Release from 20.03.2024

Ritten and Juniors win in semi-final opener

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The Rittner Buam SkyAlps won the first game of the semi-final series against the Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan 4:2 in front of their home crowd. With two goals in the third period, the team from Klobenstein also decided the fifth season meeting to their favour. The Red Bull Hockey Juniors celebrated a 3:2 overtime win at Hafro Cortina Hockey. In the third-longest game in AHL history, Julius Ramoser scored the decisive goal in the 98th minute.

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Ritten got off to the better start in their home game against Sterzing and took the lead in the sixth minute: After a counter-attack, Markus Spinell stormed towards goal, made Niccolai look old-fashioned with a perfect move and also remained ice-cold in front of goalie Rabanser. The Broncos also got into the game better as the first period progressed, but Ritten goalie Colin Furlong made two excellent saves. The second period started for the Buam with a powerplay and after just 19 seconds Ethan Szypula added a second goal. Sterzing increased the pressure after the second goal and was rewarded when Davide Conci (28.) scored into the corner of the net. Justin Maylan even equalised a minute and a half later. The Broncos then continued to dominate the final phase of the middle frame, but Furlong prevented the hosts from falling behind. In the final period, both teams continued as before and played tough playoff hockey. There were chances on both sides, but a Rittner brace finally decided the game. In the powerplay, it was first Alan Lobis who scored from close range in the 53rd minute. Less than a minute and a half later, Michael Lang made it 4:2 and the Broncos threw everything forward once more, but were constantly thwarted by Furlong and their own indiscipline.

Juniors win third-longest game in AHL history
Cortina set the tone from the start in the home game against the Juniors, but the visitors scored the only goal in the first period. In the eleventh minute, Kalle Myllymaa scored into the short corner on the first power play of the game. The story of the match so far was repeated in the middle period. Cortina again had a few chances, but always failed against Juniors goalie Simon Wolf. At the other end, Myllymaa scored again - once more on pwoer play. This time, the Finn beat Cortina goalie Hawkey with a one timer. It took until the 51st minute for Tommaso Traversa to capitalise on a 2-on-1 situation to score the hosts' first goal. Head coach Giorgio de Bettin took full risk in the final phase with pulling goalie Hawkey for a sixth skater. After the visitors narrowly missed an empty netter, Marco Sanna equalised with a rebound four seconds before the end. The first overtime remained goalless, after which the teams were reduced to three skaters each. In the third-longest game in AHL history, the visitors ultimately prevailed - Julius Ramoser scored in the 98th minute for the decision.

Alps Hockey League, Semi-finals 1:
Tue, 19.03.2024: Rittner Buam SkyAlps - Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan 4:2 (1:0,1:2,2:0)
Referees: HOLZER, SCHAUER, De Zordo, Fleischmann
Goals 1:0 RIT Spinell M. (05:58 / Insam M. / EQ), 2:0 RIT Szypula E. (20:19 / Amorosa T. ,Hjorth E. / PP), 2:1 WSV Conci D. (27:27 / Sanvido C. ,Hackhofer F. / EQ), 2:2 WSV Maylan J. (28:51 / Zecchetto A. ,Zandegiacomo L. / EQ), 3:2 RIT Lobis A. (52:07 / Szypula E. ,Coatta M. / PP), 4:2 RIT Lang M. (53:25 / Prast J. ,Kostner J. / EQ)

Tue, 19.03.2024: Hafro Cortina Hockey - Red Bull Hockey Juniors 2:3 OT (0:1,0:1,2:0,0:1)
Referees: BAJT, BULOVEC, Jeram, Puff
Goals 0:1 RBJ Myllymaa K. (10:36 / Schreiner V. / PP), 0:2 RBJ Myllymaa K. (24:33 / Schreiner V. ,Assavolyuk D. / PP), 1:2 SGC Traversa T. (50:46 / Alvera' T. / EQ), 2:2 SGC Sanna M. (59:56 / Cuglietta D. ,Doherty T. / EQ), 2:3 RBJ Ramoser J. (97:17 / Wolf S. / EQ)

Photo: Max Pattis