Release from 03.01.2026

Salzburg can take over the league lead against Kitzbühel

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A full round of games is scheduled in the Alps Hockey League on Sunday. The Red Bull Hockey Juniors have the chance to move to the top of the standings, as current leaders Sisak are not in action. In the top clash against fourth-placed Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel, one point would already be enough for the Juniors to claim first place. Elsewhere, attention will also be on the derby between Rittner Buam SkyAlps and HC Meran/o Pircher, while defending champions EK Die Zeller Eisbären face the EC Bregenzerwald.

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The Red Bull Hockey Juniors currently sit on 57 points, just one point behind league leaders Sisak. A point against Kitzbühel would see them overtake the idle Croatians. The Tyrolean side is fourth with 49 points and has lost both previous meetings with Salzburg this season. On Friday, Kitzbühel edged past Bregenzerwald 4:3 in a shootout, while Salzburg suffered a narrow 4:3 defeat in Sterzing.

Derby between Ritten and Merano
Fifth-placed Rittner Buam SkyAlps have won three of their last five games and are level on points with sixth-placed Asiago. In Sunday’s derby, the Buam host HC Meran/o Pircher, who sit 12th and have lost their last two games. In the first meeting of the season on December 13, Ritten claimed a 5:2 victory, their third consecutive win in the head-to-head matchup.

Zell am See eye home revenge against Bregenzerwald
For the third time this season, EK Die Zeller Eisbären meet the EC Bregenzerwald. In their first encounter in Zell am See, the visitors from Vorarlberg earned a 3:1 win, their first away victory in the Pinzgau since December 26, 2017. Zell am See responded quickly, however, with a convincing 7:0 road win in the return fixture. The defending champions currently sit third with 53 points, while Bregenzerwald are seventh with 43 points. Both teams suffered defeats on Friday: Zell am See lost 3:0 in Gherdeina, while Bregenzerwald fell 4:3 in a shootout in Kitzbühel.

Asiago aiming for a fifth straight win
Sixth-placed HC Migross Asiago are the league’s hottest team at the moment, riding a four-game winning streak. On Friday, the Italians edged Merano 3:2 in overtime, drawing level on points with fifth-placed Ritten. Tenth-placed Gherdeina recently caused an upset with a 3:0 home win over Zell am See and has recorded three victories in its last five games. Asiago has won both previous season meetings (5:1, 3:2/SO).

Cortina and Unterland looking to get back on track
Ninth-placed S.G. Cortina Hafro have gone winless in their last two games, after previously putting together a six-game winning streak. Bottom side Hockey Unterland Cavaliers have been waiting for a victory for five games. While Cortina have won their last four home games, Unterland have managed only three road wins all season. Cortina prevailed in both previous head-to-head matchups this campaign.

Sterzing need points in the battle for the top five
Sunday’s action concludes with Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan hosting HDD Jesenice. Sitting eighth, Sterzing are currently eight points behind fifth place and urgently need points to keep the direct playoff spots within reach. On Friday, the Broncos picked up a crucial 4:3 home win against the Red Bull Hockey Juniors, while Jesenice stunned league leaders Sisak with a 3:0 victory. Despite that result, last season’s finalists are only 11th, already 15 points adrift of fifth place. Both teams come into the game in similar form, having collected three wins from their last five games. The two previous meetings this season were evenly contested and were both decided by the away team in overtime or shootout (2:3/OT WSV, 3:4/SO JES).

Alps Hockey League:
Sun, 04.01.2026:

16:30: Red Bull Hockey Juniors – Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel
Referees: OREL, UNTERWEGER, Seewald J., Strimitzer

18:00: Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan – HDD Jesenice
Referees: PINIE, PIRAS, Legat, Wendner

18:00: Rittner Buam SkyAlps – HC Meran/o Pircher
Referees: BULOVEC, SNOJ, Brondi, Fleischmann

19:30: EK Die Zeller Eisbären – EC Bregenzerwald
Referees: HOLZER, HUBER R., Steiner F., Veselka

20:30: HC Migross Asiago – HC Gherdeina valgardena.it
Referees: GIACOMOZZI, STEFENELLI, Abeltino, Cristeli

20:30: S.G. Cortina Hafro – Hockey Unterland Cavaliers
Referees: BERGANT, METZINGER, Arlic, Miklic

Watch all games live on Valcome.TV.

Copyright: Red Bull Eishockey Akademie / Heiko Mandl