Alps Hockey League: Wipptal Broncos reach semi-finals with “sweep” against Kitzbühel
Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan are the first team through to the semi-finals. The Sterzing side celebrated a 2:1 home win over Kitzbühel on Saturday and advanced to the next round with a “sweep”. While Rittner Buam SkyAlps secured match pucks, Hafro Cortina Hockey extended their season.
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As they did last season, Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan completed a “sweep” in the quarter-finals. The Sterzing team, which only qualified via the pre-play-offs, also won the fourth clash with Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel on Saturday and became the first side to reach the semi-finals. After a goalless first period, the home side took the lead through Nick Campoli (38th minute). Tim Geifes equalised for the visitors from Tyrol in the third period, but just three minutes later Sterzing regained the lead through a Sanvido goal. The Broncos held on to that narrow advantage until the final buzzer.
Rittner Buam SkyAlps claimed a convincing 5:2 win at HC Meran/o Pircher in front of 1.300 spectators. Captain Simon Kostner scored on the power play in the 15th minute to provide the only goal of the first period. The visitors extended their lead to 5:0 within seven minutes in the middle period, effectively deciding the contest. Meran at least added two goals in the closing minutes. The reigning champions therefore moved 3:1 ahead in the “best-of-7” quarter-final series and can reach the semi-finals in front of their home crowd on Tuesday.
After Hafro Cortina Hockey had lost the opening three games of the quarter-final series against Jesenice, the Italians celebrated a convincing 6:1 home win on Saturday. Although Olli Valtola gave the visitors an early lead, Cortina turned the game in their favour before the end of the first period. After the restart, the blue-and-whites put the game beyond doubt, opening up a 6:1 lead by the 36th minute. That remained the score until the final buzzer, with Riccardo Lacedelli scoring twice. Game five takes place in Slovenia on Tuesday.
Alps Hockey League – quarter-finals:
HC Meran/o Pircher vs. Rittner Buam SkyAlps 2:5 (0:1,0:4,2:0)
>> Scorers and statistics
Series score in the “best-of-7” series: 1:3
Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan vs. Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel 2:1 (0:0,1:0,1:1)
>> Scorers and statistics
Final score in the “best-of-7” series: 4:0
S.G. Cortina Hafro vs. SIJ Acroni Jesenice 6:1 (2:1,4:0,0:0)
>> Scorers and statistics
Series score in the “best-of-7” series: 1:3
EC Bregenzerwald vs. EK Die Zeller Eisbären
Sunday
Series score in the “best-of-7” series: 0:3
