Riku Ishida (right) scored the decisive goal for Merano. © BK PHOTO / Baumgartner Kevin

Ritten falls apart: Ishida completes Merano’s comeback

Ice hockey was played again in South Tyrol this weekend. On Saturday evening, all five local teams were in action in the Alps Hockey League, although their league debuts went quite differently.

September 21, 2024

From: do

For Ritten, the mission in the first game of the new Alps Hockey League season was clear. As the reigning champions, only three points counted - especially in the explosive derby against the Eagles from Merano. For long stretches of the game, it really looked as if the favorites had the three points in the bag. But an irresistible comeback from Merano turned the result completely on its head in overtime and the Eagles won 5:4 against the Buam.

That was not the only reason why it was a special evening in the spa town. Before the game, the Eagles said goodbye to Christian Borgatello, Luca Ansoldi and Sebastian Thaler, with which the club thanked the three players for their years of sporting and personal support.

Nevertheless, Ritten was the better team in the first two thirds, that had to be said. There were two reasons for this at the beginning: Firstly, Colin Furlong, one of the best goalkeepers in the league, was in goal for Ritten, who initially blocked everything that was fired at his goal. Secondly, the boys' offense was already very composed and cool-headed on Saturday evening so early in the season. Markus Spinell was particularly able to say this, as he beautifully converted a solo effort to make it 3-1 (23.16).

The eagles extend their claws

Nevertheless, the Eagles deserve praise. Meran stood in the way of the boys with all their might throughout the game, tried everything and had a number of good opportunities. While these were stopped by Furlong or flew next to the goal in the first two thirds, the spa town team suddenly stepped up a gear in the last ten minutes of the game when the score was 1:4.

Colin Furlong in goal for Rittner had a lot to do. © BK PHOTO / Baumgartner Kevin

This resulted in a nervous match in which the opposing players repeatedly clashed and often found themselves in the penalty box. Meran's offense was under pressure with a three-goal deficit shortly before the end - and delivered. Within a few minutes, the Eagles made it 4:4 and completely took the Ritten team by surprise. The match went into overtime, completely unexpectedly.

The 3-on-3 match was then about the coveted derby victory. The boys' self-confidence was already at rock bottom after the missed lead - and it got even worse. The Adler's new Japanese signing Riku Ishida put his stamp on the Alps Hockey League for the first time and scored the well-deserved 5:4 (61.26) in overtime - and the Meranarena and its 800 spectators trembled.

Broncos celebrate opening win

The Wipptal Broncos also celebrated a successful start to the season. They beat HK Celje with a convincing 5:2. The reaction of the Broncos was particularly positive, as they did not let themselves be unsettled by a quick 0:2 deficit in the first six minutes. With five unanswered goals, they showed the Slovenians who was in charge in the Wipptal. The initial concerns about the defense that existed before the season seemed to be confirmed in the first few minutes. But after the early shock, the Wipptalers showed an outstanding fighting spirit and an effective offensive game.

Wipptal celebrated five times against Celje. © Oskar Brunner

While people in Merano and Wipptal went to bed contentedly, people in Val Gardena and Unterland were frowning. This was not how they had imagined the league start. The Furies didn't stand a chance in their duel with the Kitzbühler Adler and lost with a clear 1:5, while the Cavaliers also returned from Salzburg with zero points. The Unterland team suffered a narrow 1:3 defeat against the Zeller Eisbären.

Saturday, 1st matchday, AlpsHL

Wipptal Broncos – HK Celje 5:2
Goals: 0:1 Sotlar (3.10), 0:2 Tsarkovskyi (6.14), 1:2 De Lorenzo Meo (16.57), 2:2 Zecchetto (25.08), 3:2 Capannelli (30.05), 4:2 Sanche (50.27 ), 5:2 (56.34)
Audience: 515

Kitzbühel EC – HC Gherdeina 5:1
Goals: 1:0 Christiansen (12.21), 2:0 Ren (13.26), 3:0 Ketonen (13.55), 4:0 Schutz (41.26), 4:1 Di Cicco (44.40), 5:1 Ren (57.02)
Audience: 412

EC Bregenzerwald – Jesenice 2:3 nP
Goals: 0:1 Pecnik (2.40), 1:1 Lipsbergs (26.26), 1:2 Selan (26.59), 2:2 Lebeda (52.19), 2:3 Svetina decisive penalty
Audience: 461

Zeller Eisbären – Unterland Cavaliers 3:1
Goals: 1:0 McLeod (18.15), 2:0 Lindner (33.08), 2:1 Pisetta (36.50), 3:1 Putnik (47.14)
Audience: 1789

HC Meran – Rittner Buam 5:4 nV
Goals: 1:0 Gellon (5.50), 1:1 Szypula (16.18), 1:2 Insam (19.09), 1:3 Spinell (23.16), 1:4 Prast (49.40), 2:4 Trivellato (53.13), 3:4 Pietroniro (56.45), 4:4 Tomasini (57.57), 5:4 Ishida (63.04)
Audience: 800