The Unterland Cavaliers will play in a lower league starting next September. © Vanna Antonello

Beginning of the end: Unterland Cavaliers withdraw

Things have been brewing behind the scenes for a long time, and now the first ice hockey club is getting serious: The Unterland Cavaliers are officially saying goodbye to the Alps Hockey League. Is that it for the cross-border championship?

15 January 2025

From: fop

The Alps Hockey League was launched in 2016 as a pioneering model. For nine years, the international championship offered ice hockey at a remarkable level, but at the same time this format, with teams from Italy, Austria, Slovenia and most recently Croatia, has always struggled for recognition and acceptance - from clubs, officials, players and fans. Now the league is in danger of crumbling.

The reason? Several clubs from Italy want to follow the Fassa Falcons and leave the league. The Trentino club said goodbye last summer. The next club to take a step forward is also the youngest league member from South Tyrol: the Unterland Cavaliers. They officially announced their withdrawal next summer early on Wednesday evening.

“We will finish the season with ambition” Statement Unterland Cavaliers

A short statement reads: "After careful consideration, the board has decided to re-enroll in the IHL next year. The organizational and financial burden in the Alps Hockey League is increasing and we can no longer manage it. At the same time, the IHL has developed well and offers an interesting alternative. We will finish this season with the same ambition as before and then look forward to new challenges."

More teams are pushing into the IHL

The Cavs had in summer 2022 as champions from the Italian Hockey League, so from next winter they will compete in this league again with Kaltern, Eppan, Brixen and Toblach.

Will Paul Eisendle (l., Wipptal) and Tobias Brighenti (r., Unterland) see each other again in the IHL? © Vanna Antonello

The field of participants is not yet completely clear. Other local teams could follow the Unterland team into the Italian Hockey League in the coming weeks. The ICE club Asiago, which is struggling both financially and athletically, is also about to return to the national championship. It remains to be seen whether the Alps Hockey League will continue to exist and with which teams.