Release from 13.03.2025
EK Zeller Eisbären, HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice and the Wipptal Broncos also won the third game of their quarter-final series on Thursday and secured match pucks - all three teams can advance to the semi-finals this weekend. HC Merano Pircher, on the other hand, reduced the deficit thanks to a 4:3 away win at the Rittner Buam SkyAlps.
Jesenice also won their third quarter-final clash with Cortina. The Slovenians earned a 7:2 home victory on Thursday and are now just one win away from reaching the semi-finals. Anze Prostor opened the scoring in the seventh minute and by the end of the first period the Slovenians led 3:0. After the restart, the home side even pulled away to 6:0, with a brace from Gregor Koblar providing the preliminary decision. The Italians scored twice in the third period, but they will play against the early end of the season on Saturday.
The EK Zeller Eisbären celebrated a 3:1 home win over EC Bregenzerwald in front of over 2,000 spectators. Although the home side took an early lead with a powerplay goal from captain Hubert Berger, Jimi Kuronen equalised before the first period break. Zell am See once again lived up to its role as favourites, however, with Tobias Piuk (37') and Kilian Rappold (42') securing the home win. In the "best-of-7" quarter-final series, the Pinzgau team made it 3'0 and can advance to the semi-finals on Sunday.
The Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan also won their second away game in Kitzbühel. After goals from Connor Sanvido and Thomas Galimberti, Sterzing went into the first break with a 2:0 lead. The Tyroleans turned the game in their favour in the middle period with three goals, but the South Tyroleans struck back against the third-seeded hosts. The Broncos regained the lead within 51 seconds and Nick Campoli finally made it 5:3. Sterzing, which only qualified for the quarter-finals on the third matchday of the pre-playoffs, has a 3:0 lead in the series and can now advance to the next round in front of its home crowd.
HC Meran/o Pircher, on the other hand, shortened the quarter-final series against the Rittner Buam SkyAlps. After two defeats, the Eagles won 4:3 away from home. The visitors were 3:0 ahead after two periods thanks to a brace from Massimo Pietroniro and a goal from Madsen. After Ritten scored for the first time, Daniel Gellon restored the three-goal lead. The reigning AHL champions piled on the pressure in the final phase and came within one goal - but that was as close as they got on the night.
Alps Hockey League:
Thursday, 13.03.2025:
SIJ Acroni Jesenice – S.G. Cortina Hafro 7:2 (3:0,3:0,1:2)
Referees: LAZZERI, VOICAN, Fleischmann, Weiss.
Goals 1:0 JES Prostor A. (06:32 / Baloh D. / EQ), 2:0 JES Lesnicar T. (12:24 / Svetina E. ,Koblar G. / EQ), 3:0 JES Sillanpaa S. (17:18 / Brus N. ,Valtola O. / PP), 4:0 JES Sturm J. (24:13 / Valtola O. ,Sojer T. / EQ), 5:0 JES Koblar G. (30:47 / Lesnicar T. ,Svetina E. / EQ), 6:0 JES Koblar G. (33:03 / Svetina E. ,Lesnicar T. / EQ), 6:1 SGC Di Tomaso G. (43:06 / Pompanin F. / PP), 7:1 JES Jenko J. (51:13 / Slivnik L. ,Svetina E. / 5:3 PP), 7:2 SGC Lehtonen W. (52:51 / Felicetti L. ,Ushnev N. / EQ)
Standings in the „best-of-7“ series: 3:0
EK Die Zeller Eisbären – EC Bregenzerwald 3:1 (1:1,1:0,1:0)
Referees: HLAVATY, HOLZER T., Moidl, Zacherl.
Goals 1:0 EKZ Berger H. (04:30 / Steffler D. ,Huard N. / PP), 1:1 ECB Kuronen J. (17:41 / Erne L. ,Tschofen M. / EQ), 2:1 EKZ Piuk T. (35:56 / Jennes C. ,Wilfan M. / EQ), 3:1 EKZ Rappold K. (41:12 / Putnik P. ,Berger H. / EQ)
Standings in the „best-of-7“ series: 3:0
Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel – Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan 3:5 (0:2,3:0,0:3)
Referees: BULOVEC, Giacomozzi, Cristeli, Jeram.
Goals 0:1 WSV Sanvido C. (11:31 / Hackhofer F. ,Cianfrone B. / PP), 0:2 WSV Galimberti T. (15:38 / Zecchetto A. ,Soraruf D. / EQ), 1:2 KEC Wieltschnig P. (26:49 / Mitrovic M. ,Fröwis J. / EQ), 2:2 KEC Fröwis J. (34:10 / Wetzl N. ,Schutz C. / EQ), 3:2 KEC Wieltschnig P. (39:37 / Schutz C. ,Ketonen N. / PP), 3:3 WSV Livingston J. (41:47 / Cianfrone B. / EQ), 3:4 WSV Cianfrone B. (42:38 / Livingston J. ,Sanvido C. / PP), 3:5 WSV Campoli N. (55:35 / Capannelli A. / EQ)
Standings in the „best-of-7“ series: 0:3
Rittner Buam SkyAlps – HC Meran/o Pircher 3:4 (0:1,0:2,3:1)
Referees: PINIE, VIRTA, Brondi, Rinker.
Goals 0:1 HCM Pietroniro M. (12:46 / Madsen P. / EQ), 0:2 HCM Pietroniro M. (23:12 / Fuchs J. ,Madsen P. / EQ), 0:3 HCM Madsen P. (38:25 / Skalde S. ,Gellon D. / EQ), 1:3 RIT Cuglietta D. (41:20 / Lobis A. ,Szypula E. / EQ), 1:4 HCM Gellon D. (48:27 / Rein N. ,Fuchs J. / EQ), 2:4 RIT Lobis A. (52:05 / Cuglietta D. ,Larsen M. / EQ), 3:4 RIT Lobis A. (59:17 / Kostner S. ,Hjorth E. / EQ)
Standings in the „best-of-7“ series: 2:1
Photo: BK Photo