The Broncos now have 5th place in their own hands © Oskar Brunner

Preview: Wipptal now has it in its own hands

For most teams in the Alps Hockey League, the regular season ends this week and the final rankings after the regular season will be determined. The focus here is on the Wipptal Broncos, who are still fighting for a place in the Master Round.

27 January 2025

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The headline of the preview alone would have been unthinkable just a few weeks ago. When the Alps-HL took its first break at the beginning of November, the Wildpferde were in last place in the table, six points behind the second-to-last team. What followed was a terrific comeback by Eisendle & Co. If you only count the last 20 games, then the Broncos even in first place in the table with 1 points, just ahead of Ritten and Zell am See (both 44 points). Due to the botched start to the season, the blue-whites are now fighting for a place in the Master Round, which would also guarantee participation in the playoffs.

Thanks to Cortina's defeat at home against Kitzbühel on Sunday (0:8), the South Tyroleans now have it in their own hands and can advance into the top 5 on their own. To do this, Coach Sjöquist's boys "only" have to win the last three games. However, due to the balance and the names of the opponents (away in Jesenice and away in Cortina), this is no easy task. The Broncos start on Thursday with the home game against Sisak. The first difficult away game in Jesenice follows on Sunday, before a possible direct duel against Cortina next Tuesday.

Ritten is fighting for the title in the IHL-Serie-A this week © Max Pattis

For the Rittner Buam This week is not primarily about the Alps Hockey League. The team from Klobenstein is currently playing in the final of the IHL Serie A against Cortina. On Saturday, the South Tyroleans were narrowly defeated 5:4 in extra time in the first game and are eager for revenge. The reigning Italian champions will have this opportunity on Tuesday - at home. If the boys win this game, the decisive game 3 will take place in Cortina on Thursday. Finally, Insam & Co. will face Sisak away on Saturday.

Merano, Val Gardena and Bassa Atesina want to go even further up

The three remaining South Tyrolean teams will definitely miss the Master Round and will fight for the best possible starting position for the intermediate round. The best cards are held by HC Meran, which is currently in 8th place in the table. On Thursday, the Eagles will first meet Jesenice at home and on Saturday the away game against Kitzbühel follows. With a strong end to the season, the spa town team could still reach 7th place. Only one point behind are the Underland CavaliersThey have already announced their withdrawal from the Alps-HL and want to end their last season in the cross-border championship on a positive note. At the end of the regular season, the Cavaliers will face Celje at home (Tuesday), Salzburg away (Thursday) and the ECB at home again (Saturday).

The Red Lantern is still in the hands of the HCGThe Ladinians will do everything they can this week to hand it over to EC Bregenzerwald. With three rounds to go, the Furie are in last place, level on points with the team from Vorarlberg. They will face the Austrians on Tuesday. The away game in Zell am See follows on Thursday and the week will be rounded off with a home game against Celje.

IHL – Kaltern can secure first place

In the Italian Hockey League, the Pikes from Kaltern on Saturday against the second-placed team from Aosta. With a win, the Überetsch team would secure first place in the Master Round early. The HC Eppan will face Feltre in the only game of the week on Friday. In the Qualification Round, the Three Peaks Dolomites on Thursday in Fassa and on Saturday in Pergine. The Eisbären are still fighting to reach the playoffs. The defeated Falcons have to play against Pergine on Thursday and against Valpellice on Saturday.

Alps Hockey League, the program of the week:

Tuesday:
Jesenice – Salzburg (19.00)
Unterland – Celje (20.00)

Wednesday:
Bregenzerwald – Val Gardena (19.30 p.m.)

Thursday:
Celje – Kitzbühel (19.00)
Salzburg – Unterland (19.15)
Zell am See – Val Gardena (19.30)
Wipptal – Sisak (20.00)
Merano – Jesenice (20.30 p.m.)

Saturday:
Jesenice – Salzburg (18.00)
Unterland – Bregenzerwald (18.00 p.m.)
Sisak – Ritten (18.30 pm)
Kitzbühel – Meran (19.30)

Sunday:
Jesenice – Wipptal (18.00)
Val Gardena – Celje (20.30)

IHL, the games of the week

Master round

Friday:
Feltre – Eppan (20.30)

Saturday:
Kaltern – Aosta (19.30)
Alleghe – Varese (20.30 p.m.)




Qualification round:

Thursday:
Fassa – Three Peaks Dolomites (20.30)
Pergine – Brixen (20.30)
Valpellice – Valdifiemme (20.30 p.m.)

Saturday:
Brixen – Valpellice (18.00 p.m.)
Three Peaks Dolomites – Pergine (20.00)
Valdifiemme – Como (20.30)