Rick Schofield led Pustertal to victory. © Social Media

The “evergreen” breathes new life into Pustertal

The Puster fan hearts have had to endure a lot in the last few days. But now the Wolves are back in business - also thanks to their “oldie”, who led the black and yellow to a vital victory in Innsbruck on Sunday.

04. February 2024

From: det

At 36 years old, Rick Schofield is the oldest player in the HC Pustertal squad. And yet: When the going gets tough, when responsibility needs to be taken, when the cart needs to be pulled out of the mud - then Schofield is there. The center, who was missing for a long time this season due to an injury, led the Wolves to a 4-1 win in Innsbruck on Sunday, thanks to which the Pusterers are very close to the playoff zone again.

Schofield was successful with a brace in the six-point match against his neighbors in the table, although his goal to make it 3-1 could play a very important role. Pustertal had to serve five minutes of being outnumbered, but that's exactly when Schofield scored after a rebound and led the Wolves to victory in this delicate moment.

Things got tough between Innsbruck and Pustertal. © HCI / Georgios Papaconstantis

After two embarrassing defeats recently (3:6 in Asiago, 1:7 against Klagenfurt), the HCP is back on the road to success. And the performance of the team, which had to do without Alex Petan, also gives the Wolves fans hope. The effort was exemplary, goalie Andy Bernard exuded a lot of confidence, the defense took Innsbruck's top scorer Kevin Roy out of the game and Jason Akeson & Co. acted callously in front of the goal. In short: Pustertal was much hungrier than Innsbruck.

Playoffs just a blink of an eye away

A look at the table shows that it was a good evening for the HCP: The top 6 – i.e. the direct playoff places – are within reach. Pustertal is level on points with sixth-placed Villach, just one point behind fifth-placed Linz and three behind HC Bozen in fourth place. They lost at home to the Vorarlberg Pioneers on Sunday. But the wolves also have one more match under their belt.

Now the ICE Hockey League is taking a short break. It continues on Tuesday, February 13th - with the fourth derby between Pustertal and Bolzano. There will be a lot at stake in the Intercable Arena, because the Foxes also have to worry about the playoffs after Sunday's defeat against Vorarlberg.

HC Innsbruck – HC Pustertal 1:4

HCI: Buitenhuis (Gratzer); Albano-Steffler, Jakubitzka-Halbert, Kerber-Krogsgaard, Schintler; Green-Mackin-Winkler, Roy-Rockwood-Peeters, Bär-Ulmer-Lattner, Ludin-Mader-Ploner
Coach: O'Keefe

HCP: Bernard (Rabanser); Stanton-Messner, Kasastul-Ege, Glira-Atwal, Althuber; Hannoun-Frycklund-Catenacci, Morley-Schofield-Akeson, Deluca-Andergassen-Mantinger, Berger
Coach: Vuorinen

Gates: Mikael Frycklund (11.36), 0:2 Jason Akeson (25.56), 1:2 Gordon Green (34.24), 1:3 Rick Schofield (35.54), 1:4 Rick Schofield (45.22)

Viewers: 2.700

The other games

HC Bozen – Pioneers Vorarlberg 2:4 (click here for the report)
Goals: 0:1 Macierzynski (12.39), 0:2 Pastujov (13.58), 0:3 Bull (22.17), 0:4 Metzler (30.16), 1:4 Frigo (38.20), 2:4 Thomas (56.30)

Vienna Capitals – Black Wings Linz 2:1
Goals: 1:0 Cheek (30.05), 1:1 St-Amant (33.58), 2:1 Cheek (58.57)
Audience: 4.890

EC KAC – Villacher SV 6:1
Goals: 0:1 Richter (15.21), 1:1 Hundredppound (21.23), 2:1 Fraser (24.54), 3:1 Vallant (26.29), 4:1 Petersen (50.36), 5:1 Bischofberger (51.14), 6:1 Hochegger (57.02)
Audience: 4.407

Asiago Hockey – Red Bull Salzburg 2:3 nP
Goals: 1:0 Stevan (6.52), 2:0 Finoro (39.33), 2:1 Bourke (45.12), 2:2 Thaler (53.59). Decisive penalty: Wukovits (65.00)
Audience: 1.668