The Unterland Cavaliers face Merano on Thursday. © Unterland Cavaliers

“We have to learn this”: The learning process of the young Cavs

Nine games, just four points: The Unterland Cavaliers have had a disappointing start to the season. However, the second-youngest team in the Alps Hockey League (AlpsHL) isn't giving up, as captain Tobias Brighenti explained to SportNews ahead of the derby against HC Meran.

22 October 2025

From: leo

With an average age of 21,43 years, the Unterland Cavaliers are only older than the Red Bull Juniors from Salzburg in the AlpsHL. Key players such as Thomas Galimberti and Moritz Kaufmann, who won't return to the ice until December, were also out at the start of the season. Given this, the Unterland team's dismal start to the season, as the only South Tyrolean team with only three foreign players, is no surprise – not even for captain Tobias Brighenti. He is only one of four players on the squad who weren't born in the new millennium.

"It was clear from the start that we, as a young team, needed time—especially since we have a new coach this year," says the 28-year-old. Curiously, the Cavaliers' only points so far have come against the Rittner Buam. Alexander Sullmann and his team won 3-2 on the Hochplatteau, and last Thursday they lost at home by the same score after overtime.

Will the knot be broken in the derby?

But what was missing from Juhani Matikainen's team, which has the most porous defense with 37 goals conceded, in the other matches? "We have to learn to survive certain phases in a game. It's happened several times that we completely slept through the second period and then conceded three or four goals. Recognizing the respective momentum – whether positive or negative – and dealing with it better is our job," the defender explains.

Tobias Brighenti believes in a turnaround. © Max Pattis

When asked how important his role as captain is in these times of crisis, he says: "Of course it's important. But we really have a great team. The mentality is great, the attitude is right. Every player is motivated, works hard and knows which direction we want to go." After six defeats in a row, Brighenti & Co. are hungry for victory. They want to get three points as early as Thursday, when Unterland visits HC Meran at 8:30 p.m. "I'm expecting another heated game - like in the old IHL days. We proved against Ritten that we can step it up a notch in the derbies. I hope we can do that again on Thursday and get back on the winning track," says Brighenti.

Much points to a close matchup between the Eagles and the Cavaliers. The last three games have all been decided in overtime. Since both teams joined the AlpsHL, the record favors the Passerstadt team at 5:3.

Alps Hockey League

Thursday, October 23th:
HDD Jesenice – Red Bull Juniors (7:30 p.m.)
EK Zell am See – EC Kitzbühel
HC Asiago – SG Cortina (20 p.m.)
Wipptal Broncos – KHL Sisak
HC Meran – Unterland Cavaliers (20.30:XNUMX pm)

Saturday, October 25st:
HC Gherdëina – HC Meran (18.30 p.m.)
KHL Sisak – Rittner Buam
Unterland Cavaliers – EK Zell am See (19 p.m.)
Red Bull Juniors – HC Asiago (19.15 p.m.)
EC Bregenzerwald – HDD Jesenice (19.30 p.m.)
SG Cortina – Wipptal Broncos (20.30 p.m.)

Sunday, October 26th:
KHL Sisak – Rittner Buam (17 p.m.)

Italian Hockey League

Saturday, October 25st:
Pergine – Alleghe (18.45 p.m.)
Feltre - Fassa Falcons (19.30 p.m.)
SV Kaltern – Varese
HC 3 Zinnen Dolomites – Valpellice
HC Aosta – Falcons Brixen (20 p.m.)

Sunday, October 26th:
HC Eppan – Valdifiemme (19 p.m.)