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Even two goals from JC Lipon (left) couldn't help HC Pustertal. © I. Foppa / HC Pustertal
11 goals! Puster Valley's wild New Year's Day
On New Year's Eve, the fireworks caused a racket, while on New Year's Day it was the HC Falkensteiner Pustertal and the Pioneers Vorarlberg. After a completely crazy match, however, the Wolves wore long faces.
01 January 2026
From: det
The first major highlight of 2026 for HC Pustertal is on Saturday when HC Bozen visits the Intercable Arena for the derby. However, the Wolves' fans already witnessed their first big spectacle on New Year's Day – though with an ending the Black and Yellows hadn't anticipated. HCP lost 5-6 in a penalty shootout against league strugglers Pioneers Vorarlberg.
The roles seemed clearly defined before the match: HC Pustertal, fighting for the best starting position in the top 6, and Vorarlberg, languishing in second-to-last place with virtually no chance of making the postseason. Furthermore, the Pioneers come away with a 0-5 thrashing against Bolzano. to Bruneck. But the spectators in the again sold-out Intercable Arena didn't see any difference in class – quite the opposite!
After a dominant first period, the Wolves completely lost their way, while the visitors suddenly came alive. Leading the charge was the top line of Collin Adams (two goals and three assists that evening) and Roberts Bukarts (two goals, two assists). They ran rings around the Puster Valley team at times, quickly turning a 0-2 deficit into a 3-2 lead. The Pioneers continued to take the lead, but Jon Blum and his teammates showed resilience, always fighting back with lightning speed (2-3 became 3-3, 3-4 became 4-4, 4-5 became 5-5).
Negative trend
That Vorarlberg ultimately won the extra point in the penalty shootout was well-deserved! After Olimpija Ljubljana (5-2 victory) and Red Bull Salzburg (3-4 loss after overtime), the Pioneers have upset another big name. The Puster Valley team will certainly be kicking themselves now, as this is their third loss in the last four games and their sixth defeat in the last nine. The Wolves have slipped to sixth place in the standings.The highlights
| Only the HCP | The first 20 minutes were all one-way traffic, towards the Vorarlberg goal – resulting in a 2-0 lead. First, Lipon's sharp pass was deflected into his own net by a Pioneers defender (1st minute), then Bowlby reacted quickest to a rebound (11th minute). |
| Wild third | Pustertal has everything under control? Not a chance! The team second from bottom suddenly turns things around – and completely reverses the result. Bukarts after a rebound (Pasquale doesn't look good, 22nd minute), Dornbach after a brilliant combination (30th minute), and the outstanding Adams with a shot into the top corner (32nd minute) silence the Intercable Arena. But Frycklund still has one more goal up his sleeve and equalizes at 3-3 in the 38th minute. |
| Wild Third II | The bizarre story continued: Bukarts scored on the power play to make it 4-3 (49th minute), but Lipon immediately equalized again after a pass from Bardreau (50th minute). Then Adams scored what appeared to be the game-winner with a shot into the near corner (58th minute), but seconds later Purdeller saved his Wolves, sending the game to overtime after a cross-ice pass from Ticar (59th minute). |
| Decision | Nothing happens in overtime, so it goes to a penalty shootout. And there, Macierzynski is the only player to score, scoring the winning goal for his Pioneers. |
The Wolves are now all the more determined to make amends: On Saturday, January 3rd, HC Bozen will be visiting Bruneck at 19.45:1 pm. The third South Tyrolean derby is already sold out and the number one topic of conversation in local ice hockey. Afterwards, HCP faces two exciting matches against Klagenfurt (January 5th) and Salzburg (January 11th).
HC Pustertal – Pioneers Vorarlberg 5:6 SO
HCP: Pasquale (Rabanser); Almquist-Osmanski, Zanatta-Blum, Lauridsen-DiTomaso, Glira; Saracino-Andergassen-Bowlby, Mantinger-Frycklund-Lobis, Ierullo-Bardreau-Lipon, Rueschhoff-Ticar-PurdellerCoach: Jaspers
PIV: Caffi (Madlener); Schnetzer-Roehl, Reini-Kernberger, Korecky-Wempe, Mußbacher; Bukarts-Dornbach-Adams, Maier-Gallant-Florchuk, Macierzynski-Tschofen-Metzler, Woborsky-Aron Summer-Ben Summer
Coach: Nygard
Gates: 1:0 JC Lipon (0.59), 2:0 Henry Bowlby (10.40), 2:1 Roberts Bukarts (21.11), 2:2 Casey Dornbach (29.24), 2:3 Collin Adams (31.23), 3:3 Mikael Frycklund (37.09), 3:4 Roberts Bukarts (48.27), 4:4 JC Lipon (49.49), 4:5 Collin Adams (57.40), 5:5 Tommy Purdeller (58.24).
Decisive penalty: Kevin Macierzynski.
Viewers: 3.104 (sold out)
The other games
Klagenfurter AC – HC Bozen (still running – click here for the ticker)Red Bull Salzburg – Black Wings Linz 5:1
Goals: 1-0 Baltram (6.50), 2-0 Hörl (7.26), 2-1 Barron (7.54), 3-1 Coe (17.23), 4-1 Nissner (31.12), 5-1 St. Denis (35.54)
Audience: 3.400
Villacher SV – HC Innsbruck 6-2
Goals: 0:1 Witting (16.56), 1:1 Helewka (24.00), 2:1 MacPherson (24.51), 2:2 Corbeil (41.20), 3:2 Helewka (43.53), 4:2 Helewka (49.56), 5:2 Hutchison (57.16), 6:2 Hughes (58.02)
Audience: 3.328
Graz99ers – Ferencvarosi TC 6:1
Goals: 0:1 Green (0.09), 1:1 Ganahl (18.05), 2:1 Collins (34.40), 3:1 Haudum (38.10), 4:1 Currie (39.58), 5:1 Collins (42.42), 6:1 Bailen (47.40)
Viewers: -
Vienna Capitals – Olimpija Ljubljana 3:2
Goals: 1:0 Souch (2.08), 1:1 Quince (28.24), 1:2 Mahkovec (35.49), 2:2 Souch (36.20), 3:2 Souch (38.23)
Audience: 5.090
| SP | G | U | V | TV | P | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Graz99ers | 32 | 22 | 0 | 10 | 108:70 | 67 |
| 2. EC Klagenfurt | 32 | 22 | 0 | 10 | 115:78 | 67 |
| 3. EC Salzburg | 33 | 21 | 0 | 12 | 107:69 | 61 |
| 4. Olimpija Ljubljana | 34 | 21 | 0 | 13 | 129:97 | 59 |
| 5. HCB South Tyrol | 30 | 19 | 0 | 11 | 111:74 | 58 |
| 6. HC Pustertal | 32 | 19 | 0 | 13 | 113:88 | 57 |
| 7. EC Villach | 31 | 13 | 0 | 18 | 99:105 | 42 |
| 8. Vienna Capitals | 32 | 14 | 0 | 18 | 81:93 | 42 |
| 9. Fehervar | 32 | 14 | 0 | 18 | 69:102 | 42 |
| 10. Ferencvarosi | 32 | 12 | 0 | 20 | 83:109 | 41 |
| 11. Linz | 33 | 15 | 0 | 18 | 107:112 | 41 |
| 12. Vorarlberg | 32 | 9 | 0 | 23 | 72:131 | 28 |
| 13. HC Innsbruck | 33 | 8 | 0 | 25 | 79:145 | 22 |
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