The semi-final between KHL Sisak and HC Meran/o Pircher begins this weekend with a doubleheader in Croatia. The two teams meet on Saturday and Sunday in Sisak. The second duel in the second best-of-seven series is scheduled for Saturday: After the overtime success at the start, defending champion EK Zell am See travels to Wolkenstein.
Val Gardena narrowly missed out on a surprise in the first semi-final game on Thursday. The South Tyroleans acted in a tactically disciplined manner in Zell am See, were defensively compact and patiently waited for their opponents to make mistakes. They led 1-0 until the final phase before the reigning champions equalized. In overtime, the Pinzgauers used a power play to make a quick decision. Now the series moves to Wolkenstein for the first time, where the home team has already celebrated two wins (3:1 and 3:0) against the defending champions this season.
Start of the series Sisak against Meran
The start of the semi-final series between KHL Sisak and HC Meran/o Pircher, originally planned for Thursday, had to be postponed. The reason for this was that several South Tyrolean players were ill, which meant that Meran was unable to field the required minimum squad of ten field players and a goalkeeper. The kick-off will now take place on Saturday and Sunday, in Sisak.
It is the first semi-final participation for both teams. Sisak prevailed against Cortina in the quarter-finals – after both teams initially recorded one success, the Croatian club ultimately won three times in a row. Meran, seeded seventh, caused a surprise with a 4-2 win over Asiago. Sisak and Meran have already met three times this season, with the Croatians winning two of these encounters. The duel on Croatian ice is 2-2 in AHL history.
Alps Hockey League, semi-finals (best-of-7)
Sat, March 28, 2026
5:30 p.m.: HC Gherdeina valgardena.it – EK The Zeller Eisbären
Referees: HUBER, RIVIS, Divis, Ilmer
Standings in the series: 0:1
7:30 p.m.: KHL Sisak – HC Meran/o Pircher
Referees: HLAVATY, UNTERWEGER, Arlic, Markizeti
Sun, March 29, 2026
7:30 p.m.: KHL Sisak – HC Meran/o Pircher
Referees: SNOJ, VOICAN, Dummermuth-Haas, Seewald
Both games will be shown LIVE on valcome.tv.
alps.hockey , Image: BK PHOTO
