Release from 10.04.2026

Historic first final between Merano and Val Gardena begins on Saturday

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For the first time in the ten-year history of the Alps Hockey League, two South Tyrolean teams — HC Meran/o Pircher and HC Gherdeina valgardena.it — will face off in the final. At the same time, it is also the first time that the two lowest-seeded teams have reached the championship series. The opening game of the “best-of-7” final will take place on Saturday in Merano. The Eagles have won two of the three regular season matchups against the Furie.

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It’s a final few would have predicted: seventh-seeded HC Meran/o Pircher takes on eighth-seeded HC Gherdeina valgardena.it. Both teams had to go through the Pre-Playoffs, where Merano defeated Bregenzerwald 2–0, while Gherdëina also swept Kitzbühel 2–0.

In the quarterfinals, both sides delivered major upsets. Merano got the better of Asiago 4–2, while Gherdëina edged the Red Bull Hockey Juniors in seven games. Gherdëina continued its strong run in the semifinals, eliminating defending champions Zell am See (4–2), while Merano prevailed in a hard-fought seven-game series against Sisak.

Now, both teams have reached the final for the first time. This guarantees a first-time champion, and it also means that a South Tyrolean team will win the title for the third time. So far, Ritten has claimed the championship in the inaugural 2017 season and again in 2024.

The two finalists have faced each other three times this season. Merano won the first meeting on September 27 at home (3–1), before Gherdëina responded with a 4–3 overtime victory on October 25. The most recent clash on January 31, also in Gherdëina, ended in a narrow 1–0 win for Merano. At home, the Eagles have won each of their last four games against the Furie. All games of the final series will be available via livestream on Valcome.tv.

Alps Hockey League | Finals Game 1:
Sat, 11.04.2026:
20:00: HC Meran/o Pircher – HC Gherdeina valgardena.it
Referees: LAZZERI, WINKLER, Brondi, Dummermuth-Haas | LIVE on Valcome.tv
Standings in the best-of-7 final series: 0:0

Copyright: Matthäus Kostner