Release from 15.02.2024
The Rittner Buam SkyAlps recorded their fifth win in a row with a 2-1 home victory over the Red Bull Hockey Juniors and will therefore finish the Master Round at least in second place. New signing Eric Hjorth scored the opening goal on his debut. The S.G. Cortina Hafro kept a clean sheet for the second time in a row and is now in sole second place thanks to Hayden Hawkey's fifth shutout.
In Qualification Round A, HC Gherdeina valgardena.it took the lead in the standings thanks to a clear 5-1 home win over SIJ Acroni Jesenice also because HC Meran/o Pircher lost at home to Steel Wings LINZ AG. Mikael Saha scored five goals for the Upper Austria side.
In Qualification Round B, the top duo snatched further victories, as Joonas Niemelä catapulted EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel to a clear 6-1 road win in Klagenfurt with a five-point game, while the Hockey Unterland Cavaliers scored a rollercoaster win at home.
The Rittner Buam SkyAlps have taken another step towards winning the Master Round, as the 2-1 home win over the Red Bull Hockey Juniors on Thursday was already the fifth victory in the intermediate round for the South Tyroleans. With four games to go, the "Buam" have a six-point lead over second-placed Cortina. Against Salzburg, Ritten's new signing Eric Hjorth – the winner of the Regular Season only made his signing official a few hours before the start of the game – promptly introduced himself with the opening goal, Max Coatta (42.) scored the game-winning goal. Ritten's goalie Colin Furlong also put in a strong performance, recording a save percentage of 96.7%.
S.G. Cortina Hafro also celebrated a 5-0 home win over EK Die Zeller Eisbären to secure sole second place. The Italians did not concede a goal for the second time in a row. It was goalie Hayden Hawkey's fifth shutout of the season, his second in a row. The 20-year-old Filippo Pompanin scored a brace. Tim Doherty notched his first goal for Cortina.
Gherdeina takes lead in Qualification Round A
HC Gherdeina valgardena.it took the lead in Qualification Round A with a 5-1 home win over SIJ Acroni Jesenice. The "Furie", which were joined by new signing Stephan Deluca for the first time, took the lead in the first period in front of over 1200 fans and never let the advantage slip away. Gröden scored twice in the powerplay, Simon Pitschieler recorded a brace. Jesenice suffered another defeat after two wins in a row, but remains second because HC Meran/o Pircher suffered a clear 2-7 loss at home against Steel Wings LINZ AG. Center Mikael Saha outclassed the South Tyroleans, scoring five goals, three of them on powerplay.
Niemelä’s five-point game gives Kitzbühel clear win
EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel defended their lead in the Qualification Round B standings with an unchallenged 6-1 road win at EC-KAC Future Team. The Tyroleans were already 4-0 ahead after the first period. Joonas Niemelä excelled for the "Adler" with a hat-trick and a total of five scoring points. The Finn scored in his fifth consecutive game. Klagenfurt remained without a point on home ice for the first time since December 9th (0-9 vs. FAS).
The Hockey Unterland Cavaliers remained Kitzbühel's first pursuers, beating EHC Lustenau 5-4 at home and are now four points ahead of the Vorarlberg side, which still have one more game to play. The South Tyroleans turned the game around with three goals in the middle third. Luka Nyman's second goal finally decided the game.
Alps Hockey League | Master Round | 15.02.2024 | Results:
Rittner Buam SkyAlps – Red Bull Hockey Juniors 2:1 (0:0, 1:1, 1:0)
Referees: HOLZER T., STEFENELLI, Brondi, Jäger. | Spectators: 487
Goals RIT: Hjorth (35./Kostner S.-Fink), Coatta (42./Kostner S.)
Goal RBJ: Vinzens (39.PP1/Steffler-Myllymaa)
S.G. Cortina Hafro – EK Die Zeller Eisbären 5:0 (2:0, 1:0, 2:0)
Referees: BENEVEGNU, RICCO, Grisenti, Wiest. | Spectators: 610
Goals SGC: Pompanin (13./Traversa. 27.), Lacedelli (19./Di Tomaso-Zanatta), Zanatta (45./Juhola-Larcher), Doherty (53./Lacedelli)
Alps Hockey League | Qualification Round A | 15.02.2024 | Results:
HC Gherdeina valgardena.it – SIJ Acroni Jesenice 5:1 (1:0, 1:1, 3:0)
Referees: GIACOMOZZI, RUETZ, Cristeli, Fecchio. | Spectators: 1284
Goals HCG: Messner (16.), Luisetti (28.PP1/McGowan, 54.PP1/McGowan-De Luca), Pitschieler (45./Luoto, 47.)
Goal JES: Selan (29.PP1/Jezovsek-Sersen)
HC Meran/o Pircher – Steel Wings Linz 2:7 (1:2, 1:4, 0:1)
Referees: LEGA, SORAPERRA, De Zordo, Rivis. | Spectators: 800
Goals HCM: Borgatello (9./McNally-Anderson), Anderson (35./Gellon)
Goals SWL: Saha (19.PP1/Dorion-Rappold, 20./Theirich, 27.PP1/Rappold-Mosaad, 40.PP1/Mosaad-Rappold, 56.EN/Rappold), Theirich (25./Dorion-Grasser), Sticha D. (26./Sticha T.-Feldbaumer)
Alps Hockey League | Qualification Round B | 15.02.2024 | Results:
EC-KAC Future Team – EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel 1:6 (0:4, 1:1, 0:1)
Referees: FAJDIGA, KUMMER, Javornik, Telesklav. | Spectators: 337
Goal KFT: Klassek (31.)
Goals KEC: Rotter (1./Niemelä-Tschurnig), Podlipnik (13./Rotter-Niemelä), Niemelä (15./Tschurnig-Kreuter, 19./Rotter-Tschurnig, 36./Fröwis-Rotter), Tröthan (53./Lehtonen-Matzka)
Hockey Unterland Cavaliers – EHC Lustenau 5:4 (1:2, 3:0, 1:2)
Referees: MOSCHEN, PRIAS, Formaioni, Pace. | Spectators: 427
Goals HCU: Sullmann M. (5./Matonti-Galassiti), Nyman (24./Wieser-Sullmann M.), Remolato (27./Sullmann M.-Sullmann A.), Egger (33.PP1/Wieser-Sullmann M.), Nyman (56.PP1/Markkula-Käyrä)
Goals EHC: Shikera (13.SH1/Pietilä-Krammer), König (20./Alasaari-Krammer), Alassari (49./Kandemir-Pakaslahti), Moosbrugger (53./Wüstner-Pakaslahti)
Fotocredit: Max Pattis