HCB loses Game 4: First final defeat in 22 years is imminent

It was in the spring of 1999 when HC Bozen clearly lost 1-0 to HC Meran in the final of the then Serie A3. In the same season, the record champions also lost to VEU Feldkirch in the final of the parallel Alpine League. Since then, the HCB has triumphantly crowned all of its participations in a championship final, six in number, with a title. This proud series could come to an end on Tuesday.

Klagenfurt AC won the fourth game in the exhibition hall at home 2-1 after extra time and is now only one step away from the title in the series at 3-1. The Foxes' third defeat was extremely unfortunate, because after conceding a lightning goal in the 16th second of the game, they were extremely strong at times - driven by Anton Bernard. In the end, the captain would become a tragic hero. Fastest final goal in league history But first things first: HCB made a classic false start in its second away game of the series and was unrecognizable for the first ten minutes. Which was also because Matt Fraser hit the mark after just 16 seconds. Bozen wasn't even in possession of the target yet when the KAC legionnaire stood in the right place in the turmoil and scored to make it 1-0. It was the fastest final goal in league history. The South Tyroleans' engine only really started to heat up towards the middle of the starting third, and from then on both teams were completely equal.

The flow of play on the ice was temporarily interrupted before the half-time siren when referee Ladislav Smetana collided with Fraser. The referee remained lying down for a long time and did not come back onto the ice after the third break.

Referee Ladislav Smetana was unable to continue after a collision. © APA / EXPA/JOHANN GRODER

Replacement referee Stefan Siegel stepped in and helped ensure that the special teams were used almost exclusively in the middle section. Against Bozen alone, five minor penalties were imposed in the second 20 minutes, but a strong Leland Irving in goal and excellent penalty killing saved the Foxes from falling behind. In the 38th minute, Dan Catenacci, coming from the penalty box, found the guests' best chance to date, but he was denied by Sebastian Dahm in a one-on-one.

The KAC goalie once again offered an outstanding performance, but he was lucky with Catenacci's second big chance immediately after the second break when he was unable to put the puck in the almost empty goal. It was the starting signal of an intense phase of pressure from the South Tyroleans, whose equalizer was now literally in the air. In the 48th minute the time had come: Stefano Giliati sent Angelo Miceli on his way, who was denied by Dahm, but Bernard put the rebound into the net. It was a gift to himself, because the in-form HCB captain is celebrating his 32nd birthday this Sunday. It would later come to a bitter end. Birthday boy Bernard the tragic hero In any case, the Foxes really tasted blood with the 1-1 draw and subsequently pushed for the decision. However, they were just as unlucky in the end as the Klagenfurt team were with their occasional pinpricks. And so it went into extra time. This was less than three minutes old when Bernard appeared again - but this time in a negative way. A freeing attempt by the center went over the plexiglass, resulting in a two-minute penalty. While the KAC had previously acted without fortune in the power play, this time they took advantage of Bernard's mishap in an ice-cold manner. After a one-two with Nick Petersen, Blaz Gregorc humorlessly nailed the puck into the far corner with a one-timer and ensured sudden death for the Foxes.

On Tuesday (from 19.30 p.m. in SportNews -Live ticker), the series moves back to the ice wave, where there is only one motto for Bolzano: win and avoid the first final defeat in 22 years! Klagenfurter AC – HCB Südtirol Alperia 2:1 aet KAC: Dahm (Madlener); Steffler-Vallant, Strong-Schumnig, Unterweger-Gregorc, Kernberger-Cijan; Fraser-Koch-Haudum, Ganahl-Ticar-Petersen, Bischofberger-Hundredppound-Witting, Stefan Geier-Manuel Geier-Obersteiner Coach: Matikainen

HSBC: Irving (Fazio); Robertson-Youds, Plastino-Di Perna, Fournier-Tauferer, Pietroniro; Halmo-Catenacci-Bardaro, Frank-Findlay-Gazley, Frigo-Bernard-Miceli, Giliati-Alberga-Deluca, Pitschieler Coach: Ireland

Gates: 1:0 Matt Fraser (0.16), 1:1 Anton Bernard (47.25), 2:1 Blaz Gregorc (63.25)

Best of 7 series: 3:1

Further game date: April 20th, possibly April 23rd and 25th.

Here you can read the complete gameplay, including additional pictures.

ICE Regular Season ICE	SP	TV	P
1. Klagenfurt	47	183:101	102
2. Fehervar	46	146:126	89
3. Salzburg	46	142:107	87
4. HCB South Tyrol	46	137:125	76
5. Linz	46	146:116	75
6. Villach	46	155:136	74
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HCB loses Game 4: First final defeat in 22 years is imminent

HCB Südtirol Alperia had never lost in extra time this season - until this Sunday, in what was possibly the most important game of the year. Klagenfurt has broken the spell and is on the verge of winning the title in the ICE Hockey League after its third final victory.

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