Dominik Groh drove Merano to despair. © Daniel Frusone

Devilish Groh casts a spell on the Broncos to derby victory

Thanks to an outstanding performance by goalkeeper Dominik Groh, the Wipptal Broncos won their third game of the season against HC Meran on Thursday evening. The evening, however, was a bitter one for the Unterland Cavaliers.

22 January 2026

From: leo

After finishing third in the Italian Championship, the Wipptal Broncos continued their league campaign in the Alps Hockey League (AlpsHL). Goaltender Dominik Groh faced his favorite opponent: HC Meran. Despite having to stop a total of 98 shots in three games this season, he only allowed two goals against the Eagles, resulting in a save percentage of 97,9 percent (!). He was also the key player on the ice in Thursday's 2-1 victory.

The 330 spectators witnessed a breakneck start to the game. Just 145 seconds had elapsed when Daniel Soraruf cut inside from the right, fired a shot, and watched as Alex Zecchetto tapped in the rebound. The Borgatello team quickly recovered from this early shock: only two and a half minutes later, Patrick Tomasini finished off a swift counter-attack initiated by Daniel Gellon.

The power play decides

From then on, an extremely evenly matched game developed, in which neither team could gain a decisive advantage. The Broncos repeatedly weakened themselves with numerous penalties. By the midpoint of the game, Paul Eisendle and his teammates had already accumulated ten penalty minutes, but Meran failed to capitalize on any of their five power plays – the score was 1-1 after 40 minutes.

Franco Sproviero scored the winning goal. © Wipptal Broncos

The Adler's missed power plays would prove costly: When Rasmus Nousiainen was sent to the penalty box, Franco Sproviero struck. Sproviero's shot into the top corner left HCM goalie Andreas Bernard with no chance. His counterpart, Groh, then secured the Broncos victory.

At the same time, the reigning champions Zell am See gave the Unterland Cavaliers a lesson. Tuomo Harjula's team lost 2-7 after a blackout in the second period, during which the Eisbären scored three times within 71 seconds. Erik Potsinok and Thomas Galimberti scored the Unterland goals to make it 1-5 and 2-6, respectively.

Alps Hockey League:

KHL Sisak – Red Bull Salzburg 6:5
Goals: 1:0 Larionovs (00.36), 2:0 Idzan (6.52), 2:1 Kalajanniska (12.09), 3:1 Juric (15.35), 3:2 Pompanin (23.03), 4:2 Dumcius (49.28), 4:3 Stöffling (51.40), 5:3 Juric (52.58), 6:3 Puzic (55.39), 6:4 Massimo Pietroniro (55.54), 6:5 Massimo Pietroniro (56.32)
Audience: 1562

HC Asiago – Red Bull Salzburg 6:5 aet
Goals: 0:1 Juhola (3.29), 0:2 Baumann (6.41), 1:2 Magnabosco (15.37), 2:2 Porco (24.16), 3:2 Mbow (29.59), 4:2 Rigoni (34.58), 5:2 Porco (36.18), 5:3 Warnecke (40.28), 5:4 Juhola (42.22), 5:5 Gesson (59.48), 6:5 Bellini (54.54)
Audience: 1630

Wipptal Broncos – HC Meran 2:1
Goals: 1:0 Zecchetto (2.25), 1:1 Tomasini (5.03), 2:1 Sproviero (49.19)
Audience: 332

Unterland Cavaliers – EK Zell am See 2:7
Goals: 0:1 Schmid (8.52), 0:2 Huard (18.10), 0:3 Wilfan (37.30), 0:4 Stiegler (37.37), 0:5 Huard (38.41), 1:5 Erik Potsinok (39.58), 1:6 Szypula (43.26), 2:6 Galimberti (53.10), 2:7 Stiegler (57.42)
Audience: 289