Videos
The HCB put everything, absolutely everything, into the mix – but in the end, it was all for nothing. © DLife/LO
Europe as a stress test: Bolzano's wild Champions League night
In a heated, nerve-wracking duel, the brave Foxes suffered severe injuries against the Panthers from Ingolstadt. Now only a small miracle can save HC Bozen in the Champions Hockey League.
08 October 2025
From the Sparkasse Arena in Bolzano
From:
Alexander Foppa
HCB Südtirol Alperia lost 2-3 to ERC Ingolstadt on the penultimate round of Champions Hockey League group matches. Things were looking so good for the passionately fighting Foxes at one point. But in the end, the Ritten native (and last year's HCB defender) was the one celebrating. Peter Spornberger with his Ingolstadt teammates and the 120 fans traveling with him from Upper Bavaria. For the White-Reds, a place in the round of 16 is now a distant prospect.
Bolzano shocked the DEL favorites with a furious opening period, in which Shane Gersich and Matt Bradley provided the highlights with their goals to make it 2-0. When Ingolstadt got close to the Bolzano net, Jonny Vallini truly excelled. At first, it seemed as if a magical European Cup night was in the making at the Sparkasse Arena.
Barberio weakens his own team
But that wasn't the case. Partly because the Foxes themselves brought the Panthers back into the game: Minor defensive blunders paved the way for them to equalize. With the score finally tied at 2-2, Mark Barberio weakened the HCB, which was already battered by three injuries. Bolzano's star defender was sent off with a match penalty, forcing the remaining five defensemen to work overtime – including youngster Enrico Larcher, who was now regularly on the ice.
In the end, however, the Foxes lacked the strength to successfully recover from their first setback in the final period. Inaccuracies and a fair amount of bad luck with the puck prevented them from securing a crucial point.
The decisive scenes
| Gerich's Cream Day | Bolzano deservedly took a 2-0 lead in the opening period – and Gerich played a key role both times: After a Gazley shot, he was in the right place and put the rebound into the net with his backhand (16th minute), and for the 2-0 goal, he delivered a wonderful pass to goal scorer Bradley (20th minute). |
| Seed's mishaps | Bozen itself initiates Ingolstadt's comeback: When Gersich loses the puck in the attacking zone, Seed is positioned far too high. Barber converts the ensuing counterattack to make it 2-1 (24th minute). Seed looks unhappy again when Preto equalizes. He crosses the ice with his stick and deflects the puck decisively (29th minute). |
| Barberio's Blackout | Just as HCB was gaining momentum after the 2-2 tie, Mark Barberio lost his temper: He hit ERC player Tropmann in the head with his stick. The result? Bolzano's defensive star was sent off with a match penalty (40th minute). |
| McClure's boxing insert | The sparks fly! Several players exchange pleasantries in front of Vallini's goal. McClure, in particular, gets into a heated argument with Jandric. The two engage in a wild brawl, and the referees struggle to control the situation (43'). |
| Schmölz' winning goal | Just seconds after Bozen's five-minute power play expired, Ingolstadt took the lead for the first time. Vallini flicked a puck forward, where Schmölz was in the perfect position to make it 3-2 (46th minute). After that, Bozen repeatedly failed to force overtime. |
Now Bozen must finally win against the overwhelming Luleå HF and at the same time hope for a slip-up from their opponents to advance to the Top 16 and thus to the round of 16. The match in northern Sweden will take place next Tuesday. First, however, on Friday (from 7:45 p.m. in the SportNews-Ticker) the big South Tyrolean derby in Bruneck and on Sunday (16 p.m.) the league home game against Villach. So, a full schedule for the Foxes!
HCB Südtirol Alperia – ERC Ingolstadt 2:3
HSBC: Vallini (Harvey); Barberio-Larcher, Gildon-Seed, Valentine-Miglioranzi; Gazley-Bradley-Gersich, Schneider-Pollock-McClure, Marchetti-Frank-Brunner, Frigo-Mantenuto-DiGiacintoCoach: Kurt Kleinendorst
ERCI: Brochu (Oswald); Jandric-Ruopp, Preto-Tropmann, Spornberger-Zerhoch; Philipp Krauss-Powell-Girduckis, Schmölz-Abbandonato-Barber, Sheen-Keating-Kharboutli, Hauf-Smallwood-Johannes Krauss
Coach: Mark French
Gates: 1-0 Shane Gersich (15.11), 2-0 Matt Bradley (19.45), 2-1 Riley Barber (23.27), 2-2 Philipp Preto (28.51), 2-3 Daniel Schmölz (45.06)
Viewers: 2.740
The other results from Wednesday:
Kometa Brno – Ilves Tampere 0:5Odense Bulldogs – RB Salzburg 2:1
SC Bern – Belfast Giants 7:0
Klagenfurt – GKS Tychy 1:4
Grenoble – Lausanne HC 7:4
| SP | G | U | V | TV | P | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Ilves Tampere | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20:6 | 15 |
| 2. KalPa Kuopio | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 21:7 | 14 |
| 3. Frölunda Gothenburg | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 17:8 | 12 |
| 4. Sparta Prague | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 14:9 | 11 |
| 5. SC Bern | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 18:10 | 10 |
| 6. Lukko Rauma | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 16:10 | 10 |
| 7. Brynäs IF | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 13:8 | 9 |
| 8. ERC Ingolstadt | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 15:13 | 9 |
| 9. EV train | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 17:14 | 8 |
| 10. Grenoble | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 21:20 | 8 |
| 11. Lulea Hockey | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 10:11 | 8 |
| 12. ZSC Lions | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 11:9 | 7 |
| 13. Bremerhaven | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 15:15 | 7 |
| 14. Kometa Brno | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 17:19 | 7 |
| 15. Red Bull Salzburg | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 10:10 | 6 |
| 16. Klagenfurt AC | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 13:17 | 6 |
| 17. Mountfield HK | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 11:16 | 6 |
| 18. Storhamar Hamar | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 7:15 | 6 |
| 19. Odense Bulldogs | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 13:19 | 5 |
| 20. HCB South Tyrol | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 12:18 | 5 |
| 21. Eisbären Berlin | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 12:18 | 4 |
| 22. GKS Tychy | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 8:14 | 3 |
| 23. Lausanne HC | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 15:22 | 3 |
| 24. Belfast Giants | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 12:30 | 1 |
Confirm the activation link in our email to verify your account and write comments.
Resend activation link
Complete your profile information to write comments.
Edit Profile
Edit Profile
You have to sign into use the comment function.
Comments (0)