Zell and Sterzing steal home advantage

Polar bears steal home advantage in derby
The EK Zeller Eisbären stole home advantage from the Red Bull Hockey Juniors in the first pre-playoff duel. The second-placed team of Qualification Round B prevailed 6:5 at the first-placed team of Qualification Round A. For the league returnees it was the fifth win in the 13th Salzburg derby in the Alps Hockey League and this one had to be fought hard. Already in the first 33 minutes, the favored Red Bulls took the lead three times, but the Polar Bears had the appropriate answer ready each time. By the 55th minute, however, the Polar Bears ignited the turbo and made it 5:3, but the Juniors fought back led by Philipp Wimmer, who scored a hat trick that evening, and equalized within two minutes. Hubert Berger, however, then provided the decider and the lead in the "best-of-three" pre-playoffs series in the 58th minute.

Broncos celebrate comeback win in overtime
The Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan prevailed 5-4 after overtime to open the pre-playoffs and became the second away team to make it 1-0 in the "best-of-three" series, with SHC Fassa Falcons already looking like sure winners 13 minutes before the end. The Master Round participant already led 4-1 one in the 48th minute. However, a strong finish by the Broncos and three goals within two minutes, took the visitors into overtime. There Bryson Cianfrone provided the decision and the series lead after 59 seconds.

Gherdeina defeats Bregenzerwald
HC Gherdeina confirmed their role as favorites against EC Bregenzerwald in the first game of the pre-playoffs, even though the victory demanded a lot from them. After a quick 2:0 lead of the hosts in the first period, Bregenzerwald answered in the same period with a double. In the middle third, Max Oberrauch put his team in the lead again. In the final period, Bregenzerwald pushed for the equalizer, but could not overcome Colin Furlong in the Gardena net.

Cortina confident against Steel Wings
The S.G. Cortina Hafro only just failed to qualify for the playoffs directly. In the first pre-playoff duel, the Italians had no problems against the third of the qualification Round B. However, the Upper Austrians, who qualified for the AHL postseason for the first time, initially held their own against the favored Italians. The experienced Cortina acted much more efficiently and finally prevailed safely with 4:1. Already on Thursday the fifth of the Master Round has the chance to qualify for the quarterfinals.

Alps Hockey League | 08.03.2022:
Pre-Playoffs:

Red Bull Hockey Juniors – EK Die Zeller Eisbären 5:6 (2:1,1:3,2:2)
Referees: BENVEGNU, BRUNNER, Voican, Weiss.
Serienstand 0:1
Goals RBJ: 1:0 RBJ Wimmer P. (00:33 / Eham J. / EQ), 2:1 RBJ Wimmer P. (16:27 / Steffler D. ,Heigl N. / PP), 3:2 RBJ Heigl T. (32:56 / Lahnaviik R. ,Heigl N. / EQ), 4:5 RBJ Hörl L. (54:46 / Heigl T. ,Lahnaviik R. / EQ), 5:5 RBJ Wimmer P. (56:45 / Lahnaviik R. ,Heigl N. / EQ)
Goals EKZ: 1:1 EKZ Putnik P. (12:24 / Widen F. ,Rajala J. / EQ), 2:2 EKZ Putnik P. (25:41 / Bär L. ,Berger H. / EQ), 3:3 EKZ Jennes C. (34:18 / Widen F. ,Rajala J. / EQ), 3:4 EKZ Akerman J. (39:18 / Rajala J. / EQ), 3:5 EKZ Rajala J. (54:33 / Putnik P. ,Neubauer H. / EQ), 5:6 EKZ Berger H. (57:40 / Widen F. ,Neubauer H. / PP)

SHC Fassa Falcons – Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan 4:5 O.T. (1:1,0:0,3:3,0:1)
Referees: HOLZER, MOSCHEN, Eisl, Rinker.
Serienstand 0:1
Goals FAS: 1:0 FAS Deluca A. (05:15 / unassisted / EQ), 2:1 FAS Felicetti L. (41:23 / Castlunger M. ,Iori D. / EQ), 3:1 FAS Tedesco D. (42:47 / Lindgren E. ,Mcparland S. / PP), 4:1 FAS Mcparland S. (47:11 / Lindgren E. ,Tedesco D. / PP)
Goals WSV: 1:1 WSV Salo N. (15:20 / Kofler T. ,Gschnitzer J. / EQ), 4:2 WSV Gander M. (52:47 / Salo N. ,Bernard D. / EQ), 4:3 WSV Chiodo L. (53:33 / Cianfrone B. ,Messner M. / EQ), 4:4 WSV Planatscher A. (54:29 / Gschnitzer D. ,Gander M. / EQ), 4:5 WSV Cianfrone B. (60:59 / Chiodo L. ,Salo N. / EQ)

HC Gherdeina valgardena.it – EC Bregenzerwald 3:2 (2:2,1:0,0:0)
Referees: BAJT, RUETZ, Arlic, Puff. 
Serienstand 1:0
Goals GHE: 1:0 GHE MC GOWAN B. (02:56 / Sullmann Pilser M. ,Kasslatter H. / EQ), 2:0 GHE Galassiti D. (08:40 / Sölva M. ,Korhonen V. / PP), 3:2 GHE Oberrauch M. (27:56 / Glück D. ,Korhonen V. / PP)
Goals ECB: 2:1 ECB Fröwis J. (11:33 / unassisted / EQ), 2:2 ECB Schlögl R. (14:48 / Nyqvist J. / PP)

S.G. Cortina Hafro – Steel Wings Linz 4:1 (1:0,2:0,1:1)
Referees: LAZZERI, REZEK, De Zordo, Snoj. 
Serienstand 1:0
Goals SGC: 1:0 SGC Zardini Lacedelli N. (14:17 / Adami F. ,Larcher E. / EQ)
2:0 SGC Lacedelli G. (23:16 / Pompanin F. ,Larcher E. / EQ)
3:0 SGC Larcher E. (28:47 / Adami F. ,Zardini Lacedelli N. / EQ), 4:1 SGC Lacedelli R. (59:21 / Johansson M. ,De zanna R. / EQ)
Goals SWL: 3:1 SWL Gaffal S. (54:41 / Farren K. ,Brikmanis A. / 5:3 PP)

Picture (c): Martina Bednar / eishockeyonline.at