Release from 14.04.2026

Val Gardena wins game 2 of the finals in convincing fashion

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HC Gherdeina valgardena.it took a 2–0 lead in the final series against HC Meran/o Pircher with a dominant 6–3 home victory in front of nearly 2,000 fans. The first-time finalist is now just two wins away from the championship title. The series continues on Thursday at 20:00 with Game 3 in the Meranarena.

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Val Gardena got off to a perfect start – just like in Game 1 – as Vlastimil Dostalek opened the scoring after only 68 seconds. However, Merano responded quickly, with Filip Cruseman equalizing in the fourth minute. Just over three minutes later, Dostalek struck again to restore the lead at 2–1. That scoreline held until the first intermission.

The home side struck early again in the second period: just under two and a half minutes after the restart, Simon Pitschieler made it 3–1. But Merano answered once more, as Brayden Sherbinin cut the deficit to 2–3 on the power play just 80 seconds later. No further goals were scored in the middle frame, leaving Val Gardena with a narrow lead after 40 minutes.

In the final period, the hosts quickly put the game out of reach: Nicolo Esposito (44’), Sacha Guimond (46’, PP1), and Davide Schiavone (47’) scored three goals in just three minutes to extend the lead to 6–2. Merano managed only a consolation goal through Patrick Tomasini with ten minutes remaining and failed to create any real danger afterward.

As a result, the Eagles are already under significant pressure heading into Thursday’s home game (20:00 / Valcome.tv). Another loss would give Val Gardena four championship pucks.

Alps Hockey League:
Tue, 14.04.2026:
HC Gherdeina valgardena.it – HC Meran/o Pircher 6:3 (2:1, 1:1, 3:1)
Referees: UNTERWEGER, WINKLER, Abeltino, Seewald
Standings in the best-of-7 series: 2:0
Goals GHE: 1:0 Dostalek V. (2.), 2:1 Dostalek V. (7.), 3:1 Pitschieler S. (23.), 4:2 Esposito N. (44.), 5:2 Guimond S. (46./PP1), 6:2 Schiavone D. (47.)
Goals HCM: 1:1 Cruseman F. (4.), 3:2 Sherbinin B. (24./PP1), 6:3 Tomasini P. (51.)

Copyright: Matthäus Kostner