Milano lands to semifinal

24 Feb 2011 | Marco Bertolini

In Italian Serie A2 playoffs, Milano knocked out champion Appiano and dreams with final

Closing an endless game captain Edoardo Caletti scored the only shoot-out of series and landed Milano Rossoblu to playoffs semifinals against regular season dominator Gherdeina. Despite absences of Gianluca Tomasello and Alessandro Re, Milano - leading by Daniel Peruzzo and Edoardo Caletti well controlled Appiano moves. Current Serie A2 champion was down 1-3 in the series and forced to attack but star Peter Campbell - Serie A2 MVP last year - played a lacklustre season and his goals contribution missed a lot for Pirates. At the end of first period Milano forward Peter Wunderer left ice bleeding and didn't come back but he should be on roster for 1st semifinal on march 2. Remarkable support by Milano crowd, not large as in Vipers era (about 800 spectators) but sign of constant interest for hockey. Appiano sadly closed a not brilliant season after last year triumph, Finnish coach Jere Helle, called before playoffs to replace fired Mike Ellis can't be able to give a shock to team.
In other games capital away victory for Caldaro at Egna: local derby, as usual, is the most interesting pair: despite difference in regular season (Egna closed as runner up, Caldaro in 7th place), now "Lucci" have chance to close series at home. Vipiteno Broncos was surprended at home by leathery Merano and wasted 1st match point of series: after polemic game 3, Merano was able to won away thaks to a stellar performance by goalie - former Broncos - Renè Baur