On Friday evening, a festive Scola in Alba di Canazei, with over 1,000 spectators in the stands, embraced the Fassa Falcons on their home debut for the second consecutive pre-season match against neighbours Gherdeina — AlpsHL champions — following the seasonal opener at the Pranives rink in Selva a few days earlier. What ensued was an enjoyable and well-balanced test, with both sides going at each other openly and battling until the final second at times genuinely intense and unusual for the month of August, albeit a product of the heavy workloads both squads are inevitably carrying at this stage of pre-season, and of the numerous absences on either side. The contest, which ended 3-3 after regulation time and overtime, ultimately saw Gherdeina edge it 4-3 in the penalty shootout, with the decisive goal scored by former Falcon Biondi.
Match report:
The home side made the brighter start and, after a series of rapid end-to-end exchanges, took the lead at 15:10 through new signing Leo Messner, who caught Plancker off guard with a powerful diagonal shot. The advantage was short-lived, however — just seconds later Hannes Kasslatter levelled at 15:41, restoring parity and sending the teams into the first break at 1-1.
In the second period, after just 28 seconds, Fassa restored their lead through Alfeo Deluca, who capitalised on the work of the Mikhnov/Rossi pairing. The home crowd were warming to the occasion, but Gherdeina hit back at 14:14 when Simon Pitscheider scored on the power play, assisted by Soracreppa and Bettega, to level once more. The second interval again saw the sides deadlocked.
The third period saw the tempo drop slightly, though chances continued to come at both ends. With four and a half minutes remaining and the result still in the balance, the visitors edged ahead. Sibilevych lost the puck in the offensive zone and conceded a penalty, and once again on the power play, Julian Senoner — fed by Schiavone — made it 3-2 to Gherdeina. It appeared to be all over, but Fassa refused to yield and summoned one final effort. With 41 seconds left on the clock, Sibilevych made amends, breaking in on Plancker and depositing a mid-height backhand into the net for 3-3, assisted by Messner and Linder. The five minutes of overtime produced no further goals, and it fell to the shootout to separate the sides — Biondi's effort proving decisive in handing the Gardena side the victory.
Particular mention goes to the outstanding performances of both netminders, Hofer and Plancker.
