A test match is all well and good, but HCP and Olimpija Ljubljana gave it their all on Thursday in Bruneck.

Wolves bite at home for the first time

On Thursday evening, HC Falkensteiner Pustertal played their first game of the new season at the Intercable Arena. Their opponents in Bruneck were fellow ICE Hockey League team Olimpija Ljubljana.

August 27, 2026

From: cst

HCP had chosen a high-caliber, but familiar, opponent for their preseason friendly against their semifinal opponent from the previous season. In the end, the Slovenians were defeated 1-4, while the Wolves confirmed their strong preseason form.

A penalty shootout loss against the DEL club from Ingolstadt and a 3-1 victory against the Czech team Litvinov were the Puster Valley team's results so far in their summer preseason. On Thursday, they hosted a familiar opponent in Olimpija Ljubljana in South Tyrol. Could Bruneck's decisive 4-1 win be a sign of things to come in the championship race?

Purdeller scores a brace, Bardreau is suspended.

HCP coach Jason Jaspers fielded the same lineup against the Green Dragons as against Litvinov. And unlike against Ljubljana, the Puster Valley team struck immediately. JC Lipon and Tommy Purdeller scored in a first period that lasted only 14 minutes. The reason: a plexiglass barrier had broken. The game remained heated, and Cole Bardreau was ejected after a butt-ending penalty. Clayton Kirichenko, coming straight from the penalty box, narrowed the gap to 3-1 for Olimpija.

The final period was uneventful until about five minutes before the end, when a wild brawl broke out involving numerous players. Purdeller apparently emerged unscathed, as the HCP forward subsequently scored an empty-net goal to seal the 4-1 victory.

Milan loses against Canadian university team

Newcomer ICE Hockey League player HC Milano also played a test match on Thursday. The Milanese team lost 5-6 against the Saskatchewan University team. The Canadian junior team is currently participating in the "Wellcard Trophy" in Klagenfurt, where they have already defeated the Vienna Capitals.