Release from 20.02.2026

Full round on Saturday: High tension in Qualification Round A

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Six games are on the schedule in the Alps Hockey League on Saturday. In Qualification Round A, it is already the penultimate matchday. At the moment, all four teams are separated by just one point. League leaders HC Meran/o Pircher host third-placed Hockey Unterland Cavaliers, while bottom side Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel face second-placed S.G. Cortina Hafro. In the Master Round, leaders EK Die Zeller Eisbären welcome HC Migross Asiago, while the Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan take on the Red Bull Hockey Juniors. In Qualification Round B, the EC Bregenzerwald need points urgently away at the Rittner Buam SkyAlps, while HDD Jesenice host the HC Gherdeina valgardena.it. Both Ritten and Gherdeina have already secured their tickets for the Pre-Playoffs.

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The Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel currently occupy last place in Qualification Round A. On Saturday, the Tyroleans therefore desperately need points in their home game against S.G. Cortina Hafro to avoid the risk of missing out on the Pre-Playoffs. Cortina sit one point ahead of Kitzbühel in second place and can secure their Pre-Playoff spot with a regulation-time win. On Thursday, Kitzbühel lost 1–4 in Meran, while Cortina suffered a 2–4 defeat in Unterland. It was the Italians’ second loss in a row. The two teams meet for the first time in the Qualification Round, with the return match already scheduled for next Thursday. In the regular season, Kitzbühel won both home games (5–1, 3–2).

Meran aim to defend top spot
HC Meran/o Pircher lead Qualification Round A with eight points, while Unterland sit third with seven points. Should Meran win this game in regulation time, they would secure their Pre-Playoff ticket. In the regular season, Meran won two of the three meetings. The teams face each other for the first time in the Qualification Round, with the second clash set for next Thursday in Unterland.

Zell am See host Asiago in the Master Round
In the Master Round, leaders EK Die Zeller Eisbären face fourth-placed HC Migross Asiago. The two teams are currently separated by six points. The first meeting in the Master Round ended in a 3–1 away win for Zell am See, their third victory in four encounters this season. The Austrian side have won all three of their Master Round games so far, while Asiago claimed victories in their last two matches and only lost the opener against Zell am See. At home, Zell am See have won their last six games, while Asiago are unbeaten in their last six away matches.

Salzburg look for second win against Sterzing
In the second Master Round game, the Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan host the Red Bull Hockey Juniors. The first meeting in the intermediate round went narrowly to the Juniors with a 4–3 win. In the regular season, Salzburg won two of the three duels. Both teams are currently in mixed form. While regular season champions Salzburg have only managed one win in the Master Round so far – against Sterzing – and have slipped to second place, five points behind Zell am See, the Broncos have only recorded one victory, a 6–5 shootout win in Sisak. The other three games ended in defeat.

Bregenzerwald under heavy pressure in Qualification Round B
Without a win from four games, EC Bregenzerwald – who started Qualification Round B as table leaders – now sit in fourth and last place. Overall, the Vorarlberg side have gone winless in their last six matches. Ritten lead the table with eleven points and have already secured a Pre-Playoff spot. On Thursday, the South Tyroleans celebrated a clear 6–0 home win over Jesenice, while Bregenzerwald lost 2–5 in Gherdeina. In the first Qualification Round meeting, Ritten edged Bregenzerwald 3–2 away from home. It was their second win in four encounters this season. However, both victories came on the road, as Bregenzerwald won both games in Ritten.

Jesenice urgently need a home win
Alongside Bregenzerwald, HDD Jesenice are also under heavy pressure. Last season’s finalists, like Bregenzerwald, have three points and currently sit in third place. Their opponents, HC Gherdeina valgardena.it, have already secured their Pre-Playoff ticket with ten points and trail leaders Ritten by just one point. The two teams meet for the first time in the Qualification Round, with the return match scheduled for next Tuesday in Gherdeina. In the regular season, the South Tyroleans won two of the three encounters.

Alps Hockey League:
Sat, 21.02.2026:
Master Round:
19:00: Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan – Red Bull Hockey Juniors
Referees: BULOVEC, SNOJ, Cusin, Divis

19:30: EK Die Zeller Eisbären – HC Migross Asiago
Referees: HOLZER, VOICAN, Grisenti, Rivis

Qualification Round A:
19:30: HC Meran/o Pircher – Hockey Unterland Cavaliers
Referees: OREL, PIRAS, Ilmer, Wucherer

19:30: Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel – S.G. Cortina Hafro
Referees: LAZZERI, RUETZ, Rinker, Sparer

Qualification Round B:
18:00: Rittner Buam SkyAlps – EC Bregenzerwald
Referees: HLAVATY, PINIE, Brondi, Steiner

18:00: HDD Jesenice – HC Gherdeina valgardena.it
Referees: BERGANT, METZINGER, Murnik, Wendner

Watch all games live on Valcome.TV.