Juniors choose Val Gardena for playoff quarterfinals

Sunday, 08. March 2026 |

AlpsHL | Playoff-Pick

Juniors choose Val Gardena for playoff quarterfinalsTeemu Levijoki: “The choice of opponent was a team decision.”// JuniorsThe Red Bull Hockey Juniors choose HC Gherdeina Valgardena as their opponent in the Alps Hockey League playoff quarterfinals.

After Zell am See secured the first pick as the winner of the Master Round and chose the Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan, the Juniors were the second team to choose the South Tyroleans. HC Migross Asiago chose HC Meran/o Pircher, and KHL Sisak completed the pairings with S.G. Cortina Hafro. This means that the quarterfinal matchups are now set and will begin on Tuesday. The Juniors' first game will take place on Wednesday due to the win2day ICE Hockey League schedule.

The Juniors finished the regular season of the Alps Hockey League in first place and secured second place in the Master Round. This gave them the second pick in the league and home-ice advantage in the quarterfinal series. In the three games against HC Gherdeina Valgardena so far this season, the Juniors have won twice (5-2, 5-3), with only the first encounter going to the South Tyroleans 1-3. While the Juniors finished the regular season in first place and thus qualified for the playoffs, Gröden finished the regular season in 11th place. The South Tyroleans finally secured their playoff ticket by winning the Qualification Round B with five wins out of six games and two pre-playoff victories against Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel.

Highlights from the last home game against Val Gardena

// Juniors

Head Coach Teemu Levijoki

“We expect hard games. It’s the playoffs, so every game will be intense and physical. All teams are strong at this stage, but we have to believe in what we do and stick to our game. Now we have some time to prepare and get ready for the series. The decision about the opponent was made together with the staff and the team. We believe it was the right choice and now the focus is on being ready when the series starts.”

Previous encounters 11.10.2025 | HC Gherdeina valgardena.it vs. Red Bull Hockey Juniors 3:1 01.11.2025 | Red Bull Hockey Juniors vs HC Gherdeina valgardena.it 5:2 14.01.2026 | HC Gherdeina valgardena.it vs Red Bull Hockey Juniors 3:5

Quarterfinal matchups | Alps Hockey League EK Die Zeller Eisbären vs. Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan Red Bull Hockey Juniors vs. HC Gherdeina valgardena.it HC Migross Asiago vs. HC Meran/o Pircher KHL Sisak vs. S.G. Cortina Hafro

*if necessary

Juniors finish Master Round in second place// JUNIORS

Mit Video

Juniors secure second place in the Master Round after 7-4 home win// JUNIORS

Juniors lose in the Salzburg derby// JUNIORS