"There are no friends": Derby between Pustertal and Bolzano

HC Falkensteiner Pustertal and HCB Südtirol Alperia are kicking off the final phase of their preseason training ten days before the start of the ICE Hockey League (ICEHL). The arch-rivals will meet for the first time on Wednesday as part of the Alperia Cup. Although it's only a friendly match, the atmosphere is already electric.

September 08, 2026

From: leo

HC Pustertal and HC Bozen have both enjoyed a successful preseason so far. The black and yellow team won three out of four games, while their southern neighbors have also had an excellent record of six wins in seven matches. However, the most important test will come on Wednesday at 7:45 p.m., when fans eagerly anticipate the first South Tyrolean derby of the season.

As part of the Alperia Cup, which returns after a year's hiatus, the teams are eager to make their mark. "Games against Bolzano are always special," emphasizes Tommy Purdeller ahead of the match. "Even though it's a friendly, we want to win. It's a good opportunity to see where we stand. We want to use the game to work on our tactics and focus on those little details that will be crucial at the end of the season."

Bolzano is fully restored

His teammate Austin Osmanski, on the other hand, commented: “The anticipation is huge in our locker room – and I think it is in Bolzano too. Whether it's preseason or not, there are no easy wins out there. We're always trying to catch them. The game will be high-intensity, the fans will love it. The start of the season is getting closer and closer, we've been working for over a month now. We have to make sure we're always 100 percent focused.”

Markus Lauridsen and Matt Bradley in a duel. © HC Pustertal/I. Foppa

Unlike HC Pustertal, who play their final preseason game against Red Bull Munich on Friday, this is HC Bozen's last friendly before the season begins. According to the club, head coach Antti Karhula can once again count on the recently injured Brad McClure and Bryce Misley in Bruneck. "The game against a rival like Pustertal will be an important test. I expect a good match that should also prepare us mentally for the start of the season. It will also be helpful to have a few days off this weekend to recharge our batteries and then return to the ice next week with plenty of energy," the Finn emphasized before the game.

“I don’t think there are any major problems, but certainly some smaller things we need to improve both offensively and defensively. No team can say they’re truly ready at this point. There’s still work to be done, and that’s exactly what we’ll continue to work on,” the Finn concluded.

Alperia Cup

Wednesday, September 9st:
HC Pustertal – HC Bozen (7:45 p.m.)