Release from 02.03.2017
The first quarterfinal game between HC Pustertal Wolves and Sportivi Ghiaccio Cortina Hafro started on Wednesday and ended the next day with the visitors taking the series lead after 109 minutes in the third overtime – that’s Italian record! The other home teams Rittner Buam, Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey and HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice opened Sky Alps Hockey League playoffs with wins.
HC Pustertal Wolves - S.G. Cortina Hafro 2:3 OT (3)
The HC Pustertal, 2th in the Master Round, faced Cortina in the quarterfinals, winner of Qualification Round A. Shayne Wiebe and Corey Pritz was absent in the team of Wolves. The Cortina has the best team available. The game was on hand from the first minute of Cortina that played in a better way. The Pustertal played defensively as they protected the netminder Thomas Tragust. During the second period the Cortina continued to show a much better game than Wolves. The guests took the crossbar with a shot of Riley Brace on Torquato assist. Cortina was always dangerous in the second half of the period, with Francesco De Biasio near the net, but Thomas Tragust able to divert as he removed the danger in front of his net. In the last minute of the period it was the first goal of the night. Cortina made a mistake in the change of the lines and the Wolves scored with a breakaway of Patrick Bona. During the second period Wacey Rabbit was out for injury. During the third period Armin Hofer was nearly to score, but at the first opportunity Cortina scored after a deflection of Federico Lacedelli after a shot from the blue line of Nicola Fontanive. The team of coach Omicioli back to play with clarity and decision.
In the middle of the period Sirokovs went out after a penalty match. The Wolves was without all the four foreigners. Cortina took the advantage with Riley Brace in powerplay situation. But the Pustertal managed to find the strength to equalize again: Viktor Schweitzer made the tie in shorthaned with extreme concreteness. The last 3 minutes of the third period was full of chances but the game went to overtime. Now started another match that will be know the longest in history of italian ice hockey. Overtime very balanced although with a slight dominance for guest in offensive efforts. Tragust saved two big chances, but Helfer was dangerous after a break on the ice. The game gots tough and the two teams played with a lot of energy despite fatigue on the ice. First overtime finished without goals. Also a second overtime it was played without goals. The big chances was on the stick of Zach Torquato but the puck hit the crossbar. After 109 minutes of the game it arrived the end of the match after a solitary goal of Riley Brace that scored the third goals of the guest as the Cortina won (3:2) the first match of the quarterfinal after a big marathon in Brunico.
HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice - EHC Alge Elastic Lustenau 3:2
The first period already announced that it will need to invest a lot to win. Aggressive game of Jesenice did not bring the leadership to home team, dangerous counterattacks of Lustenau did not change the outcome in the opening 20 minutes. The guests used their experience early in the middle frame when they took advantage of a power play and Petr Vala scored the lead. The home team fought for an equalizer and reached it with four seconds left in the second with Nate DiCasmirro finding the back of the net. The third was just a continuation of the struggle on the ice. The fans could see a tough fight on the ice but failures did come and Marjan Manfreda took advantage for Jesenice – 2:1. Now the guests were chasing the home team, and caught them. Gatis Gricinskis missed the opportunity at a penalty shot. But Lustenau used another power play when Martins Cipulis drove the game into the extra session. In overtime only the home team attacked an das a result Lustenau received a penalty. Eric Pance took advantage for a 3:2 win and series lead for Jesenice.
Rittner Buam - HC Neumarkt Riwega 5:2
In Klobstein the home team, first in the regular season and in the Master Round, challenged the Neumarkt that was the last team to qualify for the playoffs. Alexander Eisath came back on the roster of the Buam. Michael Sullmann was absent for Neumarkt due to a slight injury after the decisive game against Sterzing. The Rittner Buam showed all their power game from the first faceoff as they sought the first goal but the Wild Goose defended well in front of goalkeeper Walter Morandell. Some penalties didn’t change the result. The last two minutes ot the period really made the difference. Simon Kostner put the puck under the intersection after a fast action in powerplay. But after a minute, and when missing only 53 seconds to the first break, Markus Simonazzi passed the puck from behind the net to Ondrej Nedved. The defender of the Wild Goose from middle distance threw the puck towards the net where there was a deflection of Federico Cordin. The deflection surprised Patrick Killen. After 20 minutes the result was in tie (1:1). During the second period the Ritten played a very physical game but the Neumarkt somehow managed to defend his goalkeeper. The efforts of Rittner Buam started having effect in the later part of the second half. The third powerplay in favour was the right one: Victor Ahlström put a perfect assist for Alex Frei that scored the second goal of the hosts from close range. Then two minutes later there was a fast action for Rittner Buam. Simon Kostner finalized the action of Ahlstrom twins that surprised the defense of the Wild Goose. After two more minutes was again Ritten: Christian Borgatello shot a “rocket” that gave the fourth goals for the hosts as they scored three goals in less of 6 minutes. The last period was very fast. The Neumarkt halved the deficit after six minutes with Matteo Peiti but indeed the goal was a involuntary deflection of goalkeepr. But then the Ritten controlled the game and close the match in the final minutes with a one timer shot of Julian Kostner in powerplay situation. The Ritten won the first challenge for 5:2 against the Neumarkt.
Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey - FBI VEU Feldkirch 5:2
The Asiago, 3th in the Master Round, chose Feldkirch (5th) to face in the playoffs. Andreas Lutz returned to play for the Asiago. The game was very fast and fun from the first face off. Colin Long had the first big chance of the game. Feldkirch played in a physical way as they tried to stop the hosts. The home team played a lot of intensity thanks to have even three power play situations but without finding the goal despite the constant pressure of Kris Kolanos and his temmate. So at the first opportunity the Austrians led 1:0 thanks to the touch in the front of the net of Kevin Puschnik in powerplay situation. In the remaining minutes of the first period the team of coach Tom Barrasso tried to build the first goal but didn’t find. During the second period Asiago draw with a lucky strike: the Michele Stevan’s shot was deflected into his own net by Matic Jancar. The Asiago put so much a lot of pressure after the goal but Alex Caffi was a very ready. In the middle of the match the Austrian was dangerous in a couple of circumstances, but Frederic Cloutier was present. Then the Asiago took the lead: Lorenzo Casetti found a good way in the front of the net as he scored a fine goal after assist of Long. During the third time the home team was another successful goal: the Miglioranzi shot was deflected into the goal by an Austrian defender. Then the Asiago played better and, - in the situation of four on four - found the goal of Giulio Scandella that achieved a nice action after 54 minutes. Then a few seconds later Enrico Miglioranzi made the fifth goal. Now the game was decided. In the end there was the second goal of Martin Mairitsch in double superiority. The Asiago won the first game of quarter final for 5:2.
Sky Alps Hockey League, 1st Quarterfinals
01.03.2017, 20:30: HC Pustertal Wolves (2) - S.G. Cortina Hafro (7) 2:3 OT (3) (0:0, 1:0, 1:2, 0:1)
Referees: STERNAT, VIRTA, Cristeli, Krausz
HC Pustertal goals: 1:0 Bona (39./Andergassen-Sirokovs); 2:2 Schweitzer (55./SH1/Helfer-Elliscasis);
SG Cortina: 0:1 F.Lacedelli (41./Caletti-Fontanive); 1:2 Brace (53./PP1/De Biasio-Fontanive); 2:3 Brace (109./Adami);
Score in the best-of-five series: 0:1
01.03.2017: HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice (4) - EHC Alge Elastic Lustenau (6) 3:2 (0:0, 1:1, 1:1, 1:0)
Referees: BULOVEC, PODLESNIK, Markizeti, Angerer
Goals Jesenice: Di Casmirro (40./Berlisk-Pance), Marjan Manfreda (44./Rajsar-Ankerst), Pance (66./Magovac-Sotlar)
Goals Lustenau: Petr Vala (22./pp-Wilfan-Wiedmaier), Martins Cipulis (55./pp-Gricinskis-Devecka)
Score in the best-of-five series: 1:0
01.03.2017: Rittner Buam (1) - HC Neumarkt Riwega (8) 5:2 (1:1; 3:0; 1:1)
Referees: GAMPER, RUETZ, Basso, Tschrepitsch
Goals Rittner Buam: 1:0 S.Kostner (18./PP1/Frei-Borgatello); 2:1 Frei (34./PP1/V. Ahlström-Borgatello); 3:1 S.Kostner (36./V.Ahlström-O.Ahlström); 4:1 Borgatello (38./O.Ahlström- V.Ahlström); 5:2 J.Kostner (57./PP1/Borgatello-I.Tauferer);
Goals Neumarkt: 1:1 Cordin (19./Nedved-Simonazzi); 4:2 Peiti (46.);
Score in the best-of-five series: 1:0
01.03.2017: Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey (3) - FBI VEU Feldkirch (5) 5:2 (0:1; 2:0; 3:1)
Referees: LESNIAK, MOSCHEN, Giacomozzi, Wiest
Goals Asiago: 1:1 Stevan (23./Lutz-Scandella); 2:1 Casetti (37./Casetti-Long); 3:1 Miglioranzi (45./Long-Kolanos); 4:1 Scandella (54./M.Sullivan-Lutz); 5:1 Miglioranzi (54./D.Sullivan -Kolanos);
Goals Feldkirch: 0:1 Puschnik (14./PP1/Birnstill-Maier); 5:2 Mairitsch (59./PP2/Stanley-Birnstill);
Score in the best-of-five series: 1:0
Photo: David S. Wassagruba