Release from 08.03.2025

Three home wins and one away win to kick off the quarter-finals

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The quarter-finals of the Alps Hockey League kicked off on Saturday. Three teams celebrated home victories: Master Round champions EK Die Zeller Eisbären, defending champions Rittner Buam SkyAlps and the 2023 AHL champions SIJ Acroni Jesenice. Only the Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan were able to record a win away from home, beating Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel 5:4.

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Master Round champions EK Die Zeller Eisbären started the quarter-finals with a 3:1 home win against EC Bregenzerwald. Devin Steffler put the home side ahead in the 18th minute and Bernhard Fechtig made it 2:0 just under a minute later. The 2,000 fans in the KE KELIT Arena were also able to cheer in the second period when Nick Huard scored in the 28th minute to make it 3:0 and thus ensure an early preliminary decision. Shortly before the end of the middle period, Ievgen Fadieiev scored the first goal for the visitors. However, no further goals were to be scored, meaning Zell am See celebrated a perfect start to the play-offs.

Away win for Sterzing in Kitzbühel
The Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan secured the only away win in the quarter-final opener at Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel. In the highest-scoring game of the evening, the South Tyroleans prevailed 5:4. The visitors were in the lead right from the start, with Kitzbühel only able to equalize at 1:1. The Broncos led 1:0 after the first 20 minutes and were already 4:2 ahead after the second period. Kitzbühel managed to close the gap to 4:5, but the final goal was only scored 59 seconds before the end of the game - too late to force an overtime. Fabian Hackhofer was the game's top scorer with one goal and three assists.

Shutout victory for Ritten
Defending champions Rittner Buam SkyAlps celebrated a 3:0 win against HC Meran/o Pircher. Marco Insam scored the first goal for the South Tyroleans in the 14th minute, Alan Lobis made it 2:0 in the 39th minute and Simon Kostner added the final goal in the 58th minute. RIT goalie Colin Furlong made in a strong performance, saving all 41 shots to secure his third shutout of the season.

Overtime victory for Jesenice
The first quarter-final matchday also went to overtime, where SIJ Acroni Jesenice prevailed 2:1 against S.G. Cortina Hafro. In the rematch of the 2023 final, Luca Barnabo put the visitors from Cortina ahead in the 18th minute. However, Tjas Lesnicar equalized for the 2023 AHL champions from Slovenia in the 36th minute. The game was finally decided in overtime when Jasa Jenko secured victory for Jesenice in the 71st minute.

Alps Hockey League, Quarter-finals, Game 1
Sat, 08.03.2025:
Rittner Buam SkyAlps - HC Meran/o Pircher 3:0 (1:0, 1:0, 1:0)
Referees: GIACOMOZZI, HOLZER, Brondi, Strimitzer. | Zuschauer: 593
Standings in the "best-of-7" series: 1:0

Goals RIT: 1:0 Insam M. (14.), 2:0 Lobis A. (39.), 3:0 Kostner S. (58.)

SIJ Acroni Jesenice - S.G. Cortina Hafro 2:1/OT (0:1, 1:0, 0:0, 1:0)
Referees: BULOVEC, KAINBERGER, Jeram, Telesklav. | Zuschauer: 800
Standings in the "best-of-7" series: 1:0
Goals JES: 1:1 Lesnicar T. (36.), 2:1/OT Jenko J. (71.)
Goal SGC: 0:1 Barnabo L. (18.)

Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel - Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan 4:5 (0:1, 2:3, 2:1)
Referees: HLAVATY, VOICAN, Pace, Weiss. | Zuschauer: 985
Standings in the "best-of-7" series: 0:1
Goals KEC: 1:1 Christiansen S. (25.), 2:3 Maxa A. (31.), 3:4 Fröwis J. (43.), 4:5 De Luca A. (60.)
Goals WSV: 0:1 Sanvido C. (19./PP1), 1:2 Galimberti T. (30.), 1:3 Cianfrone B. (31.), 2:4 Hackhofer F. (35.), 3:5 Livingston J. (48./PP1)

EK Die Zeller Eisbären - EC Bregenzerwald 3:1 (2:0, 1:1, 0:0)
Referees: BROCK, HUBER, Moidl, Wendner. | Zuschauer: 2.009
Standings in the "best-of-7" series: 1:0
Goals EKZ: 1:0 Steffler D. (18.), 2:0 Fechtig B. (19.), 3:0 Huard N. (28.)
Goal ECB: 3:1 Fadieiev I. (37.)

Copyright: BK Photo