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Daniel Mantenuto scored for HC Bozen against Fehervar. © Soós Attila
Wild finale: Bolzano hasn't forgotten how to win.
After three narrow defeats in a row, HCB Südtirol Alperia has returned to winning ways in the ICE Hockey League. The Foxes won in Szekesfehervar on Wednesday evening after a spectacular final.
14 January 2026
From: dl
In the first of eight games scheduled over the next 18 days before the Olympic break, HC Bozen defeated Hydro Fehervar 4-3. The Foxes' victory was well-deserved. The visitors from South Tyrol were the better team, especially in the first and last periods, but once again revealed their defensive weaknesses.
HC Bolzano impressed in Hungary with their penalty killing and strong offense. However, the Bolzano team remains fragile even under new coach Doug Shedden: The visitors conceded two goals in just 28 seconds during the second period, allowing Fehervar to temporarily turn the game around. This needs to change if Bolzano wants to compete for the title in this evenly matched league.
Christopher Gibson was in goal for HCB. © Soós Attila
In the absence of Gianluca Vallini, Mark Barberio, and the recently injured Jason Seed, Chris Gibson guarded the Foxes' net on Wednesday. Christian Gamper served as backup to keep a foreign player slot open for an extra attacker. Shane Gersich then decided the game in Bolzano's favor with just 53 seconds remaining. The former Stanley Cup champion scored twice within two and a half minutes, remaining unfazed even after the home team had tied the game at 3-3.
The highlights
| Mantenuto says thank you | After a combination between Digiacinto and Gildon, Reijola's shot goes wide. The Fehervar goalie doesn't look good there. Mantenuto gratefully accepts the gift and scores his fourth goal of the season on the rebound five minutes before the first intermission. |
| Fehervar's double strike | Midway through the second period, Fehervar turned the game around in just half a minute. First, Terbocs broke through unchallenged from the boards into the slot and lifted the puck over Gibson's pads and into the net. Moments later, Gerlach passed to Hari, who found plenty of space in the high slot. With Gibson's view obstructed, Hari was able to fire the puck into the top corner. |
| Gersich turns it up a notch | Only four minutes into the final period, HCB equalized: McClure fired a shot through the traffic and into the net, leaving goalie Reijola with little to see. Three minutes before the end, Gersich powered through, shifted the puck onto his backhand at the last moment, and put it in the net. A beautiful goal for HCB and a well-deserved lead, which Fehervar equalized just 60 seconds later through Hari. With one minute remaining, Gersich struck again, sealing the victory with a one-timer after a beautiful setup by Gildon. |
HC Bozen's next game is on Friday evening. They host league newcomer Ferencvaros Budapest at 7:45 pm in the Sparkasse Arena. At the same time, HC Pustertal welcomes the Black Wings from Linz.
Hydro Fehervar AV19 – HCB Südtirol Alperia 3:4
Fehervar: Horvath (Reijola); Stipsics-Messner, Horvath-Campbell, Kiss-Stajnoch, Falus; Erdely-Bartailis-Kuralt, Archibald-Hari-Gerlach, Kulmala-Richards-Cheek, Mihaly-Nemeth-Terbocs.Coach: Dent
HSBC: Gibson (Gamper); Valentine-Samuelsson, Gildon-Cairns, Miglioranzi-Di Perna, Larcher-Gennaro; Frank-Misley-Brunner, Pollock-Gersich-Gazley, Schneider-Bradley-McClure, Frigo-Mantenuto-Digiacinto.
Coach: Shedden
Gates: 0:1 Mantenuto (14.36), 1:1 Terbocs (31.59), 2:1 Hari (32.27), 2:2 McClure (44.17), 2:3 Gersich (56.34), 3:3 Hari (57.35), 3:4 Gersich (59.07)
Viewers: 3.160
ICE: The next Wednesday game
Black Wings Linz – Ferencvaros Budapest 5:11:0 St-Amant (04.38), 2:0 Maver (06.08), 3:0 Moro (15.51), 4:0 Green (16.27), 4:1 Kristler (23.17), 5:1 Maver (58.17)
Audience: 3.633
The table
| SP | G | U | V | TV | P | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. EC Klagenfurt | 36 | 25 | 0 | 11 | 126:85 | 77 |
| 2. Graz99ers | 36 | 25 | 0 | 11 | 119:77 | 75 |
| 3. HCB South Tyrol | 36 | 22 | 0 | 14 | 129:91 | 69 |
| 4. EC Salzburg | 37 | 24 | 0 | 13 | 121:76 | 69 |
| 5. Olimpija Ljubljana | 38 | 23 | 0 | 15 | 139:106 | 65 |
| 6. HC Pustertal | 35 | 20 | 0 | 15 | 122:97 | 60 |
| 7. Fehervar | 37 | 17 | 0 | 20 | 89:116 | 52 |
| 8. Linz | 37 | 18 | 0 | 19 | 119:119 | 49 |
| 9. Ferencvarosi | 37 | 14 | 0 | 23 | 99:132 | 47 |
| 10. Vienna Capitals | 36 | 15 | 0 | 21 | 89:108 | 46 |
| 11. EC Villach | 35 | 14 | 0 | 21 | 108:120 | 44 |
| 12. Vorarlberg | 35 | 11 | 0 | 24 | 85:142 | 33 |
| 13. HC Innsbruck | 37 | 8 | 0 | 29 | 89:165 | 22 |
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