Wins for EK Zeller Eisbären and Adler Kitzbühel in the Alps Hockey League

EK Die Zeller Eisbären beat bottom side HC Gherdeina valgardena.it 3:0 in front of almost 2.700 fans, drawing level with league leaders Jesenice. The Slovenians play their next game against Meran on Friday. Zell struggled against Gröden for a long time, but their special teams ultimately made the difference. Robin Johansson gave the second-placed side the lead on a two-man advantage in the 38th minute. In the final period, the “Eisbären” excelled while shorthanded. They scored two shorthanded goals within 60 seconds in the 54th and 55th minutes.

Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel edged S.G. Cortina 2:1/SO in a tight, low-scoring game. It was already the Tyroleans' third consecutive victory. Cortina, meanwhile, suffered defeat for the first time after two successive wins. After a scoreless first half, Gregory DiTomaso gave the visitors the lead on the power play in the 32nd minute. Alex Maxa equalised for the “Adler” with twelve minutes remaining. Niklas Ketonen then converted the decisive penalty in the shootout for Kitzbühel, who are fourth in the standings and now hold a six-point lead over fifth-placed Cortina.

Defending champions Rittner Buam SkyAlps narrowly prevailed 3:2 in the derby at HC Meran/o Pircher. Kevin Fink scored the game-winner just 72 seconds before the final buzzer. In front of 1.482 fans, the home side from Meran had led 1:0 and 2:1. However, Ethan Szypula equalised for the visitors on each occasion. It was the forward's first two-goal game of the season. The 27-year-old has already scored a hat-trick once. It was a third consecutive victory for the third-placed side, while eighth-placed Meran suffered a fourth straight defeat.

Also on Thursday, sixth-placed KHL Sisak narrowly beat HK RST Pellet Celje 4:3, while Wipptal Broncos celebrated a convincing 5:1 away win at Hockey Unterland Cavaliers. The seventh-placed side were already 4:0 ahead after 33 minutes. The 21-year-old Thomas Galimberti scored his first two-goal game in the Alps Hockey League. Ninth-placed Unterland are six points behind the Cavaliers.

Sisak are immediately ahead of the Broncos in sixth place and hold a one-point advantage over Sterzing. In their narrow 4:3 home win against Celje, they were already 1:3 behind after 26 minutes. Vlastimil Dostalek eventually turned the game in favour of the league newcomers. Sisak's leading scorer first made it 2:3, before the Croatian also scored the game-winner seven minutes before the end. Ceje, who suffered their sixth consecutive defeat, have slipped to tenth in the standings.

Alps Hockey League:

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