Ritten clinches playoff berth | First home defeat for Jesenice

In probably the most important game of the season so far, the Rittner Buam SkyAlps showed a strong first period, in which they could not reward themselves with a goal despite several top-class chances. In the middle frame, the Buam still were the dominant team and the broke the spell after almost ten minutes. Then Tavi served Insam, who scored from the blue line into the right cross corner. Now the scoring started: Not even four minutes later, Cardwell doubled the lead. The preliminary decision followed in the 38th minute, shortly after the end of a powerplay situation Giacomuzzi netted on the rebound after a Tavi shot. It was the final point on the best third period that the Heiskanen side has shown so far this season. The guests could not get back into the game. So in the end it remained 3:0 and the Rittner Buam were not only happy about the playoff spot but also about the first shutout of Hayden Hawkey.

First home defeat for Jesenice
HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice suffered its first home defeat of the season - after previously winning 13 straight - on Tuesday. The league leader fired 38 shots on goal from HC Gherdeina, but goalie Colin Furlong saved all of them. In the 49th minute, the decimated guests even managed to score the only goal of the game through Patrick Nocker. Thus, the "Furie", coached by Elmar Parth, celebrated a great victory just a few hours after parting ways with head coach David Musial. For the still eighth-placed South Tyroleans it was already the fourth success in Jesenice in the twelfth game.

With Hafro Cortina Hockey another team, which is already qualified for the playoffs, had to admit a 2:3 defeat in Sterzing. After a goalless first period - in which the visitors set the tone - the home side took the lead twice in the middle period, but Cortina equalized on each occasion. In the 56th minute, the Broncos used their second power play of the game, Shawn McBride provided the decision with his ninth goal of the season. The team from Sterzing remains in twelfth place after the second win in a row.

With a 6:1 home win over Bregenzerwald, Unterland secured second place after the regular season. After Miro Markkula scored the only goal in the first period, a Haarala brace on power plays shortly after the restart set the course for victory for the home side. The Vorarlberg side managed to score a consolation goal in the third period, but Unterland's victory was not in danger.

Victories for Kitzbühel and Meran
Kitzbühel fell behind early in their home game against the Steel Wings Linz, but the home side turned the game in their favor before the end of the first period. The home side had a two-goal lead after both the first and second periods, and in the end they won clearly 6:2.

Merano also celebrated a comeback victory, the Eagles came back from a deficit to win 4:2 in Canazei. With two goals, Luca Ansoldi played a major role in his team's second win of the season over the Fassa Falcons. The South Tyroleans thus improved to ninth place in the standings.

Alps Hockey League, 03.01.2023:
Rittner Buam SkyAlps - EK Die Zeller Eisbären 3:0 (0:0,3:0,0:0)
Referees: LAZZERI, VIRTA, Eisl, Mantovani
Goals 1:0 RIT Insam M. (29:46 / Tavi J. ,Hofer A. / EQ), 2:0 RIT Cardwell J. (33:24 / Giacomuzzi A. ,Tavi J. / EQ), 3:0 RIT Giacomuzzi A. (37:13 / Tavi J. ,Cardwell J. / EQ)

HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice - HC Gherdeina valgardena.it 0:1 (0:0,0:0,0:1)
Referees: MEIXNER, WIDMANN, Jeram, Schweighofer
Goals 0:1 GHE Nocker P. (48:55 / Gibbon K. ,Oberrauch M. / EQ)

EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel - Steinbach Steel Wings Linz 6:2 (3:1,1:1,2:0)
Referees: DURCHNER, KAINBERGER, Huber, Schonaklehner
Goals 0:1 SWL Liesch M. (03:58 / Mosaad B. / EQ), 1:1 KEC Kreuter D. (07:53 / Ebner M. ,Karlström D. / EQ), 2:1 KEC Karlström D. (16:37 / Szabad K. ,Wernicke J. / EQ), 3:1 KEC Ebner M. (18:10 / Pallierer T. ,Schröder W. / EQ), 4:1 KEC Karlström D. (26:59 / Ebner M. ,Wernicke J. / EQ), 4:2 SWL Noreika E. (34:14 / Gaffal P. / EQ), 5:2 KEC Niemelä J. (45:42 / Lahnaviik R. ,Kuronen J. / PP), 6:2 KEC Kuronen J. (56:03 / Bolterle P. ,Wernicke J. / EQ)

Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan - S.G. Cortina Hafro 3:2 (0:0,2:2,1:0)
Referees: BENVEGNU, SORAPERRA, Cristeli, De Zordo
Goals 1:0 WSV Conci D. (21:13 / Gander M. ,Giftopoulos R. / EQ), 1:1 SGC Cuglietta D. (32:59 / Saha M. ,DI TOMASO G. / EQ), 2:1 WSV Giftopoulos R. (33:23 / Mizzi J. ,Deluca R. / EQ), 2:2 SGC Cuglietta D. (34:44 / DI TOMASO G. ,Zardini Lacedelli N. / EQ), 3:2 WSV McBride S. (55:33 / Mizzi J. ,Giftopoulos R. / PP)

Hockey Unterland Cavaliers - EC Bregenzerwald 6:1 (1:0,3:0,2:1)
Referees: GIACOMOZZI, LEGA, Basso, Fleischmann
Goals 1:0 HCU Markkula M. (11:12 / Haarala S. ,Remolato N. / EQ), 2:0 HCU Haarala S. (24:25 / Nyman L. ,Brighenti T. / PP), 3:0 HCU Haarala S. (26:57 / Nyman L. ,Wieser F. / PP), 4:0 HCU Kokoska F. (28:27 / unassisted / EQ), 4:1 ECB Schlögl R. (42:05 / Matzka M. ,Metzler M. / PP), 5:1 HCU Sullmann A. (49:22 / Kaufmann M. ,Galassiti G. / EQ), 6:1 HCU Markkula M. (49:40 / Haarala S. / EQ)

SHC Fassa Falcons - HC Meran/o Pircher 2:4 (1:1,0:1,1:2)
Referees: EGGER, STEFENELLI, Bedana, Pace
Goals 1:0 FAS Schiavone D. (10:39 / Iori D. ,Deluca S. / EQ), 1:1 HCM Ansoldi L. (17:38 / Borgatello C. ,Chiodo L. / PP), 1:2 HCM Gellon D. (28:31 / Colella M. ,Borgatello C. / EQ), 1:3 HCM Ansoldi L. (43:42 / Radin A. ,Chiodo L. / EQ), 2:3 FAS Deluca S. (48:17 / Schiavone D. ,Forte F. / PP), 2:4 HCM Colella M. (59:34 / Beber P. ,Cloutier F. / EQ)

Photo: Max Pattis