Release from 03.02.2025

Showdown for playoff qualification between Cortina and Sterzing

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Four games are still on the programme before the end of the regular season. Tuesday sees a showdown for direct play-off qualification between Hafro Cortina Hockey and the Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan. In addition, the Rittner Buam SkyAlps and Red Bull Hockey Juniors still have the chance to move up the table.

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The race for fifth place - which means direct play-off qualification - could not be more exciting. After their 1:0 win in Jesenice, the Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan moved up to fifth place on Sunday. They are now one point ahead of Cortina, but have also played one game more. Now it's time for a head-to-head clash in the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday. A win after regulation time would mean that the team from Sterzing, who has won their last five games, can no longer be displaced from the Masterround positions. Cortina recently crowned themselves Italian champions. However, the blue and whites have only won two of their last five games in the league. With a home win, Cortina would secure fifth place, as they would have won the direct duel even if they were tied on points. If Sterzing wins after over time or shoot-out, the decision on direct play-off qualification would be postponed. Cortina will travel to EC Bregenzerwald in the final game of the regular season on Wednesday. In this scenario, head coach Kai Suikkanen's team could reclaim fifth place with a win.

There are two more interesting games on Tuesday. The Rittner Buam SkyAlps will face HK RST Pellet Celje at home. A win would see the reigning champions from Klobenstein displace the team from Jesenice from second place. Ritten has won all four AHL duels against Celje so far.

Just one place and one point behind the tenth-placed Slovenians are the Red Bull Hockey Juniors, who host Merano. The South Tyroleans finish the regular season in ninth place. Both teams will be looking to get back to winning ways in this game, with Salzburg having suffered five defeats recently and Merano having been beaten four times in a row in the league. The Red Bulls have won all four AHL home games against the eagles. In the direct season duel, the score is 1:1.

Alps Hockey League
Tue, 04.02.2025:
19:15: Red Bull Hockey Juniors - HC Meran/o Pircher
Referees: HLAVATY, VOICAN, Preiser, Weiss

20:00: Rittner Buam SkyAlps - HK RST Pellet Celje
Referees: GIACOMOZZI, PINIE, Grisenti, Scalzer

20:30: S.G. Cortina Hafro - Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan
Referees: LAZZERI, PIRAS, Brondi, Cristeli

Wed, 05.02.2025:
19:30: EC Bregenzerwald - S.G. Cortina Hafro
Referees: HUBER, RUETZ, Jäger, Rinker

>> All games will be shown on valcome.tv 

Photo: Oskar Brunner