Release from 06.04.2023

Luca Zanatta: "We want the win at all costs"

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Absolute showdown in the semifinals of the Alps Hockey League between the Red Bull Hockey Juniors and S.G. Cortina Hafro. In game seven tonight, Thursday at 19:15 in the Eisarena Salzburg, it will be decided which team will be the final opponent of HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice. On Tuesday Cortina already had the first chance to qualify for the finals for the first time. In the end, they lost in overtime for the third time in the current series. However, Luca Zanatta of Cortina is still confident that his team will fix the finals in the all-important game seven.

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"To be able to play a game seven is certainly a highlight for any hockey player. We still have a great chance to move into the finals. We know, on Thursday every player has to play to his full potential, then we can win the game", Luca Zanatta of S.G. Cortina Hafro is already looking forward to the upcoming showdown on Thursday at 19:15 in the Eisarena Salzburg.

For the Italians it is already the second chance to qualify for the finals. On Tuesday, they lost in overtime (1:2) for the third time in the current series. "The defeat was frustrating, of course. We had numerous great chances, especially in the third period and should have been in the lead. Also in the overtime we unfortunately did not use our chances. Salzburg finally took advantage of one of our mistakes. In hockey, things happen very quickly. That it was now already the third overtime defeat, hurts additionally, so the defender.

In terms of preparation for the deciding game, there will be no changes to the previous games in the playoffs, according to Zanatta, who has scored three points in the series against the Young Bulls so far: "The preparation will be the same as for every playoff game. We'll watch some videos of game six and analyze the mistakes and then, of course, we'll try to avoid those mistakes on Thursday, because those little details make the difference in the end, especially in a deciding game."

The objective is clear for the 31-year-old, who is playing his fourth season with the Italians. Cortina is going to Salzburg to win: "Of course we are going to Salzburg to win. We have come so far, achieved so much, especially as a unit. I think we deserve to be in the finals. We want the win at all costs."

Who will make it to the final for the first time in the history of the Alps Hockey League and meet last year's finalist HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice will be decided on Thursday evening 19:15, live in the free livestream.