A new era: This is the Alps Ice Academy

A joint project with which the 10 top South Tyrolean ice hockey clubs (HCB Südtirol, HC Pustertal, Rittner Buam, HC Gherdëina, Wipptal Broncos, HC Meran, Unterland Cavaliers, HC Eppan, Brixen Falcons and Toblach Icebears) combine their strengths, skills and experiences and put these at the service of a common vision: the development and establishment of the national reference center for ice sports. An ideal and inclusive training and working location for future world-class ice athletes with a view to the 2026 Olympics and beyond. The idea of building and developing a sports facility that offers young aspiring athletes the opportunity to further develop their talent professionally and in a targeted manner and to exploit their potential is based on the initiative of Erich Falkensteiner (President of HC Pustertal), Dorotea Mader (President of the Board of Directors) and Jochen Schenk (board member of the HCP). They were supported in the development by Thomas Rottensteiner (Vice President of Italy's ice sports association FISG), Harald Oberrauch and Günther Hell (Vice President of the Board of Directors). “At the Alps Ice Academy, the focus is just as much on the sporting character as the academic character, in order to sustainably prepare the athletes for their future, both in their active sporting careers and in their academic and professional development,” says Dorotea Mader. Bruneck ideal location In this regard, the school inspector and deputy of the state school director Werner Sporer as well as the directors of the larger Bruneck high schools have already promised their support and cooperation in the organization of school obligations in order to give the athletes the opportunity to receive a solid school education in addition to their sporting activities . The Alps Ice Academy will be based in Bruneck. “The Intercable Arena offers the best conditions for this with its two ice surfaces. In addition, the school center is just a stone's throw away. The property for the home with around 2 sleeping spaces as well as several learning and training rooms is right next to the arena and has already been announced by the municipality of Bruneck,” says Leo Brugger, managing director of the Alps Ice Academy. The Alps Ice Academy team will make their first appearance at the traditional Lions Cup in Prague from August 8th to 12th. Stefan Asper and Oly Hicks, sporting directors of the academy, will accompany the players from the various clubs to the tournament in the Czech capital after a training camp. Further participation in tournaments, participation in the U16 championship and joint training camps are planned. “The goal must be,” says Thomas Rottensteiner, “that the Alps Ice Academy teams also take part in international championships in the near future. The association must create opportunities for our young talents to compete with strong players from other nations. An international championship, like the EBYSL was until recently, would be desirable and welcome from our side.” Further projects planned In order to be able to manage this ambitious project and achieve the set goals, the financial component is of course crucial. The founding associations also count on the long-term support and interest of private investors and companies. “Sponsors are everything,” says Erich Falkensteiner, “Alperia provided generous start-up support. The state government, headed by State Governor Arno Kompatscher, and the city of Bruneck were also crucial for the first steps.” The Alps Ice Academy is intended to grow solidly, step by step. Plans are in place to accommodate all types of ice sports in the future and to include all South Tyrolean ice sports centers. But that is still a thing of the future.

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A new era: This is the Alps Ice Academy

On July 10th the time had come: the first ice sports academy in the Italian Alpine region was formally founded with the name Alps Ice Academy, thus laying the foundation for the South Tyrol-wide project of an ice sports academy.

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