The HC Gherdeina valgardena.it has dethroned the EK Zeller Eisbären. The eighth-seeded South Tyroleans, who had finished the regular round in eleventh place, continued their success story: On Tuesday evening, they won the sixth semi-final game in front of their home crowd 6-1 and thus reached the final of the Alps Hockey League for the first time. HC Meran/o Pircher, on the other hand, forced a playoff in their semi-final series against KHL Sisak. The South Tyroleans won 4-3 in front of their home crowd – the decisive game takes place on Thursday in Croatia.
The game in Wolkenstein showed a similar picture to that of the entire series: Zell am See had more of the game and more chances to score for long stretches, but Val Gardena impressed with its efficiency in finishing. After less than two minutes, Moncada gave the home team the lead after a quick counterattack. While the guests missed several top chances, Schiavone increased the score to 2-0 with a rebound in the power play. Shortly afterwards, Moncada scored again on the counterattack to make it 3-0. Zell am See also kept trying in the middle section, and Val Gardena was always dangerous on the counterattack – the three-goal lead lasted until the second break. In the final third, Huard shortened the advantage for the guests, but the HCG defended cleverly. Despite intensive offensive efforts, Zell remained without another hit. In the final phase, the Pinzgauers took their goalie off the ice early, and Kasslatter made the decision with an empty netter. Shortly before the end, the Val Gardena team scored twice more and secured their historic place in the final with a final score of 6-1.
The series between KHL Sisak and HC Meran/o Pircher, however, goes the full distance. In the Meranarena, the Croatians took the lead in the 17th minute through Juric after a 2-on-1 attack. The middle period was full of goals: First, a deflected shot from Claesson landed in the near corner, shortly afterwards Juric scored his second goal with a precise finish after a face-off. Claesson initiated the next offensive action – Cruseman was initially denied by goalie Nikolic, but Nousiainen used the rebound to make it 2-2. The game remained varied: Frick scored to give Meran the lead for the first time, before Larionovs equalized for Sisak again in the power play in the last second of the second period. Just 48 seconds after the restart, Gellon put the Eagles back in the lead with a rebound – this time for the last time. The Croatians put everything on one card in the final phase and tried a 6-on-4 situation, but were unable to equalize. The decision will be made on Thursday in Croatia.
Alps Hockey League:
Tue, April 7th, 2026:
HC Gherdeina valgardena.it – EK Die Zeller Eisbären 6:1 (3:0, 0:0, 3:1)
Referees: LAZZERI, WINKLER, Bondi, Strimitzer
Goals GHE: Moncada (2nd, 15th), Schiavone (12th/PP), Kasslatter (57th/EN), Biondi (57th/EN), Dostalek (59th/PP2)
Goal EKZ: Huard (41./PP)
Final score in the best-of-7 series: 4:2
HC Meran/o Pircher – KHL Sisak 4:3 (0:1, 3:2, 1:0)
Referees: HLAVATY, RIVIS, Abeltino, Dummermuth-Haas
Goals HCM: Claesson (24th), Nousiainen (36th), Frick (37th), Gellon (41st)
Goals SIS: Juric (17th, 29th), Larionovs (40th/PP)
Standing in the best-of-7 series: 3:3
alps.hockey , Image: Matthäus Kostner
