EK Zeller Eisbären lose top spot after defeat to Jesenice

2.600 spectators witnessed a top encounter between EK Zeller Eisbären and HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice at the sold-out KE KELIT Arena. Following a scoreless first period, the Slovenians took the lead through Santeri Sillanpää, but the home side equalised through Hubert Berger just 26 seconds later. Anze Prostor restored Jesenice's lead in the 29th minute. Olli Valtonen extended the lead early in the third period, but Zell am See fought their way back into the game. However, Jaka Sturm sealed the result with an empty-net goal eight seconds before the final buzzer. With their sixth consecutive win, Jesenice also took over top spot in the Alps Hockey League.

Rittner Buam SkyAlps remain in third place behind the leading duo. The reigning AHL champions won 5:3 at bottom side Gröden. Alan Lobis gave the visitors the lead with the first of his two goals in front of more than 1.250 fans. However, Brad McGowan equalised for the “Furie” one second before the end of the period. Ritten then opened up a 3:1 lead within a few minutes in the middle period, while Markus Spinell appeared to settle the game ten minutes from time. Gröden did not give up, though, and pulled back to 3:4, before an empty-net goal ultimately sealed Ritten's victory.

Fourth-placed Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel became the first team this season to reach the 100-goal mark with their 7:1 home win over Celje. In front of 1.250 spectators, the Tyroleans took the lead through Jannik Fröwis after 33 seconds. Although the Slovenians equalised temporarily, Kitzbühel regained the lead in the first period and extended it to 3:1 in the middle period. Fröwis completed his hat-trick with two further goals in the third period as Kitzbühel ultimately celebrated a clear victory.

Hafro Cortina Hockey returned to winning ways with an overtime victory in Meran, with the visitors, who remain in fifth place, winning 3:2 in front of nearly 1.100 fans. After Meran took an early lead through Trivellato in the 2nd minute, Leonardo Felicetti equalised while shorthanded. The home side regained the lead through Daniel Gellon in the middle period, but Felicetti's second goal sent the game into overtime. Gregory DiTomaso then scored the away winner on the power play.

With their third consecutive win, Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan moved up to seventh place. The team from Sterzing won at home against Hockey Unterland Cavaliers. The visitors led 2:0 after 31 minutes, but James Livingston sparked the comeback with the first of his two goals. The home side equalised early in the third period before Livingston made it 3:2 on a two-man advantage. The Broncos eventually won 5:2.

In front of more than 1.350 spectators, EC Bregenzerwald avenged yesterday's defeat against KHL Sisak. After a scoreless first period, the Vorarlberg side took the lead through Roberts Lipsbergs while shorthanded and were 3:1 ahead after the middle period. The home side sealed the result within two minutes in the third period and ultimately left the ice with a 5:2 victory.

Alps Hockey League:

Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan vs. Hockey Unterland Cavaliers 5:2 (0:1,1:1,4:0)
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EC Bregenzerwald vs. KHL Sisak 5:2 (0:0,3:1,2:1)
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Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel vs. HK RST Pellet Celje 7:1 (2:1,1:0,4:0)
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EK Die Zeller Eisbären vs. SIJ Acroni Jesenice 2:4 (0:0,1:2,1:2)
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HC Meran/o Pircher vs. S.G. Cortina Hafro 2:3 OT (1:1,1:0,0:1,0:1)
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HC Gherdeina valgardena.it vs. Rittner Buam SkyAlps 3:5 (1:1,0:2,2:2)
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