Release from 20.02.2024

Ritten beats Cortina and wins regular season

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The Rittner Buam SkyAlps beat Hafro Cortina Hockey 4:3 after overtime in Tuesday's lone Alps Hockey League game. Two goals from Max Coatta turned the game in favour of the hosts. The South Tyroleans thus also secured the first place after the regular season and will go into the 2024 playoffs as the top seeded team.

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In their first meeting since the final of the Italian championship, both teams got down to business right from the start. The Buam had the first chance: after three minutes, Szypula appeared in front of Hawkey, but the former Rittner goalkeeper remained the winner. At the other end, Ginnetti almost deflected a Larcher shot into his own goal, but Furlong intervened. Then it was Hawkey again, who saved a Coatta shot with a big save. The first goal came in the 13th minute: Cortina combined in front of goal, Doherty laid off to Sanna, who had no trouble from close range. Ritten's reply was only 15 seconds away. Szypula was played in by Coatta and shot the puck into the corner of the net. It got even better for the hosts three minutes later when Manuel Öhler slid the puck to his cousin Robert Öhler, who made it 2:1 with a one timer

In the first few minutes of the second period, could not capitalize on a 5 on 3 power play. Nevertheless, the visitors equalised later: in the 27th minute, Cuglietta took the measure from an acute angle and scored right into the corner of the net. Amorosa then failed twice in succession against Hawkey's pads, and Lacedelli then stormed towards Furlong, but his shot landed right in the Ritten goalie's glove.

Things really heated up in the third period. In addition to many good chances, there were also several power plays and fights. The Buam started off on the powerplay, but both Insam and Giacomuzzi missed from similar positions. Cortina took the lead when Traversa scored after a rebound to make it 3:2. Ritten looked for the equaliser again and also managed to do so in the powerplay: Szypula passed to Coatta, who scored with a direct shot into the far corner. In a hectic final phase, both Barnabò (56') and Szypula (57') only hit the post. However, no more goals were scored and the game went into overtime. It was Coatta who made it 4:3 after Amorosa's assist. The South Tyroleans thus also secured the first place after the regular season and will go into the 2024 playoffs as the top seeded team, while second-placed Cortina picked up an important point in the race for the best starting position.

Alps Hockey League | Master Round:
Tue, 20.02.2024: Rittner Buam SkyAlps – S.G. Cortina Hafro 4:3 OT (2:1, 0:1, 1:1, 1:0)
Referees: MOSCHEN, STEFENELLI, Brondi, Fleischmann.
Goals: 0:1 Sanna (13.00), 1:1 Szypula (13.15), 2:1 Robert Öhler (15.12), 2:2 Cuglietta (27.01), 2:3 Traversa (45.08/PP), 3:3 Coatta (51.53/PP), 4:3 Coatta (63.29)

Photo: Max Pattis