HC Meran celebrates the next victory over the Broncos. © BRUNNER 2024\25

Merano is simply more efficient than Sterzing

On the penultimate match day of the intermediate round, things got really tough again in the Alps Hockey League. In the South Tyrolean derby, HC Meran once again had the upper hand.

20. February 2025

By: dl/kei

Only 9 days ago the HC Meran home against Wipptal Broncos, because the HCM was the more efficient and not the better team. The same game was repeated on this Thursday evening in Sterzing: The Passerstadt team beat the Broncos 4:3 in overtime. The Wild Horses fired 11 more shots than the Eagles, but Rudy Rigoni once again exceeded his own expectations in the Merano goal.

The Broncos were the dominant team for long stretches. Fabian Hackhofer scored from the blue line in the first power play. Teruto Nakajima scored almost out of nowhere - after the home team lost the puck - to equalize in the first period. After a wonderful combination between the two Pietroniros, Chad scored to make it 2-1 for Meran in the second period, before James Livingston made it 2-2 a little later. After a counterattack, the in-form Jakob Fuchs brought the Eagles back into the lead.

Rudy Rigoni again held strong in the Merano goal. © BRUNNER 2024\25

In the last third, the Broncos pushed for an equalizer. Adam Capannelli scored with 16 seconds to go in a two-man power play. In overtime, Meran had the better of the game after a nice attack and a Massimo Pietroniro finish into the far corner. Both teams are already firmly in the pre-playoffs.

Val Gardena misses decision, clear victories for Ritten and Unterland

The Rittner Buam had not yet got going in the intermediate round. They had only managed to get 2 out of 9 possible points. But on Thursday the home team celebrated not only a victory that is good for the table, but also for morale: Simon Kostner & Co. gave SG Cortina Hafro a real rebuff in the first meeting since losing the Italian championship final, sending them home with a score of 5:1.

As announced, Hjorth returned to the squad for the Rittner Buam SkyAlps, while coach Jamie Russell was still without Cuglietta, Lang, Jakob Prast and Soracreppa, but they were joined for the first time by Paul Prast, Jakob's little brother, alongside Innerhofer and Clericuzio. Once again, Ethan Szypula was the decisive man for Ritten with a hat trick.

Alan Lobis clearly beat Ritten Cortina. © Max Pattis

The second match of Group A was between Salzburg II and HC Gherdëina for the remaining ticket for the pre-playoff. The "Young Bulls" had lost all four games so far. But on Thursday the home team beat the Gröden team 4-3 after a penalty shootout and thus drew level in the table. The decision will therefore be made on Saturday.

Gröden took the lead in Salzburg thanks to a Cristellon rebound after Oskanen's shot. In the second period, the HCG came under pressure as they often do. The 1:1 result came after a solo effort by Korhonen. In the last period, Salzburg took the lead thanks to a Wimmer slap shot from the blue line. But Emil Oskanen outmaneuvered the goalkeeper eight minutes before the end of regular time and saved the Fury in overtime. Nothing happened there. In the penalty shootout, Philipp Wimmer scored twice and made the decision.

The Unterland Cavaliers celebrate a clear victory. © Vanna Antonello

The Underland Cavaliers have achieved their first victory in the Qualification Round, Group B after four previous defeats. The Crusaders beat the previously unbeaten guests from Bregenzerwald 4:1. The strong Latvian Daniels Murnieks was the decisive man with a hat trick. However, Unterland still has no control over whether they will advance.

AlpsHL: Thursday's games

Master round
Kitzbühel - Jesenice 2:3 nP
1:0 Maxa (05.11), 1:1 Silianpaa (33.43), 2:1 Christiansen (38.20), 2:2 Zajc (39.23), decisive penalty: Valtola
Audience: 715

Renon - Cortina 5:1
1:0 Szypula (03.43), 2:0 Szypula (38.46), 3:0 Insam (43.26), 4:0 Szypula (44.50), 5:0 Kostner (45.54), 5:1 Pompanin (52.11)
Audience: 347




Qualification Round, Group A

Salzburg - HC Gröden 3:2 nP
0:1 Cristellon (16.36), 1:1 Korhonen (35.39), 2:1 Wimmer (45.19), 2:2 Oksanen (53.46), decisive penalty: Wimmer.
Audience: 70

Wipptal Broncos - HC Meran 3:4 aet
1:0 Hackhofer (03.32), 1:1 Nakajima (15.33), 1:2 Chad Pietroniro (21.48), 2:2 Livingston (26.15), 2:3 Fuchs (33.08), 3:3 Capannelli (59.44), 3:4 Massimo Pietroniro (62.34)
Audience: 512




Qualification Round, Group B

Celje - Sisak 4:3
1:0 Jakupovic (05.13), 1:1 Smolec (05.31), 1:2 Bronte (10.45), 2:2 Sojer (21.38), 3:2 Sojer (33.40), 3:3 Dostalek (50.33), 4:3 Sojer (55.11)
Audience: 300

Unterland Cavaliers - Bregenzerwald 4:1
0:1 Lipsbergs (06.15), 1:1 Murnieks (14.44), 2:1 Sullmann (14.57), 3:1 Murnieks (16.20), 4:1 Murnieks (38.16)
Audience: 289