Zell am See extend winning streak | Meran secure Pre-Playoff spot

Master Round
Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan – Red Bull Hockey Juniors 1:3 (0:1, 0:0, 1:2)
Eliseev opened the scoring for the Juniors in the first period. After a goalless second frame, Juhola doubled the lead in the third. Cianfrone cut the deficit for the Broncos, before Auer sealed the 3:1 victory with an empty-net goal in the final second. The Wipptal side stay bottom of the Master Round, while the Juniors strengthened their grip on second place.

EK Die Zeller Eisbären – HC Migross Asiago 5:2 (2:0, 1:1, 2:1)
Zell am See remain unbeaten in the Master Round, celebrating their fourth straight win. Captain Wilfan put the hosts ahead early, and Putnik followed up with a brace. Although the Italians briefly fought back, the Pinzgau team pulled away again and secured a confident 5:2 victory. With this result, Zell am See lead the standings by five points, while Asiago stay in fourth place.

Qualification Round A
HC Meran/o Pircher – Hockey Unterland Cavaliers 4:2 (1:2, 1:0, 2:0)
Meran earned their third consecutive win and secured a spot in the Pre-Playoffs. Unterland took an early lead and struck again after Meran’s first equalizer. The hosts tied the game in the middle period, before Gellon gave them the lead for the first time in the 47th minute. He then sealed the result with an empty-net goal near the end. With this defeat, Unterland dropped back to last place.

Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel – S.G. Cortina Hafro 6:3 (1:2, 2:0, 3:1)
Kitzbühel were under heavy pressure early on but mounted an impressive comeback. Cortina led 2:0 after 14 minutes, but Ketonen pulled one back before the first intermission. In the second period, the Tyroleans turned the game around and extended their advantage in the final frame through goals from Engelhart, Hochfilzer, and Wetzl. With this win, Kitzbühel moved up to second place, one spot ahead of Cortina.

Qualification Round B
Rittner Buam SkyAlps – EC Bregenzerwald 5:6 OT (0:3, 3:0, 2:2)
Fans saw a thrilling, back-and-forth game. The visitors made a brilliant start, taking a 2:0 lead within two minutes and extending it to 3:0 by the 15th minute. A strong power play brought Ritten back into the game in the second period as Alderson and Kostner (twice) tied it at 3:3. The home team even went up 5:3, but two power-play goals from Rantanen forced overtime, where Kauppila clinched Bregenzerwald’s 6:5 win after just 50 seconds. The victory lifts ECB to third place.

HDD Jesenice – HC Gherdeina valgardena.it 0:2 (0:0, 0:0, 0:2)
Gardena celebrated their fourth win in as many games in the Qualification Round. Jesenice controlled much of the play early but couldn’t beat goaltender Endre, who made 32 saves for a shutout. Schiavone opened the scoring in the 49th minute, and Pitschieler doubled the lead on the power play shortly after to secure a 2:0 final. Jesenice drop to fourth place in the standings.

Alps Hockey League:
Sat, 21.02.2026:
Master Round:
Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan – Red Bull Hockey Juniors 1:3 (0:1, 0:0, 1:2)
Referees: BULOVEC, SNOJ, Cusin, Divis
Goal WSV: Cianfrone (56.)
Goals RBJ: Eliseev (12.), Juhola (50.), Auer (60./EN)

EK Die Zeller Eisbären – HC Migross Asiago 5:2 (2:0, 1:1, 2:1)
Referees: HOLZER, VOICAN, Grisenti, Rivis
Goals EKZ: Wilfan (4.), Putnik (13., 30.), Jennes (49.), Huard (52.)
Goals HCA: Magnabosco (32.), Garau (42.)

Qualification Round A:
HC Meran/o Pircher – Hockey Unterland Cavaliers 4:2 (1:2, 1:0, 2:0)
Referees: OREL, PIRAS, Ilmer, Wucherer
Goals HCM: Trivellato (18.), Stefanson (30.), Gellon (47., 60./EN)
Goals HCU: Pisetta (3.), Galimberti (19.)

Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel – S.G. Cortina Hafro 6:3 (1:2, 2:0, 3:1)
Referees: LAZZERI, RUETZ, Rinker, Sparer
Goals KEC: Ketonen (19.), Bretschneider (35.), Loshing (37.), Engelhart (42.), Hochfilzer (51.), Wetzl (52.)
Goals SGC: C. Pietroniro (3.), Kalajanniska (14./PP, 56./PP)

Qualification Round B:
Rittner Buam SkyAlps – EC Bregenzerwald 5:6 OT (0:3, 3:0, 2:2)
Referees: HLAVATY, PINIE, Brondi, Steiner
Goals RIT: Alderson (26./PP, 46.), Kostner (29./PP, 33./PP), R. Öhler (42.)
Goals ECB: Grasser (2.), Metzler-Wagner (3.), T. Laaksonen (15.), Rantanen (50./PP2, 52./PP), Kauppila (61.)

HDD Jesenice – HC Gherdeina valgardena.it 0:2 (0:0, 0:0, 0:2)
Referees: BERGANT, METZINGER, Murnik, Wendner
Goals GHE: Schiavone (49.), Pitschieler (54.)

Photo: BK PHOTO