Ivan Althuber (here with President Erich Falkensteiner) is ending his career. © Fabian Leitner

Ivan Althuber: A true wolf leaves the ship

Ivan Althuber is an institution at HC Pustertal. Now the 31-year-old defender has decided to end his career.

04 April 2025

From: cst/det

A true wolf is leaving HC Pustertal: As the Bruneck team announced on Friday, Ivan Althuber has retired. This means that HCP is losing not only a long-time key player, but also a leading player in the locker room. With 569 appearances for the Black and Yellows, Althuber was recently the longest-serving HCP player.

Althuber is a true homegrown talent from the Puster Valley. After coming through the Wolves' youth teams, the defender made his debut with the "big leagues" in the 2011/12 season – back then still in Serie A. At the same time, Althuber played a few games for Kaltern, where he served as a cooperation player, as well as a year later in Merano and later in Vipiteno. Althuber quickly became a fixture in Bruneck. With the Wolves, the left-handed shooter made the transition from Serie A to the Alps Hockey League and later to the ICE Hockey League.

Ivan Althuber is an institution at HCP.

Althuber was occasionally criticized there, but ultimately, he prevailed. Althuber played 44 games last season and collected five points. In 5, 2018, and 2020, he was Italy's top offensive defenseman, scoring the most goals in each of those years.

“I will always carry the HCP in my heart.” Ivan Althuber

"It's time to hang up my skates," Althuber is quoted as saying in a Pustertal press release. "Even though this decision isn't easy for me, as HC Pustertal has been like a second family to me over the years, I still look back on many incredible moments in the black and yellow jersey."

Althuber continued: "I would like to thank the club, the fans, and all my teammates for the many wonderful experiences on and off the ice. A big thank you also goes to my family and friends, who have always supported me, even when things didn't go as planned. I will always carry this club in my heart and will definitely remain loyal to HCP as a fan. Thank you for everything!"