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.