Zeller Eisbären crowned Austrian Alps Hockey League cham­pions after thriller

For a long time, the scores remained level at nil in Salzburg's Eisarena, although both teams had created high-quality chances in the opening 40 minutes.

At the start of the final period, Fabio Artner put Zeller Eisbären 1:0 ahead in the 41st minute, reducing the aggregate deficit to 1:3. Frederik Widen made it 2:0 in the 52nd minute, setting up a thrilling finale.

The Juniors then began to feel the pressure, while Head Coach Mike Flanagan's team was suddenly fully alert and pushed on. In the heated closing stages, the Eisbären pulled goaltender Max Zimmermann and the gamble paid off: once again, Frederik Widen made it 3:0 for Zeller Eisbären just seconds before the end of regulation time.

The visitors had thus levelled the 0:3 result from the first leg, sending the return leg into overtime. In the 64th minute, Fabian Artner fired the Pinzgau side to the title with the 4:0 goal.

Austrian Alps Hockey League National Championship Final

Red Bull Hockey Juniors vs. EK Zeller Eisbären 0:4 n.V. (0:0,0:0,0:3,0:1)
Sat., 11 February 2023, 19:15, Eisarena Salzburg
EK Zeller Eisbären goalscorers: Fabio Artner (41th), Frederik Widen (52nd, 60th), Fabio Artner (64th)

EK Zeller Eisbären vs. Red Bull Hockey Juniors 0:3 (0:0, 0:1, 0:2)
Thu., 09 February 2023, 19:30, Eishalle Zell am See
Red Bull Hockey Juniors goalscorers: Aljaz Predan (25th, 45th), Nikolaus Heigl (57th)

EK Zeller Eisbären crowned Austrian Alps Hockey League champions with an aggregate score of 4:3