The Milano Hockey Finals were presented in Bolzano. © Max Pattis

Arena concerns remain, but euphoria prevails.

This weekend, the new Italian ice hockey champion and cup winner will be determined in the newly built Santa Giulia Arena in Milan. The event – ​​as well as the Women's U18 World Championship – was presented on Monday at WaltherPark in Bolzano.

05 January 2026

From January 9th to 11th, many ice hockey fans will be eagerly watching Milan. On the one hand, the sporting aspect promises plenty of excitement, as the 92nd Italian champion and the 30th Italian Cup winner will be crowned. On the other hand, the eight teams that have qualified for the finals will be inaugurating the brand-new Santa Giulia Arena. Although not yet fully completed – just one month before the Olympic Games – it is ready to host the Milan Hockey Finals.

Following the debates of recent months, which raised doubts about the timely completion of the arena, interest in this test event has increased even further. No update on the construction progress was provided in Bolzano on Monday. FISG Vice President Thomas Rottensteiner merely stated: “There have been many discussions surrounding the stadium. Now they are in the process of completing it. We are very proud to have successfully organized this event. It wasn't an easy path, but we are all the more delighted to be able to award the Scudetto and the Coppa Italia in such a prestigious setting.”

A unique event

Leaving aside the stadium issue, the event, as FISG board member Marcello Cobelli emphasized, represents "a unique opportunity" for ice hockey in Italy. "We are convinced that the participating teams will offer attractive sport and contribute to making ice hockey even more popular in Italy," said Cobelli.

From left, Simon Kostner (Rittner Buam), Filippo Pompanin (SG Cortina), Paul Eisendle (Wipptal Broncos) and Gregorio Gios (HC Asiago). © Max Pattis

On SportNewsWhen asked whether the titles could be awarded in such a setting in the future, Cobelli emphasized: “I would like to see it, as it would be a true celebration of ice hockey. Unfortunately, I think it will be a one-off event. It is simply very difficult to organize an event of this size in a stadium while the season is in full swing. After all, with eight teams, we're talking about 300 players, coaches, support staff, and officials.” Cobelli also stated that, as of now, over 5.000 tickets have been sold. A result that is quite respectable considering the long journey many teams have to make.

Present were not only FISG officials, but also four players from the participating AlpsHL teams: Simon Kostner (Rittner Buam), Paul Eisendle (Wipptal Broncos), Filippo Pompanin (SG Cortina), and Gregorio Gios (HC Asiago). "We've seen an upward trend in recent weeks. We want to maintain this high level because we're facing a tough opponent in the Broncos in the semifinals," said Kostner. "It's something special for all of us," added Eisendle. "We're brimming with confidence and have put in some good performances recently, which means we're well-prepared for Milan."

Milan Hockey Finals, the program:

Friday, January 9th:
SV Kaltern – Varese (20:XNUMX p.m.)

Saturday, January 10th:
Alleghe – HC Eppan (11 a.m.)
HC Asiago – SG Cortina (15.30 p.m.)
Rittner Buam – Wipptal Broncos (20 pm)

Sunday, January 11th:
Third place match in Serie A (11 a.m.)
Italian Cup Final (3:30 pm)
Italian Championship Final (20 p.m.)