HC Gröden kills two birds with one stone

The Eagles had lost the first duel of the season 1:6, but after three wins in a row they traveled to Wolkenstein with a good deal of self-confidence - especially Nolan Ritchie, who scored eight goals in this series. However, Meran's storm star did not come into its own that evening. At the same time, the Canadian and his teammates made too many lapses on defense. Misfires that the HCG punished coldly. The final result of 6:3 in favor of the Furies was fine.

The first third was hair-raising from the home team's perspective: Maximilian Sölva missed the empty goal, Anthony DeLuca missed a solo effort and Hannes Kasslatter failed twice because of the great HCM goalie Andrei Makarov. At the other end, Daniel Gellon was unlucky when he shot off the post before Joseph Garreffa made it 1-0 on the power play. The striker, who was acting as a defender that evening, shot HCG goalie Paul Hofer in the back from the goal line, and the puck then rolled into the goal.

Strong answer The home team's reaction came 15 seconds after the restart: Matteo Luisetti pushed into the opponent's zone with a lot of speed in the power play, went around the goal and gave Makarov no chance with a turning shot into the top corner. A few minutes later, an almost unbelievable spell broke: Ex-HCB crack Simon Pitschieler had last scored on September 21st before he gave the home team a 2-1 lead with a follow-up shot. Hofer then held on to this with several brilliant saves, but even the 22-year-old had to capitulate when Patrick Tomasini made a fantastic individual move. After the second siren, the Furies went back in front: First Brad McGowan scored with a direct shot, then Kevin Schulze hammered the puck into the net from the blue line to make it 4-2.

But the game was far from over, especially since Val Gardena's number 1 center McGowan remained in the catacombs. Meran pressed and scored the (curious) goal. HCG misused the puck in their own zone, Luca Ansoldi politely said thank you and scored even though he had completely missed the target. But the joy didn't last long: two and a half minutes later, Diego Glück brought the puck into the middle, where Schulze directed it into the goal with his leg. The HCM's resistance was thus broken. With an empty-net goal, Pitschieler gave the Furies the all-important home win.

Ethan Szypula (right) scored three times. © Max Pattis

Meanwhile, the Rittner Buam celebrated their ninth win in a row at Steel Wings Linz. The league leaders fell behind early on, but in the end Tray Tuomie's team won a clear 8-1. Max Coatta and Julian Kostner turned the game on its head before the first third break. The American then scored again before Ethan Szypula increased the score to 5-1 with two goals. Kevin Fink, Adam Giacomuzzi and Szypula, who scored a hat trick, secured the final score of 8-1.

At the same time, the Unterland Cavaliers were unable to stop the Red Bull Juniors' successful run: thanks to the 4-1 win, the Salzburg secondary team celebrated their seventh success in a row. After both teams kept the score at the first break, Daniels Murnieks scored twice within two minutes. Tobias Brighenti & Co. came close in the final period through Alex Curti, but Elias Pul nipped the Cavs' hopes in the bud. Vadim Schreiner finally put the lid on the game five minutes before the end.

Comeback is not rewarded After a bad start, the Wipptal Broncos at least took a point away from the Fassa Falcons. After a great comeback, they lost 3:4 after a penalty shootout. After 30 minutes, the Wild Horses seemed already defeated, as they were behind 0-3 after goals from Diego Iori, Leonardo Felicetti and Sebastian Selin. But then the guests woke up from their deep sleep and shortened the score thanks to Adam Capannelli and James Livingston. Derek Topatigh took the Broncos into a penalty shootout with three minutes left, where Edgar De Toni scored the winning goal.

Alps Hockey League: Red Bull Juniors – Unterland Cavaliers 4-1 Goals: 1:0 Murnieks (25.42), 2:0 Murnieks (27.59), 2:1 Curti (42.14), 3:1 Pul (48.08), 4:1 Schreiner (55.14) Audience: 46

Silver Wings Linz – Rittner Buam 1:8 Goals: 1:0 Söllinger (3.59), 1:1 Coatta (14.17), 1:2 Julian Kostner (16.02), 1:3 Coatta (23.01), 1:4 Szypula (27.46), 1:5 Szypula (42.53) , 1:6 Kevin Fink (43.50), 1:7 Giacomuzzi (44.21), 1:8 Szypula (46.29) Audience: 93

HC Gherdëina – HC Meran 6:3 Goals: 0:1 Garreffa (11.56), 1:1 Luisetti (20.17), 2:1 Pitschieler (25.57), 2:2 Tomasini (37.15), 3:2 McGowan (38.46), 4:2 Schulze (39.56), 4:3 Ansoldi (46.16), 5:3 Schulze (48.42), 6:3 Pitschieler (57.48) Audience: 345

Fassa Falcons – Wipptal Broncos 4:3 nP Goals: 1:0 Iori (12.06), 2:0 Felicetti (25.40), 3:0 Selin (31.08), 3:1 Capannelli (35.02), 3:2 Livingston (37.28), 3:3 Topatigh (56.44); decisive penalty: De Toni Audience: 159

EC Kitzbühel – HK Celje 6:4 Goals: 1:0 Podlipnik (6.38), 2:0 Seto (7.41), 3:0 Niemelä (16.36), 4:0 Ebner (24.24), 5:0 Maxa (37.16), 5:1 Mintautiskis (39.18), 5:2 Golynsky (39.49), 5:3 Sodja Zalokar (43.42), 6:3 Lanzinger (58.22), 6:4 Sirovnik (59.07) Audience: 313

HDD Jesenice – SG Cortina 4:3 Goals: 0:1 Colli (3.40), 1:1 Kumanovic (18.07), 1:2 Barnabò (24.48), 2:2 Cimzar (32.20), 3:2 Jezovsek (38.33), 3:3 Lacedelli (44.17), 4:3 Cimzar (56.25) Audience: 600

The table

SP G U V TV P 1. Rittner Buam 19 15 0 4 82:43 45 2. Zell am See 20 14 0 6 81:55 42 3. Salzburg II 21 14 0 7 76:53 42 4. Wipptal Broncos 20 12 0 8 81:55 40 5. Jesenice 21 13 0 8 79:59 39 6. Bregenzerwald 20 11 0 9 79:62 36 7. SG Cortina 19 11 0 8 70:53 32 8. Lustenau 20 10 0 10 78:82 28 9. Kitzbuhel 20 9 0 11 64:72 27 10. HC Meran 20 9 0 11 68:88 27 11. Underland Cavaliers 20 8 0 12 75:73 26 12. Linz II 20 9 0 11 53:66 25 13. HC Fassa 20 9 0 11 62:72 24 14. HC Gherdëina 20 8 0 12 56:79 23 15. HK Celje 21 6 0 15 53:90 18 16. Klagenfurt II 21 3 0 18 45:100 9

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HC Gröden kills two birds with one stone

The fans of HC Gherdëina have not been spoiled this season - especially at home. The Furies hadn't managed a single win in regular time until matchday 20. This curse was ended on Thursday - and of all things in the derby against HC Meran.

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AlpsHL Austria	SP	TV	P
1. KHL Sisak	17	64:45	35
2. Salzburg II	15	57:36	32
3. Kitzbuhel	15	53:34	29
4. Zell am See	14	45:39	27
5. HC Asiago	15	57:50	26
6. Bregenzerwald	14	35:41	25
View all