Jesenice is in the final. © HDD Jesenice/Social Media

Champions dethroned: Jesenice wins again in overtime

Third overtime, fourth defeat, premature end of the season: The courageous Rittner Buam had to say goodbye to the summer break on Tuesday evening, even though they had all the cards in their hand after an incredible comeback in the semi-final series of the Alps Hockey League (AlpsHL) against Jesenice.

01 April 2025

From: leo

Despite a 0-3 series deficit and the painful absence of Diego Cuglietta, the boys believed they had a chance before the game began. "We know we can still turn this series around. If everyone gives their all, then it's possible," said Ethan Szypula ahead of the match. The 100-point man and his teammates did (almost) everything right in the steel city from the start of the final period. However, Jamie Russell's team, as they had throughout the entire best-of-7 series, lacked the killer instinct. The result was a 3-4 overtime defeat in the 86th minute.

A frenzied 1500 fans witnessed a brisk start from the home side, warming up goalkeeper Colin Furlong. The Canadian was consistently on his mark and saw a great opportunity from Robert Öhler at the other end, who missed the goal from close range. While the visitors kept the game evenly matched in the first period, this changed in the second 20 minutes. The Slovenians cornered the reigning champions in their own zone, sometimes for minutes at a time, and kept Furlong under constant fire. After Nejc Brus hit the crossbar from the blue line, Tjas Lesnicar was there to make it 1-0. He took advantage of a backpass from Erik Svetina and left Furlong no chance with a shot into the top corner.

Boom turn on

Although the Slovenians subsequently pushed for a 2-0 lead, the goal came from the other end. Alan Lobis won the puck in the forecheck and passed it to Simon Kostner, who in turn assisted Ethan Szypula. The Canadian put the puck right into the top corner. On a quick counterattack, Gregor Koblar should have made it 2-1 before the second period buzzer, but the veteran missed the empty net.

Marco Marzolini in a war of words with Santeri Sillanpaa. © HDD Jesenice/Social Media

The fact that the boys made it into the second period unscathed gave Markus Spinell and his team a lot of confidence. Suddenly, they were more active and better in the final period. And time and again, Szypula and goalkeeper Zan Us were in constant duels. Zan Us saved his now sloppy team from falling behind twice. Once he saved with his catching hand, another time with his knee pad. Kevin Fink also missed a 100% chance from a completely unmarked position.

The lack of opportunity utilization took its toll: After a counterattack by Santeri Sillanpaa, his line partner Olli Valtola poked the puck over the line. Just 24 seconds later, the Podmežakla Ice Rink erupted in celebration again: A shot by Brus was deflected decisively by Marco Marzolini, and Furlong failed to hold onto the ice, leaving Lesnicar with an empty net.

Incredible comeback

But that wasn't the final word: When Furlong left the ice for an extra skater, Manuel Öhler deflected a Hjorth shot, landing the puck in front of Alan Lobis, who calmly slotted it in. And that wasn't enough: Just 64 seconds later, the Kaltern player equalized when he took a Szypula pass and smashed Us between his shin pads. To the delight of the traveling Buam fans, the game went into overtime.

Tobias Graf & Co. have been eliminated. © HDD Jesenice/Social Media

In this game, the game was practically all about one goal – that of the home team. The boys should have decided the game in the first ten minutes, but Lobis, Markus Spinell, and Adam Giacomuzzi were outdone by Us. When the boys then went on the power play, the winning goal seemed within reach. But time and again, they were inches short. And those who don't score goals usually concede them. That's what happened this evening, too: in the 86th minute, Sillanpaa won a face-off, Valtola shot without hesitation, and plunged the boys into the valley of tears.

In the final, Jesenice will now face EK Zell am See, who also swept the Wipptal Broncos.

HDD Jesenice – Rittner Buam 4:3 aet

JES: Us (Kogovsek); Sojer-Urukalo, Brus-Selan, Slibar-Lyons, Dolinar-Seckar; Sturm-Valtola-Sillanpaa, Koblar-Lesnicar-Svetina, Slivnik-Zajc-Jenko, Dobravec-Prostor-Pecnik.
coach: Eronen

RIT: Furlong (Plattner); Marzolini-Insam, Hjorth-Larsen, Giacomuzzi-Soracreppa; Lobis-Kostner-Szypula, Fink-Manuel Öhler-Spinell; Graf-Robert Öhler-Alex Oberrauch, Max Oberrauch-Tauferer.
coach: Russell

Gates: 1:0 Lesnicar (32.45), 1:1 Szypula (36.51), 2:1 Valtola (53.22), 3:1 Lesnicar (53.46), 3:2 Lobis (56.12), 3:3 Lobis (57.18), 4:3 Valtola (85.27)

Viewers: 1445

Status in the series: 1:3

Alps Hockey League, semi-finals:

Wipptal Broncos – EK Zell am See 0:3
Goals: 0:1 Berger (54.40), 0:2 Putnik (55.41), 0:3 Wilfan (57.33)
Audience: 524
Final score in the series: 0:4