Cortina rejoices, the lowlands lament. © Giorgia Costantini

Unterland leads, but then collapses completely.

For the Unterland Cavaliers, HC Meran and the Wipptal Broncos, the intermediate round in the Alps Hockey League (AlpsHL) began with disappointments on Thursday evening.

February 05, 2026

From: leo

Although the Unterland Cavaliers finished the regular season 15 points behind the second-to-last team, their playoff chances are still intact. A win on Thursday in Pieve di Cadore against Cortina would have suddenly brought them a step closer to at least the pre-playoffs. Instead, Artur Seniut and his teammates suffered a crushing 2-7 defeat.

At the beginning of January, Harjula's team had snatched a 4-3 victory from Pieve di Cadore. The visitors laid the foundation for a repeat performance on Thursday, taking a 1-0 lead after Erik Potsinok's goal in the seventh minute. However, what happened in the second period was almost inexplicable. Within ten minutes, Cortina turned a 1-0 deficit into a 4-1 lead. Massimo and Chad Pietroniro, Filippo Pompanin, and Oskari Kalajanniska all beat Cavs goalie Tiziano Giovanelli. There was no response in the final period; instead, Cortina extended their lead to 7-1. Erik Potsinok's goal was merely a consolation.

Merano takes a point with

Nevertheless, after the first of six matchdays, Unterland is only two points behind HC Meran, who simultaneously squandered a 2-0 lead in Kitzbühel and lost 2-3 in a penalty shootout. Reid Stefanson gave HCM a perfect start after just 44 seconds, before Patrick Tomasini added another goal on the power play in the ninth minute. However, Matthias Mader initiated the comeback in the first period, which Kirill Maksimov continued and which was completed by Mai Crnkic in the penalty shootout.

Liam Nardon and his teammates stood no chance against the Zell am See Polar Bears led by Ethan Szypula. © EKZ/Radlwimmer

Meanwhile, the Wipptal Broncos, who have already qualified for the playoffs, experienced a night to forget, suffering a crushing 2-7 defeat against EK Zell am See in the Master Round. After Connor Sanvido tied the game at 1-1 with 28 seconds remaining in the first period, the Eisbären turned on the style. Led by former Ritten player Ethan Szypula, who scored a hat trick, the defending champions pulled away to a 7-1 lead. Wipptal managed only a consolation goal through Davide Conci.

Alps Hockey League:

Master round

KHL Sisak – Red Bull Juniors 4:0
Goals: 1:0 Larionovs (13.50), 2:0 Cavlovic (20.30), 3:0 Yeob (24.37), 4:0 Dobric (37.41)
Audience: 1148

EK Zell am See – Wipptal Broncos 7:2
Goals: 1:0 Putnik (6.18), 1:1 Sanvido (19.32), 2:1 Steffler (21.51), 3:1 Szypula (27.33), 4:1 Coffman (35.21), 5:1 Szypula (36.47), 6:1 Szypula (46.55), 7:1 Zauner (54.49), 7:2 Conci (56.27)
Audience: 1790


Qualification Round A

EC Kitzbühel – HC Meran 3:2 nP
Goals: 0-1 Stefanson (0:44), 0-2 Tomasini (8:40), 1-2 Mader (16:12), 2-2 Maksimov (41:39); decisive penalty: Crnkic
Audience: 724

SG Cortina – Unterland Cavaliers 7:2
Goals: 0:1 Erik Potsinok (6.18), 1:1 Massimo Pietroniro (22.46), 2:1 Chad Pietroniro (26.35), 3:1 Pompanin (28.04), 4:1 Kalajanniska (32.49), 5:1 Massimo Pietroniro (41.24), 6:1 Chad Pietroniro (48.00), 7:1 Kalajanniska (50.17), 7:2 Erik Potsinok (55.03)
Audience: 100