HC Gröden celebrated an important victory for morale. © matthaeus kostner

Ritten's Feast Day, Sterzing's Sorcerer and Val Gardena's Signs of Life

On Thursday evening, four South Tyrolean teams were in action in the Alps Hockey League. The Hockey Club Gherdëina and the Rittner Buam had reason to celebrate.

09 January 2025

From: dl

The Wipptal Broncos had to go to Zell am See for the first time this season and lost their third duel of the season with the Eisbären. The 3:5 defeat against the top team was well deserved. For long stretches, the home team was far superior. Only goalie Dominik Groh prevented the Broncos from falling even further behind in the first two thirds.

The 26-year-old Czech is one of the strongest goalkeepers in the AlpsHL with a save percentage of 92,2%. The Zeller Eisbären were repeatedly defeated by Groh, who presented the Salzburg team with difficult tasks with some strong reflexes. Groh was worth his weight in gold for the Broncos, especially in the shorthanded game, in which Sterzing did not concede a single goal. The Wildpferde, weakened by a lack of replacements, fought tooth and nail, but were outmatched for a long time.

Dominik Groh, goalie for the Wipptal Broncos.

It was only in the final third that the guests from Sterzing kept up and got to 2:4. With the team outnumbered, Bryson Cianfrone had a great chance to score 12 minutes before the end, but he didn't take advantage. The Eisbären's empty-net goal to make it 5:2 two minutes before the end finally decided the game.

Ritten turns up the heat and Val Gardena surprises

Joachim Ramoser’s comeback after 1.768 days was celebrated by the Rittner Buam against Sisak was a real goal fest. The home team won against the overwhelmed Croatians with 8:1. Ritten was already leading 5:0 after the first third. Ramoser, as was the other new signing Mads Larsen, integrated well into the game. The former even rewarded his comeback with a goal in the second third, but the visiting keeper parried Ramoser's shot.

Joachim Ramoser during his comeback on the Ritten. © Max Pattis

After eight defeats in the last ten games, the HC Val Gardena were able to celebrate another success. The Furies defeated Cortina for the first time this season, winning 2-1 in overtime. The home team's victory was a little lucky, but not undeserved. Vili Laitinen played a key role in the winning goal. First, the Finn stopped an attack by the visitors, and then he made a perfect cross for Davide Schiavone, who only had to push it in.

The weakened team suffered a bitter defeat on Thursday. Underland CavaliersAfter falling behind 1:3, the Cavs equalized at 3:3 against the Red Bull Juniors in the final period. But the home team, who were back in action for the first time in over a month, took the lead again in the power play. With an empty-net goal, the young Salzburg team made the final score 5:3.

AlpsHL: Thursday's games

Red Bull Juniors – Unterland Cavaliers 5-3
1:0 Oberhauser (15.14), 2:0 Kogler (20.42), 2:1 Kaufmann (24.15), 3:1 Kolarik (32.15), 3:2 Girardi (44.19), 3:3 Brighenti (50.54), 4:3 Wurzer (51.56), 5:3 Kogler (58.11)
Audience: 62

Zeller Eisbären – Wipptal Broncos 5:3
1:0 Widhalm (09.29), 2:0 McLeod (14.00), 3:0 Huard (26.22), 3:1 Cianfrone (33.58), 4:1 Artner (39.48), 4:2 Capannelli (41.11), 5: 2 McLeod (58.18), 5:3 Eisendle (59.53)
Audience: 2.102

Rittner Buam – Sisak 8:1
1:0 Insam (0.22), 2:0 Hjorth (02.29), 3:0 Fink (4.00), 4:0 Cuglietta (11.59), 5:0 Giacomuzzi (19.01), 6:0 Cuglietta (33.57), 7: 0 Lobis (35.50), 7:1 Zavrski (52.46), 8:1 Spinel (54.22)
Audience: 481

HC Gröden – Cortina 2:1 nV
1-0 McGowan (14.27), 1-1 Adami (22.43), 2-1 Schiavone (63.00)
Audience: 1.327