The Ritten team threw everything into the mix in Neumarkt – with success. © Vanna Antonello

The final stab is in: Boys wrestle down Cavaliers

The Unterland Cavaliers have only ever been able to score points against one team this season: the Rittner Buam. However, the bottom-placed team wasn't in the mood to celebrate in their second encounter.

16 October 2025

From the WürthArena in Neumarkt

The Underland Cavaliers scored again against their favorite opponent, but the victory went to the Rittner BuamThey celebrated a 2-1 win after extra time. Before that, both teams had a fierce head-to-head battle for 63 minutes.

For a long time, the Würth Arena wasn't just about playing ice hockey, but rather about fighting. Ritten played its physical game from a rock-solid defense, but Unterland fought hard in the duels and repeatedly won the corner duels. However, the Cavs seem to be lacking something this season: their surprise attacks, their lightning-fast crossing of the neutral zone. They only managed 17 shots on goal—not enough to secure their second win of the season.

Simon Kostner is the match winner

Ritten dominated for long stretches and deservedly took the lead early in the first period through Kevin Fink. He squandered the lead to Tizian Giovanelli, who pulled off two world-class saves on the night, denying shots from Brett Welychka and Robert Öhler. It certainly wasn't his fault that Unterland ultimately came up short. Rather, it was the attacking twins Marek and Erik Postinok who, unlike in the 3-2 win in the first encounter, were completely ineffective. Gabriel Zerbetto stepped up for them when he found himself completely unmarked in the slot in the final period, took aim, and then fired the ball into the net with a powerful shot – 1-1 and overtime!

Unterland and Ritten engaged in a hard-fought battle of strength. © Vanna Antonello

The extra time was just halfway over when Leonardo Felicetti and Patrick Madsen skillfully separated the three Unterland players and fed Simon Kostner at the far post. The Ritten captain fired a clean shot into the top corner, earning his team the match-winner's second derby win in 48 hours. After Val Gardena and Unterland, the boys will take on HC Merano on Saturday.

Val Gardena squanders victory, Merano is duped

The HC Gherdëina Two days after their defeat against Ritten, the Furies were denied redemption. The Furies squandered a 2-0 lead against last year's ICE club, Asiago, and lost 2-3 in a penalty shootout.

The opening phase of the game in Val Gardena was pure joy for the 423 home fans: At 1-0, Adam Brady played a pass behind his back into the middle, where Pitschieler slotted it home. A little later, Hannes Kasslatter smashed the puck under the crossbar after a cross from Guimond. After the 2-0, there were three shots on the post for Val Gardena and two from Asiago. Asiago goalie Rudy Rigoni also made a sensational save from Sacha Guimond. In the final minutes, the tide suddenly turned: Lucas Chiodo (on a penalty shot) and Robert Calisti saved Asiago and brought them into overtime, which was no longer thought possible. Shortly before the 2-2 tie, Val Gardena's Matteo Luisetti missed the now empty Asiago goal. This would come back to haunt him, as Nick Porco ultimately secured the win for the visitors in the penalty shootout.

Stephan Deluca (r.) and the HCG achieved a celebrated home victory against Asiago.

While Val Gardena was quite convincing, the HC Meran Kitzbühel had a dismal evening. The Eagles, without Christopher Frederiksen, who is sidelined for the long term with a knee injury, slid into a 3-8 defeat. Their performance in the opening period was particularly egregious, as the spa town team conceded five goals. Regular goalkeeper Andy Bernard was subsequently substituted, and his replacement, the 16-year-old Gabriel Vezzali, was subsequently forced to make three more saves. His teammates, Tommaso Traversa, Samuel Claesson, and Giovanni Mandruzzato, could only marginally improve the result with their own goals.

Thursday's results:

Unterland Cavaliers - Rittner Buam2:3nV
Goals: 0:1 Kevin Fink (20.39), 1:1 Gabriel Zerbetto (48.42), 1:2 Simon Kostner (62.50)
Audience: 283

HC Gherdëina - HC Asiago 2:3 nP
Goals: 1-0 Pitschieler (0.24), 2-0 Kasslatter (12.58), 2-1 Lucas Chiodo (53.26), 2-2 Robert Calisti (58.59), 2-3 Nick Porco (decisive penalty)
Audience: 423

EC Kitzbühel - HC Meran 8:3
Goals: 1:0 Maxa (4.19), 2:0 Lippitsch (7.23), 3:0 Maxa (12.31), 4:0 Wetzl (15.42), 5:0 Ketonen (19.15), 6:0 Ketonen (22.24), 6:1 Traversa (22.46), 7:1 Crnkic (23.45), 7:2 Claesson (30.49), 7:3 Mandruzzato (55.08), 8:3 Loshing (58.55)
Audience: 512

HDD Jesenice - SG Cortina 3:0
Goals: 1:0 Lesnicar (32.58), 2:0 Sojer (46.18), 3:0 Jenko (58.36)
Audience: 250

KHL Sisak - EK Zell am See 3:4 aet
Goals: 1:0 Marinkovic (0.58), 2:0 Panasenko (35.54), 3:0 Yeob (36.31), 3:1 Coffman (39.07), 3:2 Cuma (39.58), 3:3 Wilfan (51.45), 3:4 Coffman (64.27)
Audience: 976