Daniel Glira scored twice. © Johannes TRAUB / JT-Presse.de

Pustertal celebrates sensational victory against DEL top club

The start of the season in the ICE Hockey League (ICEHL) is still over two weeks away, but HC Falkensteiner Pustertal is already in top form: On Sunday, the Wolves beat a top team from the German Ice Hockey League (DEL) in Latsch as part of the Vinschgau Cup.

August 24, 2025

From: leo

ERC Ingolstadt won the regular season of the DEL last season, only being eliminated in the semifinals. Mark French's team is aiming for the title again this season. The same goes for HC Pustertal, which is entering the ICEHL with high expectations. A look at the first three test matches shows that these Wolves are capable of a lot. On Sunday, they beat Ingolstadt 6-4.

This performance cannot be overestimated, especially considering that Ingolstadt had defeated Champions League winners Zurich the day before, and Pustertal was playing without four key players: Wipptal loanee Dominik Groh replaced Eddie Pasquale in goal, while JC Lipon, Mikael Frycklund, and Cole Bardreau were also missing. So the local players stepped up. Daniel Glira made it 1-0 after five minutes, and Fabian Gschliesser made it 2-1. Luciano Zandegiacomo sealed the 3-1 lead at halftime.

Glira becomes the match winner

Ingolstadt turned the tables, however, leading 4-3 with six minutes remaining. Two goals within 69 seconds from the unleashed Glira and Austin Rueschoff put the Wolves back on the winning track. The Germans risked everything, taking their goalie off the ice, but just moments later, Rueschoff scored to make it 6-4 and seal the prestigious victory.

Dominik Groh stepped in for Eddie Pasquale. © Johannes TRAUB / JT-Presse.de

The tournament victory went to the Straubing Tigers, by the way. Following their 5-2 victory against HCP, the Bavarians also defeated the ZSC Lions 3-1 on Sunday.

HC Falkensteiner Pustertal – ERC Ingolstadt 6:4

HCP: Groh (Häusler); Lauridsen-Blum, Zanatta-Di Tomaso, Glira-Osmanski, Nitz; Lobis-Ticar-Purdeller, Gschliesser-Bowlby-Saracino, Mantinger-Andergassen-Deluca, Rueschoff-Ierullo.
coach: Jasper

ERC: Brochu (Williams); Breton-Hüttl, Jandric-Ellis, Ruopp-Preto, Spornberger-Hauf; Agostino-Powell-Krauß; Sheen-Abbandonato-Barber, Keating-Pietta-Schmölz, Krauß-Girduckis-Kharboutli.
coach: French

Gates: 1:0 Glira (4.45), 1:1 Girduckis (10.25), 2:1 Gschliesser (14.21), 3:1 Saracino (16.34), 3:2 Abbandonato (29.58), 3:3 Hüttl (45.07), 3:4 Agostino (51.45), 4:4 Glira (54.04), 5:4 Rueschoff (55.13), 6:4 Rueschoff (58.41)

Viewers: 453

Vinschgau Cup

ZSC Lions – Straubing Tigers 1:3
Goals: 0:1 Halloran (1.26), 0:2 Hede (27.02), 0:3 Brandt (35.02), 1:3 Trutmann (54.39)
Audience: 450