Huge cheers from Alex Zecchetto and the Wipptal Broncos. © Daniele Frusone

Last-second victory: Broncos secure playoff ticket

Huge celebrations among the Wipptal Broncos: The Sterzing team secured their playoff ticket in the Alps Hockey League on Sunday at the last minute – as the only South Tyrolean team to do so.

February 01, 2026

From: det

More than 500 kilometers separate Sisak and Sterzing. But rarely before have the Wipptal Broncos enjoyed a six-hour bus trip as much as they did that evening: On their return journey from Croatia, the Sterzing team had secured their playoff ticket. With their 4-0 away victory on Sunday, Connor Sanvido and his teammates clinched their place in the Master Round in the very last regular season game.

The situation before the match was clear: If the Broncos won, they could still advance into the top 5 – and thus secure a direct playoff spot. And the Sterzing team didn't let this opportunity slip away. Connor Sanvido put the visitors in the lead in the third minute, and James Livingston increased the lead to 2-0 in the 14th minute.

Goalie Groh becomes a hero

The Broncos scored twice more in the second period, effectively deciding the game. Paul Eisendle first made it 3-0 on the power play (22nd minute), before Jerkko Rämö extended the lead to 4-0 in the 34th minute during a 5-on-3 power play. Sterzing defended well in the final period, and Dominik Groh recorded his second shutout of the season with 34 saves.

The Wipptal Broncos are the only South Tyrolean team to have secured direct playoff qualification. The Rittner Buam, HC Gröden, HC Meran, and HC Unterland, on the other hand, must fight for one of the last remaining spots in the two qualifying rounds. The intermediate round begins on Thursday.

AlpsHL, last regular season game

KHL Sisak – Wipptal Broncos 0:4
Gates: 0:1 Sanvido (3rd), 0:2 Livingston (14th), 0:3 Eisendle (27th), 0:4 Rämö (34th)
Viewers: 1.327

Group assignments for the intermediate round:

Master round:
1. Red Bull Hockey Juniors – 4 bonus points
2. EK The Zeller Polar Bears – 3
3. KHL Sisak – 2
4. HC Migross Asiago – 1
5. Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan – 0

Qualification Round A:
1. Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel – 3 bonus points
2. SG Cortina Hafro – 2
3. HC Meran Pircher – 1
4. Hockey Unterland Cavaliers – 0

Qualification Round B:
1. EC Bregenzerwald – 3 bonus points
2. Rittner Buam SkyAlps – 2
3. HC Gherdeina valgardena.it – 1
4. HDD Jesenice – 0