The Red Bull Juniors defeated Val Gardena in their opening game. © Red Bull Ice Hockey Academy / Karpaviciute

One minute proves fatal for Gröden

All quarter-final series in the Alps Hockey League have now started: HC Gherdëina suffered a narrow defeat in Salzburg in their playoff opener.

March 11, 2026

From: dl

HC Gröden lost 2-3 to Red Bull Salzburg's reserve team on Wednesday. For HCG, who have never reached the semifinals, this is their third quarterfinal appearance this year. However, reaching the final four for the first time would still be a surprise, especially since the young Bulls finished the regular season in first place.

Gröden, who had eliminated Kitzbühel in the pre-playoffs, even took the lead in Salzburg at the start of the second period when Luke Moncada scored with a backhand shot. Salzburg II then turned things around, scoring three goals in just one minute and four seconds: First, Jesse Juhola scored with a screened shot, before Maximilian Wurzer added a rebound and Luca Kofler scored on a breakaway to make it 3-1.

Exciting final third

The Juniors, strong at home (18 wins out of 23 home games), were superior to Gröden overall. The Furies took too many penalties. Goalie Claes Endre made several saves in the final period to keep the visitors in the game. However, after a deflection by Davide Schiavone made it 2-3, the game became exciting again in the final minutes. In the end, Martin Castlunger came close to tying the series. The Ladins will have their next chance in the best-of-seven series on Friday evening at their home arena, Pranives.

Playoff quarterfinals: Wednesday's game

Red Bull Hockey Juniors – HC Gröden 3:2
0:1 Moncada (23.53), 1:1 Juhola (24.42), 2:1 Wurzer (25.20), 3:1 Kogler (25.46), 3:2 Schiavone (56.54)
Audience: 80
Score in the series: 1:0