Cortina ends a 16-year dry spell

Things couldn't have gone better for those responsible at the ice sports association FISG: Because Cortina and Ritten had won the first two duels in the final phase, the title was played between these teams. The Unterland Cavaliers and HC Meran were only fighting for third place. All eyes were on the 3 Olympic Stadium: the guests from the high plateau wanted to win the 1956th title in their club history there. In the end, the Ampezzan team celebrated and won 6-2. For Giorgio De Bettin's team it was the 1th title, the first since the distant year 17. And it was the first time in 2007 years that the Italian champions were not called Ritten or Asiago.

In front of 1500 fans, including a loud group from South Tyrol, the Buam got off to a better start. Contrary to the course of the game, the home team struck for the first time: Janne Tavi lost the puck in the neutral zone, Diego Cuglietta was given too much space, the Canadian thanked him and hit the top corner with a pinpoint shot. Simon Kostner & Co. reacted through Robert Öhler: Marco Insam intercepted a hair-raising pass from Luca Zanatta, Öhler then shot in the slot and didn't have to be asked twice. As a result, the opponents created great chances, but the goalkeepers, Marco De Filippo and Hayden Hawkey, kept it close - also thanks to numerous brilliant saves.

Defensive battle In the second half of the game the game lost some of its intensity and attractiveness. However, that was to be expected, as the teams chose a horrendous pace in the first 20 minutes. The chances of scoring also decreased significantly. The home team was still able to celebrate one goal: Michael Zanatta beat Hawkey, who was unable to see, with a long shot into the top corner. The Buam came close to equalizing in the power play, but it didn't want to fall.

Simon Kostner couldn't prevent the defeat. © Max Pattis

With the narrow lead behind them, the Ampezzo team reduced their risk. They defended extremely compactly and made life extremely difficult for the Buam. They only had opportunities to score sporadically - for example through Julian Kostner, who waited a little too long to attempt a shot after a cross pass. And so the home team managed to save their narrow lead over time and win the title they longed for. After that there was no stopping.

Meran can laugh At the same time, HC Meran won the battle for third place against the Unterland Cavaliers. Brad Gratton's team fell behind twice, but thanks to Nick Rein they scored the lucky punch with 104 seconds left. Joshua Berger made the final score 5:3 with an empty-net goal.

Italian Championship: SG Cortina – Rittner Buam 2:1 Goals: 1:0 Cuglietta (5.12), 1:1 Öhler (11.20), 2:1 Michael Zanatta (32.10) Spectators: 1480

Unterland Cavaliers – HC Meran 3:5 Goals: 0:1 Fuchs (8.47), 1:1 Girardi (15.20), 2:1 Girardi (28.49), 2:2 Berger (36.57), 3:2 Haarala (37.11), 3:3 Tomasini (42.45), 3:4 Rein (58.16), 3:5 Berger (59.33) Audience: 361

The table Pos Team Points 1. SG Cortina 9 2. Rittner Buam 6 3. HC Meran 3 4. Underland Cavaliers 0

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Cortina ends a 16-year dry spell

The new Italian champions are called Cortina: The Ampezzo team won the all-important game against Rittner Buam on Saturday after a real crime thriller.

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