HC Gröden aims to take the lead in the semi-final. © Matthäus Kostner

Val Gardena and Merano are reaching for the match point

On Saturday evening, three clubs will be aiming to thrill South Tyrolean ice hockey fans. HC Gröden and HC Meran, competing in the Alps Hockey League semi-finals, as well as the Kaltern Pike in the Italian Hockey League final, will all be vying for the match point.

April 03, 2026

From: never

It's simply better to live – and play – at home: That sums up the semifinal series between HC Gherdëina and Zell am See. Both the Fury and the defending champions from Austria have won their home games in the fight for a place in the final. Except for Gherdëina's epic 5-0 rout last Saturday, every game ended 2-1. The fifth and final match in the best-of-seven series promises to be just as exciting. After all, with the series tied 2-2, both teams are playing for the match point on Saturday (starting at 7:30 p.m. at the [venue name]). SportNewslive ticker).

KHL Sisak and HC Meran are also tied after four games in the second Alps Hockey League semi-final. The latter is likely to win after the 3-2 victory in an overtime thriller in front of a home crowd The team will approach the upcoming match with confidence. Although it takes place in Croatia, the Eagles already won the opening game of the series there 4-2. Should Merano emerge victorious again on the road on Saturday, they could reach the Alps Final for the first time in their history three days later in their own arena.

The pike are already eyeing the title.

SV Kaltern is also fighting for a match point in the Italian Hockey League (IHL). Just on Thursday evening, the Pike regained the lead in the final series with a 6-3 victory over HC Aosta, going up 2-1, and could catapult themselves into a promising position on Easter Saturday at 8:00 PM. However, the South Tyrolean team lost their only away game of the series so far, 2-5 – a setback they are determined to put behind them.

Alps Hockey League, Playoff Semi-finals: Game 5

EK Die Zeller Eisbären – HC Gherdëina (Saturday, 7:30 pm)
Score in the series: 2:2

KHL Sisak – HC Meran (Saturday, 7:30 pm)
Score in the series: 2:2

Italian Hockey League, Final: Game 4

HC Aosta – SV Kaltern (Saturday, 20.00 p.m.)
Score in the series: 1:2