Aron Kecskemeti answers SportNews' questions. © Daniele Frusone

Success makes people desirable: What happens to Wipptal’s talents?

The 2024/25 season was a rollercoaster ride for Wipptal Broncos fans. After a disastrous start, the Wild Horses fought their way back to the top and finished the championship in the top four. SportNews, along with assistant coach Aron Kecskemeti, takes a look back and also ventures a look ahead.

09 April 2025

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Last place, six points behind 12th place, and a handful of injured players: This was the sobering situation facing the Wipptal Broncos at the beginning of November. Nothing indicated that South Tyrol's northernmost ice hockey team had a realistic chance of reaching the quarterfinals, let alone the Master Round. What Johann Sjöquist's team conjured up on the ice in the following months, however, was otherworldly. As the regular season progressed, the Wild Horses fought their way up the ladder until they finally had a firm hold on fifth place—meaning a place in the Master Round.

On the final matchday, the Broncos were just one goal away from completing the miracle in their direct duel against the Italian champions from Cortina. After a solid intermediate round with six wins from eight matches, the blue and whites then faced what seemed like the easiest draw in the pre-playoffs: Celje. Ultimately, however, the Sterzingers only just reached the quarterfinals, after a clear loss in the first game at the Weihenstephan Arena and then struggling to a 1-0 away victory.

Coach Johan Sjöquist remained calm throughout. © Social Media

It wasn't until the decisive match that the Fuggerstadt team revealed their quality and actually made it into the top 8. A magnificent performance followed in the quarterfinals, sending their arch-rivals Kitzbühel packing with a 4-0 sweep. However, they were eliminated in the semifinals, also losing decisively in four matches to the league's top team, Zell am See.

"This season has taught me many new things – among them that you should always stay positive and believe in yourself. We worked on many small details in the autumn, and this hard work has finally paid off. Because at this level, the smallest details can decide the game. Therefore, it is especially important for us as a coaching team to support the players in all aspects," says assistant coach Aron Kecskemeti to SportNews.

Who stays, who goes?

The 32-year-old is considered the Wildpferde's good soul: In addition to his role as assistant coach, he also works as a goalkeeper coach and enjoys great respect in the Wipptal Valley. The Hungarian expert says he is very excited about his future in Sterzing and is confident about the challenges ahead. "Every day, I am grateful to be able to work with such great people who work with the team," says Kecskemeti.

The Broncos clearly prevailed against Kitzbühel © Social Media

Despite strong performances in the new year, some questions may remain unanswered in the summer – partly due to the farm team agreement with HC Pustertal. The two clubs have worked closely together for years, offering players the opportunity to play in both the Alps Hockey League and the ICE Hockey League.

This season, many young talents have been able to shine. 21-year-old Leonard Hasler has shown great potential, especially in defense. The trained striker was converted to a defenseman in the summer and has performed admirably. Since HCP has only fielded four Italian defensemen this season and Ivan Althuber recently retired, a transfer for "Lenny" Hasler is certainly conceivable. The same applies to the two attackers Thomas Galimberti and Luciano Zandegiacomo. Both talents have contributed significantly to the Broncos' success and could also take the next step in their careers.

What will become of Rabanser?

The board will also have to address the goalkeeping issue. Jakob Rabanser suffered a serious injury in the summer of 2024, and the 24-year-old has been training more and more frequently in Bruneck recently – suggesting that the tall goalkeeper could move to the east of the country.

"It was a great honor to work with both Jakob and Dominik. I'm sure the board will decide during the summer break who they want to sign for the number one goalie position. But of course, my job remains the same. Regardless of how things develop, I have to ensure the goalkeeper continues to develop and can fully realize his potential."

“I am sure that the board and Johan will do an excellent job in putting the team together.” Aron Kecskemeti

When asked whether young players could leave the club, Kecskemeti replied: "I don't have any information on that at the moment, but I'm sure the board and Johan will do an excellent job in assembling the team. The project underway in Vipiteno will continue to contribute to the development of young players, without losing sight of the goal of achieving the best possible results with the team." One thing is certain: despite the usually moderate summer temperatures, the coming months in Vipiteno will be hot.