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Raphael Andergassen & Co. came away empty-handed. © I. Foppa / HC Pustertal
Bitter home debut: Pustertal has no chance against Graz
Euphoria was high at HC Falkensteiner Pustertal after their fantastic 8-1 victory over HC Innsbruck. However, just 48 hours later, disillusionment set in for the Wolves. The reason: a mixed performance against the Graz 99ers, which resulted in a decisive defeat.
September 14, 2025
From the Intercable Arena
From:
Leo Holzknecht
Along with Tommy Purdeller, Damian Clara is the flagship of Pustertal ice hockey. The 20-year-old from Reischach was under contract with Färjestad BK last season. This is particularly relevant because his goaltender partner at the time was a certain Maxime Lagace. The 32-year-old moved to the ICE Hockey League (ICEHL) in the summer – and on Sunday, wearing the Graz 99ers colors, he spoiled Clara's hometown team's fun. The Canadian celebrated a shutout and thus played a major role in the Styrian team's 4-0 victory in Bruneck.
The fans in the almost sold-out Intercable Arena witnessed another strong start from their team. Thanks to the outstanding Lagace, Graz survived the initial phase of pressure unscathed and increased their momentum minute by minute. Pustertal was on the ropes towards the end of the first period – and especially in the middle period. The fact that the score was "only" 40-0 after 2 minutes was thanks in no small part to Eddie Pasquale, who, among other things, defused a solo effort by Kevin Roy.
Pustertal stumbles
But even a seemingly energetic dressing room speech by coach Jason Jaspers didn't bring about the desired improvement. Quite the opposite: The Wolves' defensive performance was also inadequate in the third period. Graz's strong individual players exploited the large open spaces with textbook precision, further increasing the score. The fact that goalkeeper Pasquale was Pustertal's best player in a 0-4 defeat was indicative of the poor performance.
Raphael Andergassen and his team now have a week to make the right adjustments. When the next game against Villacher SV takes place next Sunday (17 p.m.), the team's defensive performance will be particularly improved.
The highlights
| Pustertal presses… | Wolves push hard for an early lead, but it eludes them. Purdeller's shot goes just wide, and Lagace makes a great save from Rok Ticar's deflection. At the other end, Pasquale miraculously prevents a Di Tomaso own goal. |
| …but is behind | Graz launched a counterattack in the 25th minute, but HCP lost control while moving backward, allowing Chris Collins to finish unmarked in the middle. Nick Swaney also benefited from too much freedom to make it 0-2, deflecting a Bailen shot. |
| Was that it? The Black and Yellows' fortunes were in jeopardy when Graz made it 3-0 shortly after the restart. Once again, the Styrian team had plenty of ice in front of them, and once again Pasquale was let down. Kevin Roy scored this time. | |
| Yes, that's it | Pustertal fails to up the ante and concedes the next goal. The pattern remains the same. Graz moves the puck into the slot, where the Wolves give their opponents plenty of space. Josh Currie capitalizes and scores to make it 4-0. |
HC Falkensteiner Pustertal – Graz 99ers 0:4
HCP: Pasquale (Rabanser); Blum-Zanatta, Di Tomaso-Lauridsen, Osmanski-Glira; Purdeller-Ticar-Lipon, Rueschoff-Frycklund-Ierullo, Saracino-Bardreau-Bowlby, Lobis-Andergassen-Mantinger.coach: Jasper
G99: Lagace (Graschner); Brunner-Hora, Stapelfeldt-Bailen, Koch-Holzer, Zündel; Huber-Collins-Swaney, Ganahl-Collins-Haudum, Roy-Vela-Harnisch, Kainz-Schiechl-Feldner, Moosbrugger.
coach: Long
Gates: 0-1 Collins (24.32), 0-2 Swaney (30.59), 0-3 Roy (42.20), 0-4 Currie (50.31)
Viewers: 3027
ICE Hockey League:
AV Fehervar – Black Wings Linz 1:0Goals: 1:0 Nemeth (51.40)
Audience: 3470
Pioneers Vorarlberg – HC Innsbruck 2.3
Goals: 0:1 Benker (0.23), 0:2 Dobnig (2.34), 0:3 Steffler (9.25), 1:3 Gallant (18.26), 2:3 Meier (49.24)
Audience: 1663
Red Bull Salzburg – EC KAC 4:1
Goals: 1-0 Hörl (4.39:2), 0-9.36 Corcoran (2:1), 42.34-3 Mursak (1:57.43), 4-1 Stephens (58.50:XNUMX), XNUMX-XNUMX Corcoran (XNUMX:XNUMX)
Audience: 3400
Vienna Capitals – Ferencvaros Budapest 3:2 aet
Goals: 1:0 Mitch Hults (17.08), 1:1 Trepanier (19.59), 1:2 Toth (28.16), 2:2 Souch (40.30), 3:2 Bourque (60.54)
Spectators: 4160
Olimpija Ljubljana – Villacher SV 7:2
Goals: 1:0 Simsic (11.30), 2:0 Pance (19.00), 3:0 Petan (26.28), 3:1 Lindner (32.05), 3:2 Rebernig (37.03), 4:2 Brennan (39.45), 5:2 Bericic (55.58), 6:2 Meyer (52.58), 7:2 Crnovic (56.48)
Spectators: 2463
The table
| SP | G | U | V | TV | P | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Olimpija Ljubljana | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 15:3 | 6 |
| 2. EC Salzburg | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8:4 | 6 |
| 3. Graz99ers | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:0 | 3 |
| 4. HC Pustertal | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8:5 | 3 |
| 5. Linz | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5:3 | 3 |
| 6. EC Klagenfurt | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5:4 | 3 |
| 7. EC Villach | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6:9 | 3 |
| 8. Fehervar | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1:4 | 3 |
| 9. HC Innsbruck | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4:10 | 3 |
| 10. Vienna Capitals | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4:10 | 2 |
| 11. Ferencvarosi | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4:7 | 1 |
| 12. HCB South Tyrol | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3:4 | 0 |
| 13. Vorarlberg | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4:8 | 0 |
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