Ziga Pance for the championship

13 Apr 2014 | Alan Ilijic

For the first time in EBEL history the cup awarded to the winners of the campaign will reside outside Austria. At least for a year. Bolzano have won best-of-three series in Salzburg tonight to claim the championship title.

Ziga Pance is probably the happiest man in the world right now. He scored the most important goal of his career burying the winner in overtime of Game 5 securing the title went to Italy. Red Bulls of Salzburg came back to life after falling behind 2-0 in the first two games, but couldn't withstand the pressure and had to admit Bolzano were better this time.

The title doesn't come as a big surprise as the Italian side were in the peak of the table throughout the whole season and continued in the playoffs in the same fashion.

The Foxes had to come back from behind when Dave Meckler and Brian Fahey set the track, both on the powerplay. Special teams were the key to the win tonight - Sebastien Piche first anulled Fahey's go-ahead tally on a single-powerplay, while Macgregor Sharp levelled the score midway through the second with a two-men advantage.

The goalies were up to the task as well. In 71:27 minutes tonight both went above 90 percent - Jaroslav Hubl for Bolzano 95%, Bernd Bruckler 94%.

Road to the Finals:

BOLZANO FOXES:

- Regular season: 2nd

-1st round: 4-0 vs SAPA Fehervar

-1/2 Finals: 3-1 vs Villacher SV

-Best scorer: Mark Santorelli - 57 points (18+39)

RED BULLS SALZBURG:

- Regular season: 1st

- 1st round: 4-2 vs Dornbirner EC

- 1/2 Finals: 3-0 vs Linz

- Best scorer: Garrett Roe - 58 points (20+38).

Erste Bank Eishockey Liga's campaign for this season is concluded, with a drop in attendance due to the departure of Medvescak for the KHL. A historical season where the team that came to fill in for the Croatian side were jubilant in the end.

Red Bulls Salzburg are crowned the champions of Austria being the best-placed Austrian team and take the national championship title.