SV Kaltern suffered a defeat.

In the semi-finals: Kaltern suffers a setback.

The Italian Hockey League (IHL) semi-final series kicked off on Saturday evening. Kaltern suffered a narrow home defeat in their opening game.

March 14, 2026

From: kei/det

Top of the regular season, undisputed champions of the Master Round, and ultimately clear winners in the quarterfinals against Feltre: SV Kaltern had been virtually unbeatable. However, that doesn't count for much in the semifinals. The team from Kaltern experienced this firsthand on Saturday evening. In the opening game of the best-of-five series, the "Pikes" suffered a surprising 2-4 defeat at home against Pergine. Their home advantage is thus gone.

Andrea Meneghini put the visitors from Pergine ahead 1-0 in the 3rd minute. Although Florian Wieser equalized shortly afterwards, the Überetsch team went into the first intermission trailing: Michael Sullmann shocked the 620 fans in the Raiffeisen Arena in the 12th minute, making it 2-1 for Pergine.

A comeback will not take place.

In the second period, Markus Korkiakoski initially increased the score to 3-1, but Moritz Selva rekindled the hopes of the Hechte fans shortly afterward, scoring after a pass from Jonas Oberrauch. However, the South Tyroleans were unable to score again. The visitors sealed the victory in the final minute with a goal into the empty net.

IHL Semifinals, Game 1 (Best-of-5)

Kaltern – Pergine 2:4
Goals: 0:1 Meneghini (02.46), 1:1 Wieser (09.39), 1:2 Sullmann (12.53), 1:3 Korkiakoski (26.22), 2:3 Selva (30.30), 2:4 Korkiakoski (59.08)
Audience: 620
Score in the series: 0:1

Aosta – Varese 4:3
1:0 Gesumaria (17.27), 1:1 Bastille (34.43), 2:1 Nimenko (35.12), 3:1 McNally (38.49), 4:1 Gesumaria (42.20), 4:2 Bastille (58.14), 4:3 Terzago (59.46)
Audience: 885
Score in the series: 1:0