It was a spectacular start to the 20th edition of the Dolomitencup! At this anniversary event, Kometa Brno and the Augsburger Panther locked horns in an emotionally charged semi-final, which the top Czech club from Brno won 3–2. Saturday promises to be a special day.
The Würtharena was sold out to the last seat. Nearly 1,000 fans created an atmosphere that gave you goosebumps. Two teams who, after a months-long break, could hardly wait to finally test their mettle once more on the icy rink. Indeed, the first semi-final clash of the 20th anniversary edition of the Dolomitencup between the Augsburger Panther (DEL/Germany) and Kometa Brno (Extraliga/Czech Republic) promised to be a thrilling affair. In the end, the many fans witnessed an emotional, nail-biting and truly spectacular match, which the top Czech club won 3–2. Kometa will therefore be aiming for their first title in Neumarkt on Sunday, whilst Augsburg, the Dolomitencup’s record winners, will have to wait a little longer for their sixth triumph.
Just 71 seconds had ticked away on the stadium clock that Friday evening when the 40 or so Czech fans who had travelled to the match were already cheering at the top of their voices. Following a face-off, the puck found its way to Kometa’s former NHL star Luke Witkowski, who suddenly found himself with plenty of space in the slot and beat the otherwise formidable goalkeeper Tobias Ancicka with the first shot of the match (2nd minute).
Augsburg bare their teeth
Whilst the Panthers were somewhat tame in attack at the start, they really bared their teeth after the first interval – and how. A veritable barrage was unleashed on Kometa goalkeeper Eugen Rabcan, with Enrico Henriquez-Morales firing off the finest shot: Following a rebound, the Augsburg forward spun round and fired the puck into the net (22nd minute) – 1–1.
The five-time Dolomitencup winners were generally the better side, but after half an hour they fell victim to a fatal counter-attack: With a man advantage, Augsburg fumbled the puck in the neutral zone; Arttu Ilomaki capitalised and put Brno back in front (32nd minute). A lead that captain Kristian Pospisil extended to 3–1 in the final period, on the power play, with a magnificent one-timer (48th minute).
Emotions run high
Even at this stage, tensions on the ice were running high time and again, and in the 51st minute, emotions finally boiled over. After the Panthers pulled one back to make it 2–3, goalscorer Cameron Wright was shoved into the boards by Radek Kucerik, sparking several fistfights on the ice – and turning the Würtharena into a veritable cauldron. Penalty minutes rained down, but the score remained unchanged: although Augsburg fought bravely right up to the last second, Kometa won 3–2.
A special Saturday lies ahead
Saturday promises to be a very special day at the Dolomitencup. First, at 3.30 pm, the second finalist will be decided when two absolute top-class sides – EV Zug (Switzerland) and Eisbären Berlin (Germany) – go head-to-head. Then, the big anniversary party will get underway in the centre of Neumarkt. From 8.00 pm, the 20th edition of this iconic tournament will be celebrated in style – naturally in the presence of the four participating teams. Finally, on Sunday, the new Dolomitencup champion will be crowned.
Augsburger Panther – HC Kometa Brno 2:3
Augsburger Panther: Ancicka (Jones); Hoefenmayer-Wood, Mayhew-McCrea, Glötzl-Pellizzari; Blank-Wohlgemuth-Wright, Toporowski-Lambert-Busdeker, Krauß-Scheel-Parkes, Elias-Henriquez Morales-Hanke, Zwickl
Coach: Bill Peters
HC Kometa Brno: Rabcan (Kavan); Kucerik-Davidson, Král-Witkowski, Nedomlel-Svozil, Mikyska; Pospisil-Leino-Zboril, Kunc-Cingel-Cajkovic, Selic-Kollár-Chludil, Kusko-Ilomäki-Vehobský, Süss
Coach: Kamil Pokorny
Goals: 0:1 Luke Witkowski (1.11), 1:1 Enrico Henriquez-Morales (21.17), 1:2 Arttu Ilomaki (31.13), 1:3 Kristian Pospisil (47.34), 2:3 Cameron Wright (50.31)
MVP: Ancicka (Augsburg), Witkowski (Kometa)
Referees: Moschen, Piniè
Attendance: 978 (sold out)
Photo: Max Pattis
