TV show instead of ice hockey arena: Simon Pitschieler has switched roles. © Rai1 / Screenshot

Jackpot beckons: South Tyrolean ice hockey ace appears on TV show

Ice hockey stadiums are his natural habitat, but now Simon Pitschieler from Val Gardena has taken on a new role – and is currently appearing on a famous Italian TV show.

10 April 2025

Simon Pitschieler is used to being in the spotlight. The Val Gardena native is one of the most talented ice hockey stars in South Tyrol. He has played for HC Bozen in the ICE Hockey League, participated in a World Championship with Italy, and is now captain of HC Val Gardena in the Alps Hockey League. Performing in front of hundreds, even thousands, of fans is nothing new for the striker. And yet, the experience Pitschieler is having these days is anything but normal for him.

Since Monday, the ice hockey professional from Pufels, a Val Gardena district in the municipality of Castelrotto, has been in the famous TV show Your business This is broadcast daily at prime time on Rai 1 "I'm not usually the type of person who likes being on TV, but I have to say, I really like this," Pitschieler reveals in an interview with SportNews.

300.000 euros up for grabs

What is this all about? Your business is an Italian game show that is based on the international format Deal or no deal A contestant initially selects one of 20 locked boxes containing amounts of money ranging from a few cents to several hundred thousand euros. By opening the remaining boxes and negotiating with the mysterious "Dottore," they try to win as much money as possible, without knowing how much money is actually in their own box. At the end, the contestant can win up to 300.000 euros—or go home empty-handed.

Simon Pitschieler in action: The 27-year-old is the captain of HC Gröden. © matthaeus kostner

In previous shows, Pitschieler played a supporting role, meaning he opened his box at the contestant's request and revealed the amount of money inside – thus causing either joy or frustration for the player. Soon, however, the 27-year-old will slip into the role of the main character himself and play at the gaming desk for a hefty prize.

“My fiancée secretly registered me.” Simon Pitschieler

For a long time, the Val Gardena captain wasn't even aware that he'd been signed up for this cult show. "My fiancée Anna secretly signed up last summer," says the Val Gardena native with a grin. "At the end of February, I received the news that I'd been selected for the audition. So I went to Trento, where I met a lot of candidates. I managed to convince the jury. I think they especially liked my job as a professional ice hockey player," says Pitschieler.

It's an exciting time for the striker. He's getting married to his wife Anna at the beginning of May. "I'm really looking forward to it. After that, we'll go on our honeymoon," says the Val Gardena captain. Perhaps with a nice cash jackpot in his luggage.