Things got heated between Pustertal and Vienna. © I. Foppa / HC Pustertal

Vienna bewitched: Capitals drive Pustertal to despair

Christmas is a time for reconciliation – but there was no sign of that in the atmospheric Intercable Arena on Sunday evening. HC Falkensteiner Pustertal and the Vienna Capitals engaged in a thrilling, playoff-like battle, at the end of which the Austrians celebrated an away victory.

21 December 2025

From the Intercable Arena

Before their away games in Bolzano and Bruneck, the capital city team had gone seven matches without a victory on the road. This negative streak came to an end this weekend with two impressive wins against the Foxes and Wolves. After the 5:2 victory from the previous day Linden Vey & Co. also prevailed against HC Pustertal with a score of 3-2. Jason Jaspers' men did many things right that evening. Only one thing was missing: composure in front of goal.

The Wolves' already strained personnel situation (they were missing three forwards – Nick Saracino, Tommy Purdeller, and Henry Bowlby – in their last game in Ljubljana) eased somewhat with Bowlby's return to the lineup. The American and his teammates played at a high tempo in the again sold-out Intercable Arena, but their finishing proved to be a major weakness. This was partly due to their own shortcomings, but also to the unleashed performance of visiting goalie Evan Cowley. With his positioning and sheer size, he repeatedly thwarted the Wolves' offensive efforts.

Tension until the end

The scoring drought finally broke when Austin Rueschoff deflected the puck into the net on the power play early in the final period to tie the game at 1-1. Vienna then continued their physical style of play, waiting for counter-attacking opportunities and relying on a Jeremy Gregoire in top form. The 30-year-old scored twice within two minutes, effectively knocking the Wolves out of the game. Although the Wolves never gave up and tried until the final buzzer to turn the tide, the yellow defensive wall held firm until the end – even though JC Lipon briefly rekindled hope with two minutes remaining.

What remains is the realization that Vienna, in its current form, will pose a significant challenge for all teams. Pustertal, on the other hand, hopes to regain two offensive powerhouses like Saracino and Purdeller over the Christmas break. While their absence wasn't the cause of the defeat, the duo was undoubtedly sorely missed. HCP's next game is scheduled for Boxing Day against HC Innsbruck (5:15 p.m.).

HC Pustertal – Vienna Capitals 2:3

HCP: Pasquale (Rabanser); Zanatta-Blum, Lauridsen-Di Tomaso, Almquist-Osmanski; Ierullo-Ticar-Lobis, Lipon-Bardreau-Bowlby, Rueschoff-Frycklund-Mantinger, Deluca-Andergassen-Glira.
coach: Jasper

VIC: Cowley (Setzinger); Bourque-Nogier, Cole Hults-Lindner, Hackl-Gazzola, Wolf-Kirchschläger; Kosmachuk-Vey-Gregoire, Souch-Wallner-Franklin, Kromp-Preiser-Lanzinger, Antonitsch-Theirich-Koschek.
coach: Constantine

Gates: 0:1 Gazzola (32.37), 1:1 Rueschoff (42.41), 1:2 Gregoire (49.13), 1:3 Gregoire (51.26), 2:3 Lipon (57.54)

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