The Wipptal Broncos will continue to offer Alps Hockey League ice hockey. © Daniele Frusone

Despite all adversities: The AlpsHL lives on

The future of the Alps Hockey League has recently been one of the big topics of conversation in ice hockey in South Tyrol. Now the future seems to be clear.

31 January 2025

From: det

It was a question that has been of burning interest to the South Tyrolean ice hockey world in recent weeks: What will happen to the Alps Hockey League? In mid-January, the Unterland Cavaliers announced that they would be leaving the cross-border league. The beginning of a chain reaction? After all, many clubs were groaning under the ever-increasing organizational and financial burden. But now the Alps Hockey League itself has provided the answer: It will live on - and how!

The registration deadline for the 2025/26 season was Friday afternoon. And in the end, only the Unterland Cavaliers missed the deadline. The twelve other teams in the current championship have registered for the new season.

“The league is prepared for the future.” Marcello Cobelli

This means that the future in the cross-border league seems to be secured for the time being. HC Meran, who had recently expressed strong criticism, wants to stay in the Alps Hockey League. Marcello Cobelli from Val Gardena (he is President of the Board of Governors in the AlpsHL) is pleased with the high level of interest: "The numerous reports show that the league is prepared for the future, even in challenging times."

Now the detailed planning begins

According to Cobelli, the high level of sport, the balance and the positive developments in terms of audience numbers underline that the Alps Hockey League is an important league for the participating nations. Detailed planning for the tenth season is now beginning. "It is important to continuously develop the AHL together with the clubs in a dynamic environment."