HC Meran/o Pircher follows HC Gherdeina valgardena.it into the final of the Alps Hockey League. This means that for the first time in the league’s ten-year history, two teams from South Tyrol are in the final – at the same time, for the first time, they are the two weakest seeded teams (HCM – 7th, GHE – 8th). In the decisive seventh semi-final game at the KHL Sisak in front of 2,300 fans, Meran narrowly won 3-2 in a close and dramatic game and celebrated reaching the final for the first time. The start of the premiere final series will take place on Saturday in Meran.
It was the expected exciting showdown for the second final ticket between Sisak and Meran. In the end, the guests narrowly had the upper hand 3-2 – it was the South Tyroleans’ second away win in the current series. They laid the foundation for victory in the first third: Rasmus Nousiainen (13th) and Jakob Fuchs (15th) made it 2-0 with a quick brace.
After the restart, it took less than four minutes for the home team to respond for the first time and turn the Ledena dvorana Zibel into a madhouse. Kim Sang Yeob scored after Vito Idzan’s assist. Throughout the entire second third, Sisak recorded significantly more shots – at the end of the game, the hosts had 50 shots on goal compared to Meran’s 30. But in the 32nd minute Brayden Sherbinin was there and increased the score to 3-1 for the Eagles. They went into the second break with a two-goal lead.
This lasted until the 53rd minute, when Nejc Brus was able to overcome HCM goalie Andreas Bernard and initiated an extremely exciting final phase. As a result, however, Sisak no longer had any great chances, so Meran was able to celebrate a narrow victory in the end and reach the final for the first time.
The surprise final begins on Saturday in Merano
Now it’s time for the big surprise final against HC Gherdeina valgardena.it. Both teams are in the final for the first time and even had to take the detour via the pre-playoffs before the quarter-finals. This is the first time that the two weakest seeded teams will meet: Merano started the quarter-finals in seventh place, Val Gardena in eighth place. In the regular season they only finished 10th (HCM) and 11th (GHE) – separated by just one point. Due to the better placement, Meran has home advantage in the final and opens the series with a home game on Saturday. In the current season, Meran won two of the previous three duels.
The final dates at a glance:
Sat, 04/11/26: HC Meran/o Pircher – HC Gherdeina valgardena.it
Tue, 04/14/26: HC Gherdeina valgardena.it – HC Meran/o Pircher
Thu, 04/16/26: HC Meran/o Pircher – HC Gherdeina valgardena.it
Sat, 04/18/26: HC Gherdeina valgardena.it – HC Meran/o Pircher
Tue, 04/21/26: HC Meran/o Pircher – HC Gherdeina valgardena.it*
Thu, 04/23/26: HC Gherdeina valgardena.it – HC Meran/o Pircher *
Sat, 04/25/26: HC Meran/o Pircher – HC Gherdeina valgardena.it*
*) if necessary
Alps Hockey League, semi-final game 7
Thu, April 9, 2026
KHL Sisak – HC Meran/o Pircher 2:3 (0:2, 1:1, 1:0)
Referees: BULOVEC, LAZZERI, Arlic, Seewald
Final score in the best-of-7 series: 3:4
Goals SIS: 1:2 Yeob K. (24th), 2:3 Brus N. (53rd)
Goals HCM: 0:1 Nousiainen R. (13th), 0:2 Fuchs J. (15th), 1:3 Sherbinin B. (32nd)
alps.hockey , Image: BK PHOTO
