Release from 24.03.2026

Gherdëina completes the semifinal lineup with overtime win in Salzburg

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HC Gherdëina has reached the semifinals of the Alps Hockey League for the first time. The South Tyroleans defeated the Red Bull Hockey Juniors 3–2 after overtime in Game 7 on Tuesday. Matteo Luisetti netted the winner in the 77th minute.

In the semifinals, Gherdëina will face defending champion EK Zell am See. The other series features KHL Sisak against HC Meran/o. Both best-of-seven matchups begin on Thursday.

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After two clear wins and tying the series, the Juniors again controlled large parts of Tuesday’s decisive game. Following a goalless first period, Salzburg ramped up the pressure—but it was the visitors who struck first: Brighenti deflected a shot in the 29th minute to make it 1–0. Gherdëina took that narrow lead into the second intermission. Early in the third, Kogler equalized from the slot after a well-timed feed, but just a few minutes later the South Tyroleans answered back. Following a face-off win, Kasslatter beat the goalie off the inside post to restore the lead at 2–1. The Juniors pushed hard for another equalizer, sustaining long spells in the offensive zone, but couldn’t find a way past Gherdëina’s defense. The visitors missed a big chance to seal the win on a 2-on-1 break, and with 74 seconds remaining—already skating six attackers—Eliseev tied the game 2–2.

In overtime, Salzburg dominated play but ran into an outstanding Claes Endre, who stopped 62 shots and even denied a penalty attempt. In the 77th minute, the decisive moment came at the other end: Luisetti spun and buried the puck to give Gherdëina a dramatic 3–2 victory. With that, the “Furies” advance to the AHL semifinals for the first time, while the Juniors suffered their third-ever Game 7 defeat in league history.

Alps Hockey League, Quarter-final Game 7

Tue, 24 March 2026:
Red Bull Hockey Juniors - HC Gherdeina valgardena.it 2–3 OT (0–0, 0–1, 2–1)
Referees: BULOVEC, SNOJ, Arlic, Jeram
Goals RBJ: Kogler (42.), Eliseev (59.)
Goals GHE: Brighenti (29'), Kasslatter (47'), Luisetti (77')
Final score in the best-of-7 series: 3:4