Release from 21.10.2026

Runner-up Merano host Jesenice | Zell aim for ninth straight win

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The Alps Hockey League plays four games on Thursday, with one more on Friday. In the game of the night, last season's runner-up HC Meran/o Pircher host second-placed HD Jesenice. League leaders EK Die Zeller Eisbären face EC-KAC Future Team.

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Jesenice visit Merano after a fresh start
HD Jesenice missed the playoffs last season after finishing twelfth in the regular season, just one year after reaching the final. Now the Slovenians are level on points with Zell in second place, although they have played two more games. On Tuesday they missed the chance to move to the top when Red Bull Hockey Juniors turned the game around in the third period. Merano made it all the way to the final last season despite finishing tenth in the regular season. The South Tyroleans are tough to beat at home, with only Ritten leaving Merano with a win so far. On Saturday, however, last season's runner-up let a 3-0 lead slip away in Kitzbühel.

Zell and KFT on opposite streaks
Since their opening-night loss to Asiago, the Pinzgau side have won every game. Their streak began on September 24, the very night EC-KAC Future Team picked up their only win of the season so far. The young Red Jackets have lost seven straight since then. In two of their last three games, they let a lead slip away and lost in a shootout.

Wipptal riding momentum against Cortina
Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan recently won back-to-back games for the first time this season, both against EC-KAC Future Team. Sportivi Ghiaccio Cortina, on the other hand, have not picked up a point since early October and travel to Sterzing in last place.

Gherdeina host Salzburg in a quarterfinal rematch
HC Gherdeina valgardena.it won their first title last season, and the road to it went through Red Bull Hockey Juniors. In the quarterfinals, Gherdeina needed seven games to get past the regular-season winners, clinching the series in overtime in Salzburg. Now just one point separates the two teams, with Salzburg narrowly ahead of the defending champions. The Salzburg squad just beat Jesenice, while Gherdeina suffered a heavy loss in Zell am See on Saturday.

Ritten at Sisak on Friday
On Friday, Rittner Buam SkyAlps travel to KHL Sisak. The Buam have won their last four games and sit just one point behind the top two, with two games fewer than Jesenice. Sisak have been tough at home, already beating Jesenice and Asiago in front of their own fans. Last season, Sisak also won both home games against Ritten, each in a shootout.

Alps Hockey League:
Thu, 22.10.2026:

19:30: EK Die Zeller Eisbären – EC-KAC Future Team
Referees: BULOVEC, ZUBLASING, Ilmer, Murnik

20:00: Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan – Sportivi Ghiaccio Cortina
Referees: LAZZERI, PINIE, Brondi M., Rinker

20:30: HC Gherdeina valgardena.it – Red Bull Hockey Juniors
Referees: PIRAS, VIRTA, Brondi P., Da Rech

20:30: HC Meran/o Pircher – HD Jesenice
Referees: BENVEGNU, RIVIS F., Magliano, Fecchio

Fri, 23.10.2026:

19:30: KHL Sisak – Rittner Buam SkyAlps
Referees: BROCK, KÖBERL, Legat, Eschenberger

All games LIVE on Valcome.tv.