The Eppan team's recent victories have all been away games, here in the Raiffeisen Arena in Kaltern. © Jan Marc Zublasing

Training sessions at 22 p.m. are a thing of the past: Eppan finally returns home.

HC Eppan is having a strong season in the Italian Hockey League. And that's despite the fact that the Pirates haven't had their own stadium until now and have always trained and played away games. That's about to change.

18 December 2025

From: det

For HC Eppan, it has undoubtedly been the most challenging time in recent years. Since April, their home ice rink has been a construction site. All of the club's training and match operations – meaning the first team and the eight youth teams – had to be relocated for the past few months. That has now come to an end: "The fire safety measures were completed today, and the homologation was done on Monday. And on Tuesday, we'll be playing against Varese for the first time back in our stadium," says a delighted Martin Rottensteiner, board member of the club from the Überetsch region.

Rottensteiner has just come through a grueling period that began in April. "Almost the day after the last championship game, our stadium became a construction site. The ice surface was completely renovated," Rottensteiner explains. The engine room, the concrete slab, the refrigeration pipes, the ice rink – all of it had to be replaced in recent months. And this presented HC Eppan with a huge challenge, because games and training still had to continue.

For training in Brixen or Fondo

And so the players were forced to find alternative locations. Kaltern, Auer, Lana, Bolzano, Neumarkt, Terlan, but also Fondo and Brixen – the Eppan players had to travel considerable distances for their great passion. Because the ice rinks in the surrounding villages were also extremely busy, it sometimes happened that Eppan's IHL team couldn't start their training until after 22 p.m. "I must express my gratitude to our players, coaches, support staff, and parents. As well as to the other clubs that have been so accommodating during this difficult time. This solidarity is not something to be taken for granted," said Rottensteiner.

"It became clear that South Tyrol needs every single ice surface." Martin Rottensteiner

At the same time, he adds: “It was clear that South Tyrol needs every single ice surface. It was astonishing to see how busy the ice rinks here are. We're glad we were able to bridge this period and secure the club's survival.” Rottensteiner himself can now breathe a sigh of relief: In recent weeks, he was responsible for organizing alternative venues for all of Eppan's teams. Understandably, then, that he says: “Now things are finally calming down a bit.”

Only the lines are missing on the ice surface in Eppan, then it can start again.

On Saturday, the Eppan team plays away against Valdifiemme, followed by their home opener against Varese on Tuesday, December 23rd. So far, the Pirates have primarily played their "home" games in Kaltern. Despite this, they are currently in fourth place in the standings and thus on track for the playoffs. Coach MacGregor Sharp's team is also still in contention for a spot in the Coppa Italia Final Four. "And perhaps our new stadium will give us an additional boost," hopes Rottensteiner.

Alps Hockey League, South Tyrolean games until Christmas Eve

Thursday
Zeller Eisbären – HC Gröden (19.30 p.m.)
HC Asiago – HC Meran (20 p.m.)
Rittner Buam – Wipptal Broncos
Unterland Cavaliers – HDD Jesenice

Saturday
Wipptal Broncos – Adler Kitzbühel (18 p.m.)
Red Bull Hockey Juniors – Rittner Buam (7:15 pm)
HC Meran – Zeller Eisbären (19.30 p.m.)
HC Gröden – Unterland Cavaliers (8:30 pm)

Monday, December 22th
HC Meran – Red Bull Hockey Juniors (7:30 pm)
Rittner Buam – HDD Jesenice (20 p.m.)
Unterland Cavaliers – Adler Kitzbühel
HC Val Gardena – Wipptal Broncos (20.30 p.m.)

Italian Hockey League

Saturday
Brixen Falcons – HC Aosta (18 p.m.)
Varese Hockey – SV Kaltern (6:30 pm)
HC Valpellice – HC 3 Zinnen Dolomites (8:30 pm)
Valdifiemme – HC Eppan

Tuesday 23 December
HC Eppan – HC Varese (20 p.m.)
HC 3 Zinnen Dolomites – Brixen Falcons
SV Kaltern – Fassa (8:30 pm)