The HC Bozen phenomenon: What’s behind it?

It's March and the start of the ice hockey playoffs - a time when people in South Tyrol's state capital and beyond fall into pure enthusiasm for sports. And this is the fifth year in a row since the players of HC Bozen, or rather HCB Südtirol Alperia, have been chasing the hard rubber disc in the Erste Bank Ice Hockey League. On Tuesday evening, the Foxes made it into the semi-finals for the third time in their league membership. And the 6.010 fans who had previously clogged the streets were thrilled. The atmosphere was impressive and the euphoria was palpable in every corner of the otherwise cold ice hockey temple. The day after, the 2-0 win against Klagenfurt should be the number one topic of conversation throughout the country. No other club in South Tyrol inspires the crowds so much, polarizes them so much and regularly attracts a similar number of spectators to one of their sports facilities. They now come from areas where Bolzano's arch-rivals are based, from the Merano area or the Puster Valley, but also from neighboring regions in northern Italy or even nearby foreign countries.

That also happened in Bolzano: playoffs in front of 600 fans It was just seven years ago when the White-Reds played in the first round of the playoffs against the later bankrupt club Pontebba in front of 600 fans in the 7.200-capacity ice wave. So how does the current hype surrounding the HCB come about?

On the one hand, there is undoubtedly the successful ice hockey that is offered on the smooth playing surface. On the other hand, the current interest in Alexander Egger & Co. is put into perspective when you look at the club's history books, which go back to 1933, the year the traditional club was founded. Already in the early 90s, the ice wave in the season finale was regularly filled to bursting, not to mention the crowds of spectators in previous decades, when the old exhibition hall on Romstrasse was bursting at the seams at almost every league game. Bolzano has always been an ice hockey-crazy city, but its love for HCB faded during the years of decline of this sport in Italy. A club that unites Since joining EBEL, the people of Bolzano themselves have also done a lot to rekindle this passion by making the walls in the wide area shake week after week. Even players, coaches and supporters of other clubs now praise them as the “best fans in the league”. They make a visit to the Eiswelle a real experience for everyone.

The atmosphere is created by those hard-core supporters, the ultras in the fan curve, who were always in the stadium even during the dreary playoff spectacle against Pontebba, but who in the past had also frightened many stadium-goers with riots or political messages from the right-wing spectrum. Since moving to the Austrian league, there has been no contact with previously hated supporters, such as those from Milan or Varese. There is no longer any hatred in the stands, politics stays out of the stadium or is no longer openly displayed. Instead, families and children fill every sector of the stadium, in the curve people from both language groups shout their protégés to the front. There is a great sense of togetherness at HC Bozen, this club that has so often stood above any ethnic conflicts in the past and created a community that other clubs in South Tyrol have always strived for in vain. Whoever is in is in A community that has long included personalities from politics and business. True to the motto “Whoever is in is in,” they flock to the Bolzano ice arena – especially in times of sporting success. However, it is also thanks to HCB boss Dieter Knoll that a network of patrons and supporters has been found who are gradually freeing the cash-strapped club from its legacy. Successful local entrepreneurs are now said to have expressed interest in joining the club. Nobody is offended by the “sole ruler” Knoll anymore, who was often criticized for his leadership style, but who kept the club alive in the long term, has recently professionalized it in several areas and has often shown a good hand in sporting decisions, such as the selection of players has.

Not everything that glitters is gold Of course, not everything that glitters is gold at HC Bozen. Their own budget is below league average, there is a lot of catching up to do in the youth sector, which is why the capital club also benefits from a strong ice hockey movement that other clubs across the country support and bad sporting decisions have been made on a number of occasions, even this season.

However, the traffic chaos that once again engulfed Bozen Süd on Tuesday at 21.30:XNUMX p.m., immediately after the end of another ice hockey spectacle in the Eiswelle, shows that this club with its glorious past still electrifies the masses like no other.

ICE Regular Season ICE	SP	TV	P
1. Klagenfurt	47	183:101	102
2. Fehervar	46	146:126	89
3. Salzburg	46	142:107	87
4. HCB South Tyrol	46	137:125	76
5. Linz	46	146:116	75
6. Villach	46	155:136	74
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The HC Bozen phenomenon: What’s behind it?

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