Daniel Frank & Co. invite the dragons from Ljubljana to dance in Bolzano. © HCI/PAPA Productions

Bolzano captain Daniel Frank: "Now the playoffs begin!"

While Bruneck is currently celebrating one exhilarating ice hockey party after another, the first playoff nights in Bolzano were marked more by disappointment than celebration. But that's all about to change.

March 13, 2026

First to HC Falkensteiner PustertalThe Wolves, the team of the moment in the ICE Hockey League: They have defeated reigning champions Salzburg twice within 48 hours and are leading the series 2-0 in a completely unexpected turn of events. Their dream of reaching the semifinals is more alive than ever.

On Thursday evening, Pustertal delivered at the 2-1 win The team's next brilliant performance brought the atmosphere in the Intercable Arena to a fever pitch with a passionate, disciplined, and ultimately successful display. "Yesterday was incredible, the atmosphere was simply fantastic!" said HCP defenseman Daniel Glira the morning after the Bruneck ice hockey celebration. In the following video interview, he already looks ahead to the next duel with Salzburg:

The Wolves seem to have the recipe to beat the champions. Now, however, they must continue to work towards the semi-finals – starting this Saturday, when the third game of the series takes place in Salzburg at 7:15 pm.

Slightly later, at 7:45 p.m., HC Bozen's third quarterfinal match will take place. The Foxes also started on Thursday with a 2:1 success Confidence has been boosted, but the euphoria in the provincial capital is nowhere near as exuberant as it is 75 kilometers further northeast. The reason? Bolzano has had a stuttering start to these playoffs. Sometimes they played well but lost. Other times they were outmatched but still won.

“We need all the support we can get right now.” HCB forward Daniel Frank

However: The word inferior The captain of the HCB South Tyrol Alperia Not at all. In conversation with SportNews Daniel Frank said after returning from the victorious away game in Ljubljana: “Our goalie had a fantastic game. Together we found a way to beat this opponent. That’s what it’s all about. After all, Olimpija has some formidable players in their ranks. Going in there and taking them out of the game is no walk in the park.”

However, Frank also knows that the victory in Slovenia has only just rectified the poor start to the quarter-finals and that a second win is now absolutely essential to transform the murmurs and rumblings in the stands of the Sparkasse Arena into the usual feared home game atmosphere: "Our fans are critical, sometimes rightly so. But now we all have to pull together, so my appeal is: Push us forward! We need all the support we can get."

If the Foxes have their way, the Bolzano Arena will be rocking on Saturday. © HCB

The Foxes ignite the fire fastest by igniting the excitement from the ice to the stands. The 31-year-old captain is well aware of this. "We need to step it up a notch, that's clear. We know we can play well. But we showed it in the final period in Ljubljana: now we're playing playoff hockey!"

Frank and his teammates aim to build on that success on Saturday at the Sparkasse Arena. HCB is expected to field an unchanged lineup, meaning Enrico Miglioranzi and Michele Marchetti will have to sit in the stands. Pascal Brunner, who was so strong in Merano recently would go on the bench as the 13th striker.

The ICE Hockey League quarterfinals:

Graz 99ers – Villacher SV
Match date: Saturday, 7:45 pm
Best of 7 series: 2:0

Klagenfurter AC – Féhérvar AV
Match date: Sunday, 18 p.m.
Best of 7 series: 0:0

EC Salzburg – HC Pustertal
Match date: Saturday, 7:45 pm
Best of 7 series: 0:2

HC Bozen – Olimpija Ljubljana
Match date: Saturday, 7:45 pm
Best of 7 series: 1:1