Marcel Skokan (right) celebrated his greatest career success in Wolkenstein. © Matthäus Kostner

Love at second sight: Val Gardena's mastermind remains

Newly crowned league champions HC Gherdëina have managed to retain their successful coach. It is the first major personnel decision for the Ladin club.

07 May 2026

From: pm/fop

Hockey Club Gherdëina will continue to rely on Marcel Skokan for the upcoming AlpsHL season. Following their historic championship title, the team and the Slovakian coach quickly agreed on a contract extension.

"He managed to mold the individual players into a team and has only made the right decisions since his arrival," sporting director Joel Brugnoli praised the 51-year-old. "Both sides were pushing for a contract extension."

Second term in Val Gardena

Skokan knows HCG very well: Between 2014 and 2017 he worked successfully in the youth sector of the Gröden club and won two Italian championship titles with the junior teams.

Marcel Skokan (right) sets a great example of passion for his protégés. © Matthäus Kostner

After that, the Slovakian gained international experience – first in the youth sector of HC Pustertal, later in Poland with Podhale Nowy Targ, and in the German Regionalliga with EC Lauterbach, whom he led to the semi-finals. Further stints followed in his native Slovakia before he returned to Wolkenstein last November, replacing Teppo Kivelä as head coach.

What happened next became a success story: From eleventh place in the standings, Skokan sensationally led the Furie to the first AlpsHL championship title in the club's history.