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The Bolzano offensive line around Cristiano DiGiacinto, Christian Thomas and Brad McClure (from left) played brilliantly. © Vanna Antonello
Magical and yet trembling: Bolzano in the semi-finals!
HCB Südtirol Alperia has cleared the first playoff hurdle. The fifth and final game against Villach became a battle of nerves, which again resulted in an injured HCB player and a match penalty, but at the same time also offered great ice hockey.
March 11, 2024
From the Sparkasse Arena in Bolzano
From:
Alexander Foppa
The thing is done! HC Bozen is in the semi-finals of the ICE Hockey League for the sixth time in ten years. The Foxes defeated Villach 3.000-2 on Monday evening in front of more than 1 spectators and won the series against VSV 4-1.
The fifth and final quarter-final duel was a reflection of this series. It offered tough moments, some unpleasant scenes, but also great Bolzano offensive ice hockey. And in the end the HCB won for the fourth time. This was driven by the magical hands of Dustin Gazley and Brad McClure, and Christian Thomas and Cristiano DiGiacinto (he played in place of defender Andreas Söderberg) also showed one of their best performances of the season. Meanwhile, at the back, Scott Valentine, Blake Parlett and Co. cleared away almost everything.
Now Halmo has got it
However, the joy in Bolzano is not entirely undimmed. Mike Halmo had an unfortunate fall in a duel with Philipp Lindner and had to leave the ice injured. Although he took a seat on the bench again in the final third, he definitely had to raise the white flag after just one substitution. A medical diagnosis is still pending. He would be the next victim of this series alongside Daniel Frank and Enrico Miglioranzi. The return of the injured duo for the semi-final start next Tuesday is open.
In the third game in the Sparkasse Arena, Villach tried to bring down HC Bozen by all means, and played at the limit of what was allowed, even without the suspended Andrew Desjardins and Maxime Golod. With Robert Sabolic, the Eagles lost another offensive star in the final third. He had to leave the ice with a match penalty after a check on Daniel Mantenuto's head.
The key moments
| McClure makes sense | After 11 minutes, Brad McClure puts the HCB in the lead. Out of a commotion in front of the goal, he hits the disc out of the air into the net in the best tennis style. |
| Chance after chance | The Foxes, who play well, give away countless scoring opportunities. Dustin Gazley, McClure, Pascal Brunner, Christian Thomas and Cristiano DiGiacinto alone could, and indeed should, have increased the result with their great chances. |
| Anyone who doesn't do it at the front... | ...he gets them in the back. This happened in the 29th minute when Felix Maxa directed a Hancock shot into the goal to make it 1-1. The otherwise strong HCB goalie Sam Harvey has no chance. |
| Thomas clicks his tongue | Spurred on by the goal, the Foxes put the VSV goal under constant fire - with success. Christian Thomas completes a very fine individual action with an even finer lob into the top corner (32'). It's 2:1. Later, another Thomas goal was disallowed for offside. |
| Wild scenes in the finish | In the final phase, Bozen locked its gate using loud and unfair means. Three seconds before the end, Frigo rams an opponent into the goal with a cross-check over goalkeeper Harvey. The scene repeats itself with the final siren as the referees check the commotion on the goal line again on video before sealing Bolzano's place in the semi-finals. |
The Foxes can now sit back and watch the rest of the quarter-finals in the ICE - just like Salzburg, who also won their series against Linz 4-1. Whether there will be a repeat of the final in the semifinals depends on the two other duels. HC Pustertal lost to Fehervar 3:5 and now has to win at home on Wednesday to avoid elimination. Meanwhile, Klagenfurt suffered its second surprising home defeat against Vorarlberg.
HCB Südtirol Alperia – IDM Heat Pumps Villacher SV 2:1
HSBC: Harvey (Vallini); Valentine-Vandane, Teves-Di Perna, Pietroniro-Parlett; Gazley-Ford-Halmo, DiGiacinto-McClure-Thomas, Miceli-Mantenuto-Frigo, Brunner-Alberga-Felicetti.Coach: Hanlon
VSV: Lamoureux (Swett); Katic-MacPherson, Lindner-Wall, Wetzl-Cap; Sabolic-Hancock-Hughes, Wallenta-Maxa-Benjamin Lanzinger, Tschurnig-Rauchenwald-Tomazevic, Viveiros-Florian Lanzinger-Geifes.
Coach: Rodman
Gates: 1:0 Brad McClure (10.25), 1:1 Felix Maxa (28.14), 2:1 Christian Thomas (31.02)
Viewers: 3.070
Final standings best-of-7 series: 4:1
The other quarter-final duels:
Fehervar AV - HC Pustertal 5:3 (click here for the report)Goals: 1:0 Stipsicz (19.45), 2:0 McGauley (21.13), 2:1 Messner (24.33), 3:1 Bartalis (32.10), 4:1 Magosi (33.04), 5:1 McGauley (49.15), 5-2 Morley (52.41), 5-3 Morley (57.12)
Audience: 2.576
Best of 7 series: 3:2
Klagenfurter AC - Pioneers Vorarlberg 1:6
Goals: 0:1 Maier (8.45), 0:2 Maver (31.08), 0:3 Oden (32.26), 0:4 Owre (36.38), 0:5 Nick Pastujov (37.48), 1:5 Bischofberger (47.25) , 1:6 Macierzynski (53.22)
Audience: 4.391
Best of 7 series: 3:2
EC Salzburg - Black Wings Linz 5:1
Goals: 1:0 Bourke (4.07), 2:0 Meyer (11.06), 3:0 Nissner (26.42), 4:0 Huber (36.12), 4:1 St-Amant (44.54), 5:1 Huber (45.21 )
Audience: 3.003
Final score best-of-7 series: 4:1
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