EHC Kloten won the opening game of the Dolomites Cup and became the first team to book a place in the final. In the atmospheric Würtharena in Neumarkt, the Swiss first division team beat Kometa Brno 4:1 at the end of a fast-paced game.
The 18th edition of the tournament in the smart Würtharena had an absolute treat right at the start, which almost 700 ice hockey fans were able to savour. EHC Kloten, the 2015 title winners, and HC Kometa Brno, two clubs from the best ice hockey leagues in Europe, put on a real showdown. The opening period belonged to the Swiss, but after just 6 minutes they were given a real cold shower by the Czechs. Marek Daloga gave Kometa the lead with the first half-chances of the game. After that, the Eastern Europeans put Kloten goalkeeper Sandro Zurkichen under constant fire. However, the 2:0 did not materialise. On the contrary: Misha Ramel equalised out of nowhere in the 17th minute. He deflected a shot from Sami Niku into the net.
Buoyed by the lead at the break, Kloten dictated the play from then on and were rewarded by taking the lead for the first time in the 33rd minute. Dario Meyer gave a Profico shot the decisive change of direction. But that was not all, as Niko Ojamäki even increased the lead to 3:1 just two minutes later, scoring with an onetimer after the Czech lost a disc in the corner and a lightning-quick pass from Niku. Kometa had the chance to reduce the deficit immediately afterwards, but Maros Jedlicka failed to beat goalie Zurkirchen with a penalty.
After the second break, the game levelled off a little, which was due to the cracks’ heavy legs – after all, they were in the middle of their exhausting pre-season preparations. Nevertheless, the vociferous Swiss fans were able to cheer one more time when Bernd Wolf put the puck into the now deserted Czech goal two minutes before the end. The 4:1 was also the final highlight of this entertaining game.
Frankfurt and Pustertal take to the stage on Saturday
Kloten can now lean back and take a relaxed look at their opponents in the final on Saturday. This will be determined by the three-time tournament winners Löwen Frankfurt and HC Pustertal. The showdown between the DEL club and the South Tyrolean ICE representative is scheduled for 8 pm. The two rivals can also expect a great crowd on the second day of the tournament.
EHC Kloten – HC Kometa Brno 4:1 (1:1, 2:0, 1:0)
EHC Kloten: EHC Kloten: Zurkirchen (Waeber); Profico-Niku, Wolf-Gregoire, Sidier-Kellenberger, Steiner; Aaltonen-Simic-Audette, Morley-Ojamaki-Ramel, Schappi-Smirnovs-Meyer.D, Diem-Weibel-Derungs, Meyer.R.
Coach: Lauri Mariamäki
HC Kometa Brno: Kroselj (Postava); Davidson-Scotka, Gulasi-Beaudin, Daloga-Holland, Svoboda; Rachunek-Cingel-Flek, Pospisil-Marcinko-Jedlicka, Okal-Konecny-Zohorna, Zatovic-Kollar-Ricka.
Coach: Pokorny
Referees: Lazzeri, Virta (Fleischmann, Pardatscher)
Goals: 0:1 Marek Daloga (5.11), 1:1 Misha Ramel (16.51), 2:1 Dario Meyer (32.52), 3:1 Niko Ojamäki (35.05), 4:1 Bernd Wolf (57.21)
Spectators: 668
MVP: Sami Niku (Kloten), Gasper Kroselj (Brno)
Photo: Max Pattis
