Armin Helfer and Ingemar Gruber are ready for the big duel

SportNews.bz: The longed-for first puck drop will take place on Saturday. What condition will the two teams be in?

Armin Helfer: “We can hardly wait until it finally starts. The last few days before the first game feel endless. Now it's time for the starting signal to be given. All minor injuries and aches and pains will be forgotten from Saturday onwards; the only thing that counts is the will to win. The title comes first, everything else becomes secondary.”

Ingemar Gruber: “The first game will already show what the two teams are made of. Coach Wilson prepared us well for the match. A hot atmosphere awaits us in Bruneck. We will do everything we can to survive there and at the same time offer our fans the incentive to support us loudly in the first home game.”

Which team is under more pressure?

Helpers : “The players from both teams go into the duel with similar expectations, the same basic ideas and goals. Of course we feel the pressure at HC Pustertal, but our opponents will feel the same way. The derby factor is perhaps particularly explosive for the fans, for us it’s all about winning, regardless of whether it’s against Ritten, Asiago or Valpellice.”

Gruber : “For months there has been talk of a South Tyrolean final in the Elite.A. In fact, Pustertal and Ritten have now worked their way into the final playoff round - and they deserve it, because they are simply the two best teams in the league. I'm happy for local ice hockey that we're experiencing a purely South Tyrolean duel in the final. I was also happy about HC Neumarkt's INL title, just as I would be if HC Bozen won the EBEL final. Domestic ice hockey is having an incredible season. I hope that these successes will be used to introduce more fans to this wonderful sport in the long term. To get back to the question asked at the beginning: I think that HC Pustertal feels the higher pressure. The expectations in Bruneck are different.”

Both teams have already faced each other in two title decisions this season: Ritten celebrated in the Italian Cup, while the Lega trophy went to the Wolves. Are these duels still in the back of the players' minds?

Helpers : “I don’t want to look back for long. Both teams start from scratch. Although we are still drawing on the successes in the games for the Lega trophy. These enable us to start the final series in front of our home crowd. Ultimately, I think that our fans would have created a home game atmosphere in Klobenstein. The Italian Cup has little significance, especially since it was decided in a single game and, on top of that, it was extremely even right up to the penalty shootout.”

Gruber : " A lot has changed at HC Pustertal since the Italian Cup. With the new coach, the tactical orientation has improved significantly. So we have to be on our guard. I'll leave the Lega trophy out of the equation for now. I find this interim competition extremely questionable, as all the hard work during the regular season will be put at risk in just a few days. I don't see much point in it. The home advantage is secondary in the final because you also have to win on foreign ice to secure the championship title.”

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Armin Helfer and Ingemar Gruber are ready for the big duel

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