What a start to the final of the Austrian championship in the Alps Hockey League in the KE KELIT Arena in Zell am See in front of 2,900 fans: The EK Die Zeller Eisbären and the Red Bull Hockey Juniors fought a thrilling battle in the first leg and split 3-3 after 60 minutes. This means that in the second leg, which takes place on Saturday in the Eisarena Salzburg, one thing is certain: the team that wins after 60 minutes, overtime or a penalty shootout is the Austrian champion of the Alps Hockey League.
The first final match for the Austrian championship in the Alps Hockey League between EK The Zell Polar Bears and the Red Bull Hockey Juniors started in the KE KELIT ARENA a little more than 30 minutes late because the Red Bull Hockey Juniors were stuck in a traffic jam on the way to Zell am See.
After the atmospheric introduction with the Austrian national anthem, which is usual before a final, both teams played an intense and close game in the first section, in which the young Bulls were the stronger team at the beginning. The hosts had the first majority, but were unable to convert their numerical superiority into a goal. The Eisbären were ahead late in the first third, with Philip Putnik making it 1-0 45 seconds before the first siren (20th).
Exactly 45 seconds had passed in the second third when the Red Bull Hockey Juniors quickly equalized to 1-1 through Luca Auer (21st). The guests followed up shortly after their first power play, which ended without any countable success, and had turned the match around just before halftime: After winning a face-off in the attacking zone, Eisbären keeper Alexander Schmidt blocked Adrian Gesson’s first shot from the slot, Gesson used his own rebound and made it 2-1 (29th). After 40 minutes, the juniors had a clear increase in shots on goal with 29:14.
The third period began with a lightning start for the Pinzgauers, who had taken advantage of the remaining time from the second third and were able to use it perfectly: Tim Coffman equalized after just 17 seconds to make it 2-2 (41st). Almost six minutes later the KE KELIT Arena was boiling: Paul Reiner brought the Zeller Eisbären ahead again with his goal to make it 3-2 (47th).
Four minutes before the end, the guests still had the advantage and actually managed to equalize: Florian Lanzinger made it 3-3 for the Red Bull Hockey Juniors (58th). This means that in the second leg, which takes place on Saturday in the Eisarena Salzburg, one thing is certain: the team that wins after 60 minutes, overtime or a penalty shootout is the Austrian champion of the Alps Hockey League.
Final Austrian Championship Alps Hockey League 2025/2026
Final – first leg:
EK Die Zeller Eisbären vs. Red Bull Hockey Juniors 3:3 (1:0,0:2,2:1)
Thu, February 12, 2026, 8:00 p.m., KE KELIT ARENA
Goal scorers EK The Zeller Eisbären: Philip Putnik (20th), Tim Coffman (41st/PP1), Paul Reiner (47th)
Red Bull Hockey Juniors goalscorers: Luca Auer (21st), Adrian Gesson (29th), Florian Lanzinger (58th/PP1)
Final – second leg:
Red Bull Hockey Juniors vs. EK Die Zeller Eisbären
Sat., February 14, 2026, 7:15 p.m., Eisarena Salzburg
www.eishockey.at, Pic: EKZ / Radlwimmer
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