Release from 04.01.2025
In the top game of the Alps Hockey League, EK Die Zeller Eisbären and Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel fought a thrilling duel in front of 2,855 fans on Saturday, with the visitors from Tyrol getting a shootout win. While Hafro Cortina Hockey celebrated an important home victory in the race for the top five, HC Gardena left last place.
2.855 fans created a great atmosphere in Zell am See. The home side took the lead in the 15th minute through Matt McLeod. The visitors were level throughout the game and equalised in the middle period: captain Hochfilzer hit Paul Schmid in the face, from where the puck went into the goal - after the painful goal it was 1:1. The third period only lasted 41 seconds when Robin Johansson scored again, but the Eagles managed to equalise again - Loke Södergren scored from distance into the far corner. Regulation time ended at 2:2 and overtime also failed to decide the game. In the end, Södergren secured the extra point for the visitors in the shootout. Kitzbühel improved to third place with the win and is now only three points behind Zell am See.
After Unterland had won the first two duels of the season, Cortina were desperate to get their first win at home. However, the Cavaliers got off to the better start and took the lead in the fourth minute with a powerplay goal from Davide Girardi. However, Luca Barnabò equalised just two minutes later. The home side turned the game in their favour with a brace at the start of the middle period. In the third period, Giovanni Toffoli and Mikael Saha finally ensured the clear 5:1 final score. As a result, fifth-placed Cortina extended their lead over Sisak to seven points.
The Croatians had to admit defeat at HC Gardena. Sisak took the early lead, but Simon Pitschieler equalised in the first period. Pitschieler gave the home side another chance to celebrate in the middle period, but this time the visitors struck back and Carson Briere levelled the score at 2:2. The home side, who were superior for long stretches, decided the game in their favour within a few minutes in the third period. After Brad McGowan made it 3:2, Stephan Deluca scored the next goal with a marvellous solo effort. Shortly afterwards, Pitschieler even celebrated his hat-trick. In the end, Val Gardena won 6:3 and also left the bottom of the table.
Alps Hockey League:
Sat, 04.01.2025
EK Die Zeller Eisbären - Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel 2:3 SO (1:0,0:1,1:1,0:0,0:1)
Referees: HOLZER, VOICAN, Telesklav, Wendner
Goals 1:0 EKZ McLeod M. (14:50 / Huard N. ,Zimmermann M. / EQ), 1:1 KEC Schmid P. (26:50 / Hochfilzer H. ,Christiansen S. / EQ), 2:1 EKZ Johansson R. (40:41 / McLeod M. ,Jennes C. / EQ), 2:2 KEC Södergren L. (52:44 / Ketonen N. / EQ), 2:3 KEC Södergren L. (65:00 / GWS)
HC Gherdeina valgardena.it - KHL Sisak 6:3 (1:1,1:1,4:1)
Referees: BENVEGNU, LAZZERI, Cristeli, Rivis
Goals 0:1 SIS Idzan V. (03:57 / Dobric P. ,Marinkovic K. / EQ), 1:1 GHE Pitschieler S. (13:03 / unassisted / EQ), 2:1 GHE Pitschieler S. (34:47 / Galassiti D. ,Mustonen H. / EQ), 2:2 SIS Briere C. (37:35 / Dobric P. ,Malenica N. / PP), 3:2 GHE McGowan B. (45:09 / Deluca S. ,Oksanen E. / EQ), 4:2 GHE Deluca S. (49:27 / Kasslatter H. / EQ), 5:2 GHE Pitschieler S. (51:25 / Schiavone D. / EQ), 6:2 GHE Schiavone D. (54:38 / Pitschieler S. ,Cristellon Y. / EQ), 6:3 SIS Briere C. (55:59 / Bronte T. ,Cavlovic N. / EQ)
S.G. Cortina Hafro - Hockey Unterland Cavaliers 5:1 (1:1,2:0,2:0)
Referees: EGGER, PINIE, Abeltino, Formaioni
Goals 0:1 CAV Girardi D. (03:56 / Remolato N. ,Brighenti Moretti C T. / PP), 1:1 SGC Barnabo' L. (06:08 / Colli A. ,Felicetti L. / EQ), 2:1 SGC Pompanin F. (21:49 / Alvera' T. ,Adami F. / EQ), 3:1 SGC Parini G. (22:56 / Di Tomaso G. ,Saha M. / EQ), 4:1 SGC Toffoli G. (42:21 / Barnabo' L. ,Pompanin F. / EQ), 5:1 SGC Saha M. (56:16 / Sanna M. ,Lacedelli R. / EQ)