Release from 09.04.2026

Merano complete fairytale run to the Final | First-Ever All-South Tyrolean Final

Short text 518 CharactersPlain text

HC Meran/o Pircher have joined HC Gherdeina valgardena.it in the Alps Hockey League Final. For the first time in the league’s ten-year history, two teams from South Tyrol will face off in the final – and, remarkably, they are also the two lowest-seeded teams (HCM – 7th, GHE – 8th). Merano secured their historic first-ever Final appearance with a narrow 3–2 victory in Game 7 on the road against KHL Sisak, in front of 2,300 fans. The opening game of this inaugural Final series will take place on Saturday in Merano.

Press release 2693 CharactersPlain text

As expected, the decisive clash between Sisak and Merano for the second Final spot turned into a thrilling showdown. In the end, the visitors edged it 3–2 – marking their second road win of the series. Merano laid the foundation in the first period, as Rasmus Nousiainen (13’) and Jakob Fuchs (15’) struck in quick succession to make it 2–0.

Just under four minutes into the second period, the hosts got on the board and ignited the Ledena dvorana Zibel. Kim Sang Yeob scored following an assist from Vito Idzan. Sisak dominated in shots throughout the middle frame – finishing the game with 50 shots compared to Merano’s 30 – but Brayden Sherbinin restored the two-goal lead in the 32nd minute, making it 3–1 for the Eagles. They carried that advantage into the second intermission.

The lead held until the 53rd minute, when Nejc Brus beat HCM goaltender Andreas Bernard to set up a tense finish. However, Sisak failed to create any major scoring chances down the stretch, allowing Merano to seal a historic win and their first-ever Final berth.

Surprise final begins Saturday in Merano
Merano will now face HC Gherdeina valgardena.it in what promises to be a true surprise Final. Both teams have reached the championship series for the first time and even had to go through the Pre-Playoffs before entering the quarterfinals. It is the first time that the two lowest-seeded teams meet in the Final: Merano entered the playoffs as the 7th seed, while Gherdeina were 8th. In the Regular Season, they finished only 10th (HCM) and 11th (GHE), separated by just one point. Thanks to their better seeding, Merano will have home-ice advantage and will open the Final series on Saturday. This season, Merano won two of the three head-to-head matchups.

Final Schedule:
Sat, 11/04/26: HC Meran/o Pircher vs. HC Gherdeina valgardena.it
Tue, 14/04/26: HC Gherdeina valgardena.it vs. HC Meran/o Pircher
Thu, 16/04/26: HC Meran/o Pircher vs. HC Gherdeina valgardena.it
Sat, 18/04/26: HC Gherdeina valgardena.it vs. HC Meran/o Pircher
Tue, 21/04/26: HC Meran/o Pircher vs. HC Gherdeina valgardena.it*
Thu, 23/04/26: HC Gherdeina valgardena.it vs. HC Meran/o Pircher*
Sat, 25/04/26: HC Meran/o Pircher vs. HC Gherdeina valgardena.it*
* if necessary

Alps Hockey League, Halbfinale Spiel 7
Thu, 09.04.2026
KHL Sisak - HC Meran/o Pircher 2:3 (0:2, 1:1, 1:0)
Referees: BULOVEC, LAZZERI, Arlic, Seewald
Final standings in the best-of-7 series: 3:4
Goals SIS: 1:2 Yeob K. (24.), 2:3 Brus N. (53.)
Goals HCM: 0:1 Nousiainen R. (13.), 0:2 Fuchs J. (15.), 1:3 Sherbinin B. (32.)

Copyright: BK Photo