Sterzing remains unbeaten in Master Round

The Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan are still unstoppable in the Master Round: Once again, Johan Sjödquist's team proved to be in strong shape offensively, defeating EC Bregenzerwald 6-3, scoring five or more goals for the third consecutive game. Sterzing thus remains without a point loss in the intermediate round and is still at the top of the table. After Adam Capannelli had given the home team a two-goal advantage, the "Wälder" scored twice within 45 seconds to equalize – but Paul Eisendle (28.) put the "Broncos" back in front just 30 seconds later. With two more goals up to the 48th minute, the league leaders made the preliminary decision. EC Bregenzerwald must therefore continue to wait for its first road win in 2024; the Vorarlberg club has not won in Sterzing since March 2022.

The Red Bull Hockey Juniors celebrated their second win in the top group with a 3-0 home victory over EK Die Zeller Eisbären and thus took second place in the table. Daniel Assavolyuk (6./PP1) put the home side on course with an early powerplay goal, then also netted the second Juniors goal (31.) – before Elias Pul made the final decision in the 49th minute. Goalie Simon Wolf recorded his third AHL shutout with 29 saves. The "Eisbären" – which missed Jennes, Alagic and Stiegler – remain without a point in their third game of the Master Round, losing for the fourth time in a row.

The Rittner Buam SkyAlps and S.G. Cortina Hafro played the second game of the "best-of-3" series for the Italian Scudetto at the same time. The "Buam" won 4-2 on the road and forced a deciding game on Saturday.

Merano remains unbeaten in Qualification Round A
The HC Meran/o Pircher also won its second game in the intermediate round of the Alps Hockey League and thus took the lead from SIJ Acroni Jesenice, the current Qualification Round A leaders, which were not playing this time. The South Tyroleans opened the scoring at Steel Wings LINZ AG with a powerplay goal (Fabrizio Ricci) but found themselves trailing by one goal after two periods. A strong final period with two goals from Calder Anderson and one from Brandon McNally allowed the visitors to turn the game around and secure a 4-2 road win.

In the second game of Qualification Pool A, HK RST Pellet Celje cheered an ultimately unchallenged 6-3 road win at HC Gherdeina valgardena.it. With its second win in the intermediate round, the league newcomer moved up to third place. The Slovenians decided the game in the final third, with Jakob Bernard (46.) and Raivo Freidenfelds (50. and 52.) scoring within less than six minutes.

Kitzbühel wins top duel in Qualification Round B after shootout
The EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel has defended its lead in the Qualification Round B, as the Tyroleans, for whom new signing Jannik Fröwis made his debut, beat the second-placed Hockey Unterland Cavaliers 4-3 at home after a penalty shootout. Although the home team were already 2-0 ahead after eight minutes and 3-1 ahead at the start of the third period, they had to concede goals early on in the final period. After a goalless overtime, Henrik Hochfilzer secured the extra point. Kitzbühel celebrated its third home win in a row and extended its lead over the Cavaliers, which are now winless in four games, to two points.

The SHC Fassa Falcons is now in third place, having beaten the EC-KAC Future Team 5-2 at home. Diego Iori scored a hat-trick and Viktor Näslund netted twice. Klagenfurt remain without a win in their second game in the intermediate round.

Alps Hockey League | Master Round | Results:
Red Bull Hockey Juniors – EK Die Zeller Eisbären 3:0 (1:0, 1:0, 1:0)
Referees: KUMMER, WIDMANN, Matthey, Pötscher. | Spectators: 106
Goals RBJ: Assavolyuk (6.PP1/Sinn-Schreiner, 31./Sinn-Schreiner), Pul (49./Sinn)

Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan – EC Bregenzerwald 6:3 (2:0, 2:2, 2:1)
Referees: HOLZER, SORAPERRA, Fecchio, Rinker. | Spectators: 369
Goals WSV: Capannelli (10./Livingston-Maylan, 17./Messner-Livingston), Eisendle (28./Cianfrone-Conci), Hackhofer (37./Conci-Cianfrone), Topatigh (48./Niccolai-Capannelli), Maylan (59.EN/Livingston-Cpannelli)
Goals ECB: Lipsbergs (27./Embrich-Wernicke), Schlögl (28./Zwerger-Wohlmuth), Wernicke (53./Fässler-Pöschmann)

Alps Hockey League | Qualification Round A | Results:
Steel Wings LINZ AG – HC Meran/o Pircher 2:4 (0:1, 2:0, 3:0)
Referees: RUETZ, VOICAN, Legat, Weiss. | Spectators: 176
Goals SWL: Feldbaumer (35./Rappold-Sticha), Persson (39.PP2/Dorion-Rappold)
Goals HCM: Ricci (7.PP1/Thaler S.-Garreffa), Anderson (46./Ritchie, 60.EN/Ritchie-Ricci), McNally (51.SH1/Ritchie-Ricci)

HC Gherdeina valgardena.it – HK RST Pellet Celje 3:6 (0:2, 2:1, 1:3)
Referees: BULOVEC, REZEK, Markizeti, Telesklav, Pianezze. | Spectators: 1.031
Goals GHE: De Luca (24./Cristellon), Luisetti (28.PP1/McGowan-Schulze), McGowan (60.PP2/Schulze-Cristellon)
Goals HKC: Sotlar (15./Povse-Mintautiskis, 25./ Povse-Mintautiskis), Povse (20.PP1/Hebar-Sotlar), Bernard (46./Mintautiskis), Freidenfelds (50./Sodja Zalokar-Sirovnik, 52./Cepon-Sodja Zalokar)

Alps Hockey League | Qualification Round B | Results:
EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel – Hockey Unterland Cavaliers 4:3 SO (2:1, 0:0, 1:2, 0:0)
Referees: KAINBERGER, MOSCHEN, Pace, Seewald J. | Spectators: 553
Goals KEC: Lehtonen (5./Seto-Hochfilzer), Seto (8./Lehtonen-Hochfilzer), Niemelä (42./Rotter-Podlipnik), Hochfilzer (65.PS)
Goals HCU: Egger (16.PP1/Wieser F.-Kaufmann), Käyrä (45./Markkula-Pisetta), Sullmann (48./Wieser F.-Galassiti)

SHC Fassa Falcons – EC-KAC Future Team 5:2 (1:0, 3:1, 1:1)
Referees: BAJT, OREL, Arlic, Wucherer. | Spectators: 445
Goals FAS: Näslund (17./Selin-Ploner A., 29./Selin-Sylwander), Iori (33./Schiavone-Forte, 40.PP1/Deluca-Forte, 49./Kustatscher-Forte)
Goals KFT: Sunitsch (36./Slivnik-Piuk), Hochegger (54.PP1/Preiml)

Fotocredit: Oskar Brunner