Release from 02.03.2026

Pre-Playoffs start on Tuesday | Salzburg derby in the Master Round

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On Tuesday, the best-of-three Pre-Playoff series of the Alps Hockey League get underway, with home-ice advantage for HC Meran/o Pircher, the Rittner Buam SkyAlps and HC Gherdeina valgardena.it. At the same time, the third-to-last game day of the Master Round takes place, highlighted by the Salzburg derby between league leaders EK Die Zeller Eisbären and their closest challengers, the Red Bull Hockey Juniors. In addition, KHL Sisak will face HC Migross Asiago.

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Qualification Round A winners HC Meran/o Pircher will meet the third-placed team from Qualification Round B, the EC Bregenzerwald, in the Pre-Playoffs. In the regular season, Bregenzerwald won all three head-to-head encounters. The two teams will meet in the postseason for the first time.

Ritten to face Cortina
This is arguably the most prestigious matchup of the Pre-Playoffs: two-time Alps Hockey League champion Rittner Buam SkyAlps versus two-time finalist S.G. Cortina Hafro. Both teams finished second in their respective Qualification Round groups. They last met in the postseason in the 2024 final, when Ritten clearly prevailed with a 4:0 sweep. The Buam also won the other two playoff series between the teams: 3:2 in the 2022 quarterfinals and 3:1 in the 2017 semifinal during the league’s inaugural season. This season, however, Cortina has won two of the three encounters so far.

Gherdeina challenge Kitzbühel
In the third Pre-Playoff series, Qualification Round B winners HC Gherdeina valgardena.it will take on the third-placed team from Qualification Round A, the Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel. Gherdeina won five of their six intermediate round games, while Kitzbühel narrowly reached the Pre-Playoffs with three wins and three losses. Against Gherdeina, however, Kitzbühel have won all three meetings this season and have now taken the last six encounters overall. The South Tyroleans’ last victory dates back to December 9, 2023.

Salzburg derby in the Master Round
For the first time in the Master Round, EK Die Zeller Eisbären and the Red Bull Hockey Juniors will face each other. The second meeting will follow on Saturday in Salzburg. League leaders Zell am See currently hold an eight-point lead over the Juniors and could secure first place on Tuesday. For the Polar Bears – who have won all six Master Round games so far – this will be their penultimate match, while the Juniors – with three wins from five games – still have three games to play. Zell am See also defeated the Juniors in the final of the Austrian AHL Championship in February.

Asiago can take a big step toward third place
In the second Master Round game, fourth-placed KHL Sisak host third-placed HC Migross Asiago. The two teams are separated by just three points. While the Croatians have been waiting four games for a win, Asiago have won three of their last five matches. This will be their first direct meeting in the Master Round, with the second to follow on Saturday. In the regular season, Asiago won two of the three encounters.

Alps Hockey League:
Tue, 03.03.2026:
Master Round:
19:30: EK Die Zeller Eisbären – Red Bull Hockey Juniors
Referees: OREL, UNTERWEGER, Wendner, Wucherer

19:30: KHL Sisak – HC Migross Asiago
Referees: BERGANT, METZINGER, Markizeti, Miklic

Pre-Playoffs:
20:00: HC Meran/o Pircher – EC Bregenzerwald
Referees: BULOVEC, SNOJ, Fleischmann, Ilmer

20:00: Rittner Buam SkyAlps – S.G. Cortina Hafro
Referees: LAZZERI, RIVIS, Cristeli, Grisenti

20:30: HC Gherdeina valgardena.it – Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel
Referees: HOLZER, STEFENELLI, Cusin, Rinker

Watch all games live on Valcome.TV.

Copyright: Max Pattis