Goalkeeper Tizian Giovanelli and his Cavaliers were outmaneuvered by Asiago. © Vanna Antonello

One can only feel sorry for the Underland Cavaliers.

Third match, third defeat, and the same result every time – the Unterland Cavaliers are suffering from an Asiago curse. The paradox: the struggling team at the bottom of the table plays good hockey, but (almost) always loses. All other South Tyrolean teams in the Alps Hockey League managed to pick up points on Epiphany.

06 January 2026

From the WürthArena in Neumarkt

It's like they're cursed. Underland CavaliersThis season, the knights from southern South Tyrol just can't seem to manage two consecutive wins. Their away victory in Cortina was followed by a 1-4 home defeat against Asiago on Tuesday. The two previous encounters between these two teams also ended with the same scoreline.

One can almost feel sorry for the Cavs. Even against the league's most in-form team (Asiago celebrated their sixth consecutive victory), the bottom-dwellers played good hockey, they chased the ice passionately, their combinations were pleasing, they gritted their teeth and fought hard. But despite all these positive signs, the bottom line is: this very young team, with an average age of 21,5 years, lacks quality in many areas – especially in the import positions, which should make all the difference in this league. This also explains their 23rd loss of the season.

Playing well is not enough

The evening had started so well for the Unterland team in front of 427 spectators. Tizian Giovanelli was rock solid in defense, while Viktor Eriksson and Villi Pisetta combined nicely up front to score the opening goal. For the Swedish assist provider, it was his 16th point in 16 games, while for the 18-year-old goalscorer, it was already his seventh goal of the season.

From the midpoint of the game onward, a series of errors by the Unterland team allowed Asiago to secure the victory. Following a turnover by the hosts in the offensive zone, former Merano and Sterzing player Lucas Chiodo disrupted the defense, and Nick Porco scored to tie the game at 1-1. In the final period, Ryan Valentini scored with a powerful shot under the crossbar to give Asiago a 2-1 lead. The defenseman is now the undisputed league leader with 57 points in 30 games. In the final minutes, Chiodo and Tommaso Traversa extended the lead to 4-1.

Felicetti dismantles the leader

The Rittner Buam Meanwhile, they celebrated a victory worth its weight in gold. They overcame a 0-2 deficit against the league leaders in Salzburg and ultimately secured a jubilant 3-2 win.

Leo Felicetti (left) single-handedly turned the game around in Salzburg. © Red Bull Academy/Anuel Mackinge

The Ritten team owes their upset victory in Salzburg to one man: Leonardo Felicetti. After Brandon Alderson narrowed the gap to 1-2 in his comeback game, the former ICE Hockey League pro from the Val di Fassa made his mark. First, he scored the equalizer on a rebound, then, just before the second intermission buzzer, he steered the puck under the crossbar – sealing the 3-2 win for the Buam. South Tyrol's current top AlpsHL representative can thus celebrate a successful dress rehearsal for the Italian Championship Final Four, which will take place next weekend in Milan.

Three other teams score points away from home

The Olympic city will also host the Wipptal Broncos They are in contention for the title. However, after their 2-3 overtime loss to Bregenzerwald, they will arrive with their heads down. Particularly frustrating: Sterzing were even leading 2-0 thanks to a quickfire double from Bryson Cianfrone, but then let their lead slip away and conceded the knockout blow with just 16 seconds remaining in overtime.

Alexander Brunner (left) and the Broncos were stopped in Dornbirn. © ECB/Varshavska

Also the HC Meran Meran put in extra hours away against Kitzbühel – but again without ultimate success. The Eagles from the spa town lost to the Eagles from Kitzbühel 4-5 in a penalty shootout. HCM had even led 3-0 halfway through the game! After that, Christian Gamper, who only celebrated his 17th birthday a few days ago and was filling in for the ill Andy Bernard in goal in Kitzbühel, had to pick the puck out of his net four times. Brayden Sherbinin rescued Meran, forcing overtime, but Kitzbühel ultimately prevailed in the ensuing penalty shootout.

In contrast, the HC Gherdëina The HCG secured a 6-5 victory in Jesenice. In a wild and exciting back-and-forth match, Luke Moncada and Vlastimil Dostalek, each with three points, were the game-changers for the visitors. It was their fifth consecutive win.

The games of Epiphany:

RB Salzburg – Rittner Buam 2:3
Goals: 1:0 Kogler (7.15), 2:0 Eliseev (10.50), 2:1 Alderson (23.23), 2:2 Felicetti (31.02), 2:3 Felicetti (39.22)
Audience: 92

Unterland Cavaliers – HC Asiago 1:4
Goals: 1:0 Villi Pisetta (22.19), 1:1 Porco (33.55), 1:2 Valentini (49.03), 1:3 Chiodo (56.42), 1:4 Traversa (57.55)
Audience: 427

HDD Jesenice – HC Gherdëina 5:6
Goals: 0:1 Dostalek (5.46), 1:1 Slivnik (12.59), 1:2 Luisetti (24.47), 1:3 Luisetti (28.49), 2:3 Jenko (30.45), 3:3 Svetina (33.22), 3:4 Buono (45.58), 4:4 Esposito (56.45), 4:6 Moncada (57.33), 5:6 Bohinc (58.36)
Audience: 300

EC Bregenzerwald – Wipptal Broncos 3:2 aet
Goals: 0-1 Cianfrone (13:36), 0-2 Cianfrone (15:47), 1-2 Laaksonen (23:46), 2-2 Grasser (32:33), 3-2 König (64:44)
Audience: 1.051

EC Kitzbühel – HC Meran 5:4 nP
Goals: 0:1 Nousiaininen (5.41), 0:2 Cruseman (19.22), 0:3 Trivellato (22.32), 1:3 Engelhart (29.03), 2:3 Crnkic (32.32), 3:3 Maxa (40.44), 4:3 Crnkic (51.51), 4:4 Sherbinin (57.27), 5:4 Podlipnik (decisive penalty)
Audience: 1.124

EK Zell am See – SG Cortina 4:3 nP
Goals: 1-0 Jennes (1.00), 1-1 Talamini (5.30), 1-2 Kalajanniska (10.09), 2-2 Wilfan (13.43), 3-2 Huard (48.17), 3-3 Massimo Pietroniro (50.07), 4-3 Wilfan (decisive penalty)
Audience: 2.002