Alexander Egger is a figurehead in Italian ice hockey. © Thomas Profunser

Alexander Egger & Co. are looking forward to the Pond Hockey European Championships

They already have cult, almost legendary status at the unofficial Pond Hockey European Championships on Ritten. The “Huskies” have won the prestigious tournament at the Ritten Arena ice ring four times. This year - on Friday 16th and Saturday 17th February - they will be competing decimated and perhaps even under a different name, as Alexander Egger reports.

07. February 2024

From: pm/det

“Huskies” creators Roland Ramoser, Alexander Egger, Günter Hell, Christian Walcher – at first glance you might think that the roster of an old Italian national team is being listed. But then there are also names like Alex Wedl, Markus Rohde and Tino Boos. The Germans earned their living during their active times in German ice hockey. How did this selection come about? “Of course there was Roland (Ramoser, editor's note) behind it, who also played in Germany and is still good friends with many of them. The team already existed before I even joined,” reports Alexander Egger.

The 44-year-old is considered a symbolic figure of HC Bozen in Italian ice hockey and is still reverently called “Capitano” by many. He played almost 900 games for the “Foxes”, becoming two-time EBEL champion (now ICE Hockey League), four-time Italian champion, two-time Italian Cup and three-time Supercup winner. In addition, there are over 150 games for the Rittner Buam, for whom he wore the jersey for three years, and 200 appearances for the Italian national team, with which he played in numerous World Cups.

“It’s the mix of ambition and fun that makes it”

Egger will also be in action at the Rittner Eisring from Friday, February 16th to Saturday, February 17th. “All South Tyroleans who once had something to do with ice hockey are at the top,” says Alexander Egger. “The atmosphere is unique because the tournament is well organized, from sports to entertainment. On the ice everyone goes full throttle, but off it you can chat and toast with old friends. “The mix of ambition and fun is just right,” enthuses the “Capitano”.

The Huskies are a long-running favorite on Ritten. © Thomas Profunser

His “Huskies” have won the unofficial European Championship four times, including the most recent edition last February. This year, however, he doesn't see the chances of successfully defending the title as good: “Unfortunately, our friends from Germany can't come, they can't come. So we'll put the team together a little differently, maybe we'll play under a different name. The level is getting better and better, and there are many top players at the European Championships. Defending the title will be very difficult. Of course we will still try everything, but the most important thing is that we have fun again,” says Egger ten days before the tournament, in which over 50 teams will take part again this year.