Zell am See and Jesenice make it 2:0 in the semi-final series

The EK Die Zeller Eisbären are still unbeaten in the Alps Hockey League playoffs. On Tuesday, the team from Pinzgau beat the Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan 4:2 on the road to make it 2:0 in the best-of-7 series. The Master Round champion had already won 3:1 in the semi-final opener. Felix Koschek put the visitors ahead in the eighth minute, before Aljaz Predan increased the lead to 2:0 in the 13th minute. Zell am See fired 19 shots on Dominik Groh's goal in the first period alone, while Sterzing recorded eleven shots on goal. However, the home side got into the game better in the middle period and reduced the deficit to 1:2 in the 25th minute through the league's top goalscorer Adam Capannelli. The game then developed into an even encounter with chances on both sides, but it took until the 53rd minute before the next goal was scored: Hubert Berger made it 3:1 for Zell am See and thus provided the supposed preliminary decision. But the Broncos reduced the deficit to 2:3 just one and a half minutes later through Bryson Cianfrone. Shortly before the end, the South Tyroleans took goalkeeper Dominik Groh off the ice, but Robin Johansson took full advantage of the empty-net situation and scored to make it 4:2 for Zell am See and seal the win.

Jesenice make it 2:0 with a narrow home win
SIJ Acroni Jesenice won the second semi-final against the Rittner Buam SkyAlps 3:2 and made it 2:0 in the best-of-7 series. Ziga Urukalo scored in the seventh minute to make it 1:0 for the Slovenians, who had also won the first semi-final by a very narrow margin of 2:1 after overtime. However, Ritten quickly equalized through Sebastiano Soracreppa (15.). The score remained 1:1 until the 33rd minute, when Jasa Jenko put the home side back in front. Jesenice then dominated and increased the lead to 3:1 in the 48th minute through Luc Slivnik. Ritten then stepped up the pace once again and reduced the deficit to 2:3 in the 54th minute through Marco Insam. The South Tyroleans pressed for the equalizer in the final minutes and created several chances, but failed to score, meaning they were also beaten by just one goal in the second semi-final.

Alps Hockey League:
Thursday, 27.03.2025:
SIJ Acroni Jesenice – Rittner Buam SkyAlps 3:2 (1:1, 1:0, 1:1)
Referees: KAINBERGER, SNOJ, Jeram, Wucherer. | Spectators: 1.000
Standings in the „best-of-7“ series 2:0
Goals JES: 1:0 Urukalo Z. (7.), 2:1 Jenko J. (33.), 3:1 Slivnik L. (48.)
Goals RIT: 1:1 Soracreppa S. (15.), 3:2 Insam M. (54./PP1)

Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan – EK Die Zeller Eisbären 2:4 (0:2, 1:0, 1:2)
Referees: HOLZER T., LAZZERI, Brondi, Strimitzer. | Spectators: 631
Standings in the „best-of-7“ series 0:2
Goals WSV: 1:2 Capannelli A. (25.), 2:3 Cianfrone B. (54.)
Goals EKZ: 0:1 Koschek F. (8.), 0:2 Predan A. (13.), 1:3 Berger H. (53.), 2:4 Johansson R. (60./EN)