Release from 01.02.2024
The EK Die Zeller Eisbären inflicted the first defeat in the Master Round on the Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan. A shorthander by Tomi Wilenius put the Salzburg team on course for their second win in the intermediate round. At the same time, S.G. Cortina Hafro also secured its second success in the top group, Diego Cuglietta scoring all three goals to give the Ampezzo side a 3-2 home win over Red Bull Hockey Juniors.
In Qualification Round B, the EC-KAC Future Team recorded its highest win of the season so far with a 7-1 home victory over the Hockey Unterland Cavaliers, while EHC Lustenau prevailed thanks to a Pietilä hat-trick.
In Pool A, HK RST Pellet Celje managed their third win in the intermediate round, with Mikus Mintautiskis scoring the OT game-winner on powerplay.
The EK Die Zeller Eisbären (#3) notched up their second win in the Master Round and in the process inflicted the first defeat on league leaders Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan (#1). The third-placed "Eisbären" prevailed 4-1 on the road. The "Broncos" quickly equalized an early lead by the visitors, but a shorthander by Tomi Wilenius (22./SH1) at the start of the second period put the Salzburg team to victory. A strong defensive performance and outstanding goaltending – Max Zimmermann posted more than 35 saves – ensured the victory was a commanding one.
Cuglietta shines for Cortina
Diego Cuglietta's hat trick gave S.G. Cortina Hafro (#5) a 3-2 home win over Red Bull Hockey Juniors (#4). He scored his first goal of the evening while shorthanded (18./SH1). It was Cuglietta's third multiple-goal game in the vice-champion's jersey. In the end, the Italians had to tremble for their victory: Paul Noll (52.) and Maximilan Duller (57.) made things tense again with their goals - but Hayden Hawkey (27 saves) held on to the win.
Klagenfurt and Lustenau put pressure on leading duo
In Qualification Round B, the EC-KAC Future Team and EHC Lustenau have almost halved the gap in the standings and celebrated home victories against the better-ranked Hockey Unterland Cavaliers (#1) and EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel (#2) respectively. The third-placed team from Klagenfurt outclassed the leaders 7-1 and celebrated their highest win of the season so far. The team led by Luka Gomboc and Fabian Hochegger – who each scored once – were 2-0 ahead after just ten minutes. In the end, seven players of the young "Rotjacken" scored, goalie Florian Vorauer just missed a shutout with 29 saves. He conceded the lon goal against 74 seconds before the end.
The Vorarlberg team, meanwhile, recorded a 6-4 home win against Kitzbühel and is now just three points behind the second-placed Tyroleans with one game less to play. Ville-Pekka Pietilä was mainly responsible for the victory: The Finn, who was signed as an addition at the beginning of January, scored his hat-trick. He contributed two goals in the decisive phase – between the 28. and 35. minute the "Stickers" scored three goals and turned the game from 1-2 to 4-2. Maximilian Wilfan netted once and handed out two assists. It was the second defeat for the "Adler" in 2024 and in the last seven games.
Celje closes gap to top duo
HK RST Pellet Celje has established contact with the top group in Qualification Round A with a 4-3 home win after overtime against Steel Wings LINZ AG: The teams from Jesenice and Meran, which face each other on Friday, are two and one point up respectively – but the league newcomer has two more games in hand than the top duo. Mikus Mintautiskis was the match-winner in the victory over Linz: 95 seconds into overtime, he scored the game-winning goal in the power play. It was his third brace in the fifth game of the intermediate round. Linz were beaten by Celje for the third time in a row and suffered their sixth defeat in a row on the road.
Alps Hockey League | Master Round | 01.02.2024 | Results:
Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan – EK Die Zeller Eisbären 1:4 (1:1, 0:2, 0:1)
Referees: MOSCHEN, RUETZ, De Zordo, Rinker. | Spectators: 321
Goal WSV: Maylan (4./Capannelli)
Goals EKZ: Alagic (3./Aschauer-Rossmann), Wilenius (22.SH1, 54.PP1), Artner (32./Lahoda-Widen)
S.G. Cortina Hafro – Red Bull Hockey Juniors 3:2 (1:0, 2:0, 0:2)
Referees: GIACOMOZZI, VIRTA, Brondi, Rivis. | Spectators: 473
Goals SGC: Cuglietta (18.SH1/Juhola-Zanatta, 26./Seed-Juhola, 40./Di Tomaso-Juhola)
Goals RBJ: Noll (52./Kirchebner-Cernik), Duller (57./Ramoser-Krening)
Alps Hockey League | Qualification Round A | 01.02.2024 | Results:
HK RST Pellet Celje – Steel Wings LINZ AG 4:3 OT (1:0, 1:2, 1:1)
Referees: FAJDIGA, VOICAN, Arlic, Weiss. |
Goals HKC: Mintautiskis (8./Povse-Hebar, 62.PP1/Sotlar-Cepon), Cepon (37./Jakupovic-Secen), Sotlar (48./Sirovnik-Hebar)
Goals SWL: Theirich (36./Persson-Saha), Persson (37./Saha-Necesany, 51.PP1/Saha-Dorion)
Alps Hockey League | Qualification Round B | 01.02.2024 | Results:
EC-KAC Future Team – Hockey Unterland Cavaliers 7:1 (2:0, 1:0, 4:1)
Referees: REZEK, SCHEIGHOFER, Javornik, Telesklav. | Spectators: 263
Goals KAC: Piuk (2./Lam), Gomboc (10./PP1), Hochegger (29./Smolnikar-Obersteiner), Tavzelj (44.), Lam (48./Burgar), Malle (51./Hochegger-Preiml), Slibar (60./Klassek-Burgar)
Goal HCU: Girardi (59.PP1/Käyrä-Remolato)
EHC Lustenau – EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel 6:4 (1:0, 3:2, 2:2)
Referees: BENEVEGNU, LAZZERI, Cristeli, Formaioni. | Spectators: 468
Goals EHC: Pietilä (16./Krammer-Pakaslahti, 28.PP1/Wilfan-Wennlund, 35./Shikera-Oberscheider), Wilfang (34./Alasaari), Wüstner (42./Pakaslahti-Moosbrugger), Kukkola (60.EN)
Goals KEC: Geifes (23.SH1/Tröthan), Niemelä (25./Rotter-Ebner), Fröwis (41./Niemelä-Podlipnik), Hochfilzer (49.)
Fotocredit: Oskar Brunner