Release from 12.03.2026

Sterzing ends Zell am See’s winning streak | Meran goes up 2–0 | Cortina levels the series

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After nine consecutive wins, defending Alps Hockey League champion EK Die Zeller Eisbären suffered another defeat. In the second quarterfinal game, they lost 2–5 on the road to Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan, allowing the South Tyroleans to even the series. S.G. Cortina Hafro also tied its series with a 5–2 home win over KHL Sisak. Meanwhile, HC Meran/o Pircher surprisingly took a 2–0 series lead after a 4–1 home victory against HC Migross Asiago. Game two between HC Gherdeina valgardena.it and the Red Bull Hockey Juniors will take place on Friday.

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Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan got off to a very strong start, taking the lead already in the third minute through Erik Hofer. The forward also scored the temporary 4–2 in the 31st minute. Earlier, EK Die Zeller Eisbären had equalized through Nick Huard (7'). The score remained level until the 23rd minute, when Luciano Zandegiacomo restored the hosts’ lead. Just seconds later, Jonas Kerschbaumer made it 3–1 before Tim Coffman cut the deficit to 2–3 from the defending champions’ perspective. However, that would be the last goal for the team from Austria, who had to chase a two-goal deficit from the 31st minute onward. With nine seconds remaining, Fabian Gschliesser sealed the game with an empty-net goal, ending the Polar Bear’s run after nine straight victories. Interestingly, Zell am See had won their last away game in Sterzing at the end of February with a dominant 9–2 score.

Meran also wins Game 2 against Asiago
HC Meran/o Pircher celebrated its eighth consecutive win and took a 2–0 lead in the quarterfinal series against HC Migross Asiago. In front of more than 1,000 fans, the home side had to wait until the 31st minute before Filip Cruseman opened the scoring. At the start of the final period, Meran extended its lead to 3–0 with goals by Pascal Brunner (42') and Daniel Gellon (46'). Asiago managed to score its first and only goal in the 56th minute through Filippo Rigoni. Reid Stefanson added the final goal in the 59th minute, meaning Meran scored four goals again in Game 2. The first game had ended 4–2 in favor of the South Tyroleans. Asiago, which entered the quarterfinals as the third seed, is now already under considerable pressure ahead of Saturday’s home game.

Cortina ties the series
After a narrow 1–2 loss in the opener at KHL Sisak, S.G. Cortina Hafro responded with a 5–2 home victory in Game 2 to level the series. After 40 minutes, the score was still tied at 1–1, but the Italians scored four goals in the final period. Following a perfect start to the period, the two-time finalist pulled ahead to 3–1 with goals from Massimo Pietroniro (42') and Brandon Fortunato (46'). Sisak responded shortly after, as Niksa Juric reduced the deficit to 2–3. However, just one and a half minutes later Cortina restored its two-goal lead when Chap Pietroniro made it 4–2 in the 48th minute. Marco Sanna added the final goal in the 59th minute. With that result, the Italians celebrated their third win in their third home game of the season against the Croatian side.

Alps Hockey League:
Thu, 12.03.2026:
HC Meran/o Pircher - HC Migross Asiago 4:1 (0:0, 1:0, 3:1)
Referees: HOLZER, VIRTA, Divis, Fecchio
Standings in the best-of-7 series: 2:0
Goals HCM: 1:0 Cruseman F. (31.), 2:0 Brunner P. (42.), 3:0 Gellon D. (46./PP1), 4:1 Stefanson R. (59.)
Goal HCA: 3:1 Rigoni F. (56.)

Wipptal Bronocos Weihenstephan – EK Die Zeller Eisbären 5:2 (1:1, 3:1, 1:0)
Referees: HUBER R., LAZZERI, Abeltino, Strimitzer
Standings in the best-of-7 series: 1:1
Goals WSV: 1:0 Hofer E. (3.), 2:1 Zandegiacomo L. (23.), 3:1 Kerschbaumer J. (23.), 4:2 Hofer E. (31.), 5:2 Gschliesser F. (60./EN)
Goals EKZ: 1:1 Huard N. (7.), 3:2 Coffman T. (23.)

S.G. Cortina – KHL Sisak 5:2 (0:0, 1:1, 4:1)
Referees: BULOVEC, RIVIS, Ilmer, Markizeti
Standings in the best-of-7 series: 1:1
Goals SGC: 1:0 Talamini A. (22.), 2:1 Pietroniro M. (42.), 3:1 Fortunato B. (46.), 4:2 Pietroniro C. (48.), 5:2 Sanna M. (59.)
Goals SIS: 1:1 Lesnicar T. (32./PP1), 3:2 Juric N. (47.)