Jesenice and Ritten win top matches

EK Die Zeller Eisbären - HC Gherdeina valgardena.it 5:4 OT (2:1,0:2,2:1,1:0)
The first period was hard fought and marked by many penalties on both sides. In the eighth minute Juuso Rajala gave the home side a 1:0 lead. The visitors equalised shortly afterwards through former Zell player Maks Selan. But only one minute later it was Juuso Rajala again who made the fans in the KE KELIT Arena cheer with the 2:1. But the middle period then belonged to the Gardena side, who turned the game around with goals from league MVP Brad McGowan and Max Oberrauch. In the third period McGowan even made it 2:4, but the Salzburgers fought back once more. First Antons Sinegubovs reduced the score and 22 seconds before the end Fredrik Widen scored a well-deserved equaliser with a shot from the blue line to make it 4:4. In the overtime it went back and forth. In the 63rd minute, it was again Widen who fixed the 5:4 home victory with a solo. After four recent defeats, the team from Zell had a sense of achievement again.

EHC Lustenau - Rittner Buam 0:4 (0:0,0:3,0:1)
Both teams started the first period very ambitiously. Ritten had more of the game, but Lustenau had the better chances - nevertheless it remained goalless until the first break. After the restart, the guests had the better chances and the 0:1 by Alex Frei in the 30th minute was the logical consequence. After a few penalties, the EHC played on powerplay, but the goal was scored by Ritten's Markus Spinell (35./SH). Only two minutes later it was Spinell again who scored the decisive third goal. In the last period, the guests managed their lead very cleverly. Lustenau had a few chances, but they were denied a consolation goal. In the 59th minute Adam Giacomuzzi fixed the final score at 0:4, which was also the third Rittner shutout of the season, credited to Jake Smith. The second-placed South Tyroleans won 14 of 17 games against Lustenau in the eternal AHL standings.

Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey - HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice 2:3 (2:0,0:1,0:2)
Jesenice came to Asiago with the self-confidence of five wins in a row. But the home side got off to the better start. After an early penalty against the Slovenians, Michele Marchetti scored in the third minute on the power play. And only a few minutes later Anthony Salinitri even made it 2:0. On the other side Jure Sotlar had a good chance, but after 20 minutes it remained the two-goal lead for Asiago. Right after the restart Eric Pance only hit the bar, but only a short time later the visitors managed to score the first goal: Saso Rajsar successfully deflected a Planko shot. Despite chances on both sides, the score remained unchanged until the 46th minute. Then Rajsar equalised with his second goal. And it got even better for the leaders when Eetu Elo scored between the pads of goalie Vallini in the 54th minute to make it 2:3. Asiago tried everything again, but Jesenice also won the second AHL duel this season and extended their lead in the standings.

Sterzing signs Lucas Chiodo
The Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan have announced the signing of Italian-Canadian forward Lucas Chiodo. The 23-year-old already played in the Alps Hockey League during the 2019/20 season, recording 54 points (17G, 37A) for the Fassa Falcons. Johan Lorraine, on the other hand, will leave the club for French team Gap.

Alps Hockey League | 23.12.2021:
EK Die Zeller Eisbären - HC Gherdeina valgardena.it 5:4 OT (2:1,0:2,2:1,1:0)
Referees: OREL, REZEK, Kainberger, Wimmler.
Goals 1:0 EKZ Rajala J. (07:06 / unassisted / EQ), 1:1 GHE Selan M. (09:50 / MC GOWAN B. ,Korhonen V. / EQ), 2:1 EKZ Rajala J. (11:16 / Tschernutter J. ,Schernthaner J. / EQ), 2:2 GHE MC GOWAN B. (25:33 / Selan M. ,Willeit C. / EQ), 2:3 GHE Oberrauch M. (35:02 / Sullmann Pilser M. ,Brugnoli J. / SH), 2:4 GHE MC GOWAN B. (40:58 / Oberrauch M. ,Sölva M. / EQ), 3:4 EKZ Sinegubovs A. (42:59 / Kreuzer P. ,Akerman J. / EQ), 4:4 EKZ Dinhopel T. (59:38 / Rattensberger D. ,Widen F. / EQ), 5:4 EKZ Widen F. (62:30 / Schernthaner J. / EQ)

EHC Lustenau - Rittner Buam 0:4 (0:0,0:3,0:1)
Referees: HOLZER, WALLNER, Eisl, Rinker.
Goals 0:1 RIT Frei A. (29:46 / Marzolini M. ,Kostner S. / EQ), 0:2 RIT Spinell M. (34:10 / Kostner S. ,Uusivirta L. / SH), 0:3 RIT Spinell M. (36:08 / Kostner S. ,Osburn Z. / EQ), 0:4 RIT Giacomuzzi A. (58:39 / Kostner J. ,Öhler R. / 5:3 PP)

Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey - HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice 2:3 (2:0,0:1,0:2)
Referees: BENVEGNU, VIRTA, Bassani, Piras.
Goals 1:0 ASH Marchetti M. (02:28 / Marchetti S. / PP), 2:0 ASH Salinitri A. (07:07 / Magnabosco J. ,Iacobellis S. / EQ), 2:1 JES Rajsar S. (21:14 / Planko D. ,Sotlar J. / EQ), 2:2 JES Rajsar S. (45:56 / Urukalo Z. ,Sotlar J. / EQ), 2:3 JES Elo E. (53:47 / Viikila J. ,Pance E. / EQ)

Photo: Serena Fantini