassa Falcons 7 points (7 games)

5. EC Bregenzerwald 3 points (7 games)

 

1. HC Egna Riwega 18 points (6 games)

2. SSI Broncos Vipiteno Weihenstephan 17 points (6 games)

3. EK Zeller Eisbären 16 points (6 games)

4. EC ‚Die Adler‘ Stadtwerke Kitzbühel 6 points (6 games)

5. EC KAC II 1 point (8 games)

Foto: (c) Max Pattis