Release from 12.03.2024

Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan first semifinalist after sweep

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The Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan became the first team to reach the semifinals of the Alps Hockey League on Tuesday, as the South Tyroleans celebrated their fourth victory in the best-of-7 quarterfinal series against EK Die Zeller Eisbären with a 3-2 road win.

Meanwhile, EC Bregenzerwald notched up its first postseason win of 2024 and averted the end of the season against the Rittner Buam SkyAlps for the time being with a 5-2 home win.

In the other two quarterfinal series, the Red Bull Hockey Juniors and S.G. Cortina Hafro have both recorded narrow road victories to make it 3-1 and only need one more win to reach the semifinals.

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The Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan have reached the semifinals of the Alps Hockey League for the first time ever, as the South Tyroleans won the fourth game of the "best-of-7" quarterfinal series at EK Die Zeller Eisbären 3-2 and thus advanced to the semifinals with a sweep. As in the first two encounters in this series, the "Broncos" had to come back from a deficit: In front of almost 1,900 fans, the visitors from South Tyrol were trailing 1-2 four minutes before the second break, despite scoring the opening goal in the 8th minute. However, Bryce Cianfrone (37.) and Luciano Zandegiacomo (39.) turned the game around within a minute and a half to secure the quarterfinal sweep.

Bregenzerwald cheers first win in postseason
Meanwhile, EC Bregenzerwald claimed its first quarterfinal win on Tuesday evening and averted the end of the season against the Rittner Buam SkyAlps for the time being: In front of over 850 spectators, the Vorarlberg team came out on top with a clear 5-2 victory. With three goals within six minutes in the middle frame, the "Wälder" laid the foundation for their first postseason success this season. Erik Embrich and Roberts Lipsbergs each scored a brace for the home team. Regular Season winners Ritten were beaten again after 13 consecutive victories across the competition.

Hockey Juniors and Cortina only need one more win
The Red Bull Hockey Juniors and the S.G. Cortina Hafro have both taken a 3-1 lead in their quarterfinal series with narrow road victories and only need one more win to reach the semifinals: The Salzburg team prevailed 3-2 at the Hockey Unterland Cavaliers. Last year's semi-finalists twice overturned a deficit in the opening period. Julius Ramoser scored the game-winner in the 24th minute. Goalie Simon Wolf did not concede another goal until the end.

Cortina had to go into overtime at HC Meran/o Pircher but Tim Doherty scored the game-winner after just 26 seconds to win 4-3. In regulation the game went up and down, as the lead changed hands three times, with Tomaso Traversa only scoring the equalizer 59 seconds before the end.

Alps Hockey League | 12.03.2024 | QF4 | Results:
EC Bregenzerwald – Rittner Buam SkyAlps 5:2 (0:1, 3:1, 2:0)
Referees: BROCK, PINIE, Cristeli, Eisl. | Spectators: 851
„best-of-7“: 1:3
Goals ECB: Embrich (28.PP1/Tschofen-Kulintsev, 57./Mußbacher), Kulintsev (31./Toschofen-Embrich), Lipsbergs (34./Tschofen-Wempe, 58./Tschofen-Ossipov)
Goals RIT: Coatta (12./Lobis), Hjorth (39./Lobis)

EK Die Zeller Eisbären – Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan 2:3 (1:1, 1:2, 0:0)
Referees: BULOVEC, HLAVATY, Jeram, Weiss. | Spectators: 1.898
„best-of-7“: 0:4
Goals EKZ: Berger (10./Dinhopel-Wohlfahrt), Böhm (36./Artner)
Goals WSV: Conci (8./Brunner-Sanvido), Cianfrone (37./Livingston-Capannelli), Zandegiacomo (39./Maylan-Zecchetto)

Hockey Unterland Cavaliers – Red Bull Hockey Juniors 2:3 (2:2, 0:1, 0:0)
Referees: HOLZER, OREL, Fleischmann, Puff. | Spectators: 531
„best-of-7“: 1:3
Goals HCU: Markkula (10.PP1/Käyrä-Kaufmann), Brighenti (17./Hällfors)
Goals RBJ: Krening (15./Ramoser-Murnieks), Wurzer (19./Vinzenc), Ramoser (24./Krening-Murnieks)

HC Meran/o Pircher – S.G. Cortina Hafro
Referees: KAINBERGER, SCHAUER, Rinker, Seewald J. | Spectators: 3:4 OT (1:0, 0:0, 2:3, 0:1)
„best-of-7“: 1:3
Goals HCM: Anderson (18.PP1/Ritchie-Garreffa), Ritchie (55.SH1/Anderson-Makarov), McNally (58./Ritchie-Garreffa)
Goals SGC: Di Tomaso (45./Juhola-Cuglietta), Doherty (49./Lacedelli-Zanatta, 61./Traversa), Traversa (60./Sanna-Doherty)

Fotocredit: Daniele Frusone