Red Bull Hockey Juniors and EK Die Zeller Eisbären reach the final again

Just like the first legs on Wednesday and Thursday, both second-leg semi-finals in the Austrian Championship of the Alps Hockey League were extremely exciting and close.

The Red Bull Hockey Juniors, who had won the first leg away to EC Bregenzerwald 5:3 on Wednesday, fell behind 0:1 in the opening period while shorthanded through Luca Erne’s goal for the Vorarlberg side (19th minute). As the game progressed, it developed into a real thriller, with EC Bregenzerwald making it 2:0 through Mark Mußbacher in the final period (50th minute). 

The Vorarlberg side had levelled the aggregate score with just under ten minutes remaining. With no further goals, the contest went to overtime. There, Vasily Zelenov scored for the Salzburg side to make it 1:2 in the 62nd minute, sealing their place in the final with an aggregate score of 6:5.

Zeller Eisbären edge out EHC Lustenau

After the 4:4 draw in the first game on Thursday, EHC Lustenau took an early 1:0 lead through Lukas Haberl in the return leg in Zell am See (4th minute). In the second period, the Eisbären initially turned the game around: Fabio Artner scored twice, first on the power play (21th minute) and then in the 27th minute, to make it 2:1 for the home side. However, Lustenau hit back on the power play, with Valtteri Kukkola equalising at 2:2 (37th minute).

The two teams then served up an exciting contest in which neither side gave an inch. Following the 2:2 score after 60 minutes and an aggregate score of 6:6, overtime was needed to decide the tie. However, neither team could find the decisive goal there either, sending the game to the ultimate showdown: the penalty shoot-out.

Nicklas Huard scored the decisive penalty, with the Zeller Eisbären winning 3:2 and progressing to the final with an aggregate score of 7:6. The Austrian Championship final in the Alps Hockey League will therefore once again see Red Bull Hockey Juniors face EK Die Zeller Eisbären. Last year, the Eisbären claimed the title with an aggregate score of 4:3.

Austrian Championship semi-final, Alps Hockey League

Best-of-2 format

Play-off return leg:

Red Bull Hockey Juniors vs. EC Bregenzerwald 1:2 after overtime (0:1,0:0,0:1,1:0)
Sat., 13 January 2024, 19:15
Red Bull Hockey Juniors goalscorer: Vasily Zelenov (62.)
EC Bregenzerwald goalscorers: Luca Erne (19./PP1), Mark Mußbacher (50.)

Red Bull Hockey Juniorswith an aggregate score of6:5in the final.

EK Die Zeller Eisbären vs. EHC Lustenau 3:2 after a penalty shoot-out (0:1,2:1,0:0,0:0,1:0)
Sat., 13 January 2024, 19:30
Goalscorers EK Die Zeller Eisbären: Fabio Artner (21st/PP1, 27th), Nicklas Huard - decisive penalty
Goalscorers EHC Lustenau: Lucas Haberl (4th), Valtteri Kukkola (37th/PP1)

EK Die Zeller Eisbären reach the final with an aggregate score of 7:6.

Play-off first leg:

EHC Lustenau vs EK Die Zeller Eisbären 4:4 (1:0, 1:2, 2:2)
Thurs, 11 January 2024, 19:30
Goalscorers EHC Lustenau: Max Wennlund (11th, 42nd), Frederik Alasaari (32nd), Robin Wüstner (42nd)
Goalscorers EK Die Zeller Eisbären: Stephan Rossmann (24th), Maximilian Egger (27th), Max Stiegler (51st), Adis Alagic (57th)

EC Bregenzerwald vs. Red Bull Hockey Juniors 3:5 (2:3,1:1,0:1)
Wed, 10 January 2024, 19:30
Goalscorers EC Bregenzerwald: Philipp Pöschmann (6th), Richard Schlögl (20th), Laurin Wempe (38th),
Goalscorers Red Bull Hockey Juniors: Kalle Myllymaa (6th), Maximilian Wurzer (12th), Paul Vinzens (20th), Daniel Assavolyuk (27th), Vadim Schreiner (59th)