Kitzbühel and Zeller Eisbären in the AHL final for the Austrian Cham­pi­onship

With the Red Bull Hockey Juniors vs. EK Die Zeller Eisbären clash, which the Juniors won 2:0, the regular season of the Austrian Championship in the Alps Hockey League was concluded on Tuesday. The matches from the completed home-and-away round (= the respective 1 home and 1 away match) of the Alps Hockey League regular season were used and assessed.

The two highest-ranked Austrian teams after the regular season will contest the final, which had already been confirmed before the final regular-season game: EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel will face EK Zeller Eisbären in the 2024/2025 final for the Austrian Championship in the Alps Hockey League. The Champions Hockey League format will be used on 6 and 8 February, with the higher-ranked club – Kitzbühel – starting away from home (overall Austrian Championship standings in the ALPS Hockey League).

The aggregate score (points and goals) from the two completed matches will be used. Overtime and a penalty shootout can only take place in the second leg if the aggregate score is tied. In this case, there will be a 10-minute sudden-death overtime period played three-on-three. Should overtime end goalless, a shootout with five shooters per team will follow.

Zeller Eisbären not yet in the playoffs after defeat to Juniors

To secure a place in the top five and thus qualify for the Alps Hockey League playoffs early, EK Die Zeller Eisbären needed an away win in regulation time on Tuesday evening. Instead, they suffered a 0:2 defeat. Red Bull Hockey Juniors produced a very strong performance and took the lead through Leon Kolarik in the sixth minute. The 17-year-old also scored the second goal of the game in the 40th minute.

It was the Vienna native's first two-goal game in his eighth Alps Hockey League match. The forward now has 20 points in total. In goal, 19-year-old Valentin Ankirchner recorded his first shutout of the season. The German stopped all 26 shots he faced. For Zell am See, it was their first defeat of the season against the Juniors and one of just three defeats from their past five games.

Alps Hockey League:

Red Bull Hockey Juniors vs. EK Die Zeller Eisbären 2:0 (1:0,1:0,0:0)
>> Goalscorers and statistics

Austrian Championship ALPS Hockey League season 2024/2025

Final – first leg:

EK Zeller Eisbären vs. EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel

Thu, 06 February 2025, 19:30 hrs, KE KELIT Arena

Final – second leg:

EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel vs. EK Zeller Eisbären

Sat, 08 February 2025, 19:00 hrs, Sportpark Kitzbühel