Jonathon Blum tries to shake his team awake with some strong words. © HC Pustertal

Alarm before the derby: Pustertal's star bangs his fist on the table

The first major ice hockey highlight of the new year is upon us: HC Pustertal and HC Bozen will face off on Saturday. However, there's a sense of alarm among the Wolves – and the team's star player is making his position clear.

02 January 2026

From: det

For the neutral observer, it was an ice hockey spectacle, but for the Puster Valley fans in the again sold-out Intercable Arena, it was an emotional rollercoaster – with a bitter ending. The Wolves lost to Problem child Pioneers Vorarlberg gifted two points in their 5:6 defeat after penalty shootout. This continues the negative trend: last month there were six losses in nine games. HCP, which was also top of the table this season, now finds itself in sixth place.

And now, for the Puster Valley team, Saturday (7:45 pm/SportNews(Live ticker) the big derby against HC Bolzano, who are really flourishing again after the coaching change. Perhaps with that in mind, Pustertal's star defenseman Jonathon Blum slammed his fist on the table after the loss against Vorarlberg. "That's simply not enough," said the 122-time NHL player.

The Wolves suffered a defeat against Vorarlberg. © I. Foppa / HC Pustertal

"What bothers me most is the way we lost. We didn't stick to the game plan, we didn't follow the details, we played selfishly and not as a team," were Blum's clear words.

"We need to stop being a bunch of individualists." Jonathon Blum

The 36-year-old from California worked himself into a rage. "We need to try to perform like a top team again. We've strayed far from that. Every single player needs to look in the mirror and figure out how we can come together as a team again. We need to stop being a bunch of individualists, because, frankly, it feels really bad right now," said Blum.

“We need to perform as a team again,” said Blum. © I. Foppa / HC Pustertal

At the start of the season, HC Pustertal was one of the high-flyers, captivating the league with their ease, flair, and passion. "Apparently, those early successes didn't do us any good. Back then, we worked hard, we were a team, and we played very simple hockey. That's where we need to get back to. Once we understand that, we'll have fun again," Blum concluded.

Bolzano is brimming with self-confidence

One thing is already clear: Saturday's derby in Bruneck will be a heated affair. The Puster Valley team is looking to make amends, not only because of their current situation, but also because of the humiliating defeat they suffered against HC Bozen at the end of October in their last encounter. Back then, the Wolves suffered a 1:9 defeat in the state capital. The Foxes, for their part, are brimming with confidence: They won just on New Year's Day. Scott Valentine & Co. beat league leaders Klagenfurt 2-1 after extra time.