HC Meran celebrates. © BK Photo

This HC Meran is always to be reckoned with

HC Merano has experienced a season start with ups and downs. But on Saturday, the Eagles showed what they're made of at the MeranArena.

11 October 2025

From: dl

How far will HC Merano go this year? Christian Borgatello's team is still a mystery. But one thing is certain: Since his takeover last year, the Black and Whites have matured into a true fighting force, undeterred by setbacks. On Saturday, the Merano team celebrated a well-deserved 3-1 home victory against Jesenice. Last year's finalists from Slovenia have only celebrated one victory this year and were in action at home against Kitzbühel just last Friday.

Accordingly, Jesenice appeared tired a day later. Nevertheless, the visitors took the lead out of nowhere midway through the second period. But Merano promptly responded through Tommaso Traversa, who was completely unmarked and slotted home to make it 1-1. In the closing stages of the game, Giovanni Mandruzza (he deflected a Nick Rein shot) and Samuel Claesson (on an empty net) secured the home team's more than deserved victory. Merano thus confirmed their form from the Cortina match.

Merano (in black) prevailed against Jesenice. © BK Photo

The Underland CavaliersThe Crusaders remain bottom of the table after a 5-2 home defeat to Bregenzerwald. The Vorarlberg team hadn't picked up a single point on the road before.

The Rittner Buam The Rittner Buam SkyAlps, on the other hand, continue to struggle to maintain consistency, losing 3-4 in a penalty shootout in Cortina. There was a surprise in the Rittner Buam SkyAlps squad, as Gianluca March took to the ice for the Blue-Reds, wearing the number 9. The Leiferer native is currently out of contract; he spent last season with EC Winterthur and then with HC La Chaux-de-Fonds in the Swiss first division, the Swiss League. Thus, the Rittners gained reinforcements from an excellent defender.

Val Gardena remains strong

The HC Val Gardena has also won its fourth home game of the season. The closest challenger to league leaders Sisak won 3-1 against Salzburg 2. The game began with Salzburg dominating, putting the Furie under considerable pressure with their running ability. Rindone, however, made several strong saves and was also fortunate that Justus Kaufmann only hit the post. The HCG rarely made an offensive appearance, but then struck with icy coolness: Dmitri Vozovik played a through ball to Adam Brady, who beat Valentin Ankirchner with a shot under his stick hand.

Val Gardena (in red) won again. © matthaeus kostner

Right at the start of the second period, the home team survived a tricky power play situation before scoring twice within 97 seconds. Davide Schiavone played the starring role. First, the Fassa native scored with a low shot on a quick counterattack, and shortly afterward, he and Matteo Luisetti combined beautifully to make it 3-0. Stephan Deluca could have even made it 4-0, but Ankirchner kept his team in the game, which repeatedly frustrated the outstanding Rindone.

AlpsHL: Saturday's games

Sisak – EC Kitzbühel 5:2
0:1 Podlipnik (09.35), 0:2 Krainz (13.32), 1:2 Idzan (14.49), 2:2 Idzan (15.35), 3:2 Marinkovic (42.37), 4:2 Dumcius (52.03), 5:2 Larionovs (58.04)
Audience: 1.682

Unterland Cavaliers – Bregenzerwald 2:5
0:1 Haiböck (23.09), 0:2 Kallioinen (30.35), 1:2 Potsinok (49.55), 1:3 Lipsbergs (50.39), 2:3 Potsinok (58.07), 2:4 Laaksonen (58.31), 2:5 Lipsbergs (59.26)
Audience: 327

HC Val Gardena – Red Bull Hockey Juniors 3:1
1:0 Brady (08.55), 2:0 Schiavone (22.42), 3:0 Schiavone (24.19), 3:1 Koschek (43.51)
Audience: 748

HC Meran – HDD Jesenice 3:1
0:1 Jakupovic (34.08), 1:1 Traversa (35.15), 2:1 Mandruzzato (56.00), 3:1 Claesson (59.41)
Audience: 450

SG Cortina – Rittner Buam 4:3 nP
0:1 Graf (15.13), 1:1 Chris Pietroniro (20.50), 1:2 Cuglietta (23.19), 2:2 Massimo Pietroniro (37.50), 3:2 Kalajanniska (54.12), 3:3 Kostner (57.49), 4:3 Fortunato
Audience: 174

HC Asiago – Zeller Eisbären 3:4
0:1 Coffman (09.59), 1:1 Parco (26.44), 2:1 Valentini (31.53), 2:2 Coffman (34.38), 2:3 Coffman (42.48), 2:4 Jennes (57.59), 3:4 Porco (59.51)
Audience: 1.093