Release from 23.03.2024

Juniors and Sterzing take the lead

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The Red Bull Hockey Juniors and the Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan have taken the lead in the semifinal series of the Alps Hockey League. While the Juniors were victorious again in overtime in Cortina on Saturday, Sterzing prevailed 4:2 in the Ritten Arena. For the "Buam" it was the first AHL home defeat since October 7 and the equivalent of 21 wins in a row.

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First home defeat for Ritten since October 7
The Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan have taken the lead in the semifinal series against the Rittner Buam SkyAlps. In game three, the visitors from Sterzing prevailed 4:2, meaning that Ritten lost a home game in the Alps Hockey League for the first time since October 7 and the equivalent of 21 wins in a row. The "Buam" took the lead after just 45 seconds through Simon Kostner in front of 1,183 fans. Bryson Cianfrone equalized nine seconds before the end of the opening period. In the second period, Connor Sanvido put the visitors ahead for the first time that evening. The 30-year-old forward, who has missed Sterzing for a long time this season due to injury and only played his 22nd game of the season on Saturday, also scored the 3:2 game-winner with just under five minutes remaining. Shortly before that, Eric Hjorth equalized for Ritten in the power play. Davide Conci scored the final goal with 100 seconds remaining. It was the first win for WSV in the Ritten Arena after six consecutive defeats.

Another overtime win for Juniors in Cortina
S.G. Cortina Hafro and the Red Bull Hockey Juniors went into overtime for the second time and once again the Juniors won. While the decision in game one was not made until the 98th minute, it took until the 72nd minute in semifinal three before the 23-year-old defender Devin Steffler scored the game-winner. As a result, the Young Bulls have a 2:1 lead in the “best-of-7” series. The visitors had a dream start and took the lead after just 53 seconds through Vasily Zelenov. Cortina replied shortly before the end of the first period while shorthanded. The remaining two goals in regulation were scored in power plays. First, the Young Bulls took the lead again in the 32nd minute, but the Italians equalized again in the 44th minute. In the overtime it went back and forth before two Cortina players were sent to the penalty box within a few seconds. The Juniors took full advantage of the five-on-three situation. It was Devin Steffler's first playoff goal in the Alps Hockey League.

Alps Hockey League | 23.03.2024 | Semifinal 3:
Rittner Buam SkyAlps – Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan 2:4 (1:1, 0:1, 1:2)
Referees: BAJT, BULOVEC, Jeram, Puff. | Spectators: 1.183
Standings in the“best-of-7 series: 1:2
Goals RIT: 1:0 Kostner S. (1. Fink K. – Coatta M.), 2:2 Hjorth E. (51./PP1 Insam M.)
Goals WSV: 1:1 Cianfrone B. (20. Topatigh D. – Capannelli A.), 1:2 Sanvido C. (26. Hackhofer F. – Maylan J.), 2:3 Sanvido C. (55. Gschliesser F. – Conci D.), 2:4 Conci D. (59. Sanvido C. – Gschliesser F.)

S.G. Cortina Hafro – Red Bull Hockey Juniors 2:3/OT (1:1, 0:1, 1:0, 0:1)
Referees: HOLZER, SCHAUER, Fleischmann, Moidl. | Spectators: 620
Standings in the“best-of-7 series: 1:2
Goals SGC: 1:1 Cuglietta D. (19./SH1 DiTomaso G. – Juhola J.), 2:2 Zanatta L. (44./PP1 Cuglietta D. – Juhola J.)
Goals RBJ: 0:1 Zelenov V. (1. Krening P. – Myllymaa K.), 1:2 Ramoser J. (32./PP1 Murnieks D. – Zelenov V.), 2:3 Steffler D. (72./PP1 Myllymaa K.)