The Sparkasse Arena in Bolzano is once again the venue for the Südtirol Summer Classic. © 2023, Vanna Antonello

Big preparation tournament in Bolzano

This year, the Südtirol Summer Classic by Sparkasse, a preparatory tournament organized by HCB Südtirol Alperia, will take place for the fourth time.

July 04, 2024

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Renowned teams are expected to compete in the Sparkasse Arena again in 2024: In addition to the Foxes, the two Slovakian teams HK Spišská Nová Ves and HK Košice as well as ICEHL rival Asiago Hockey will take part. The tournament will take place from August 30 to September 1.

As always, the Summer Classic will be structured into two semi-finals, a match for third/fourth place and a final. On Friday, August 30th, Bolzano will face Spišská Nová Ves (20:00 p.m.), followed by the duel between Asiago and Košice on Saturday (20:00 p.m.), and then on Sunday the two finals will be played (15:00 p.m. and 19:00 p.m.).

HK Spišská Nová Ves
Founded in 1932, the Spišská Nová Ves club is based in the Slovak town of the same name. The team achieved its best result in the club's history last year, finishing second in the Extraliga after losing in the final to Nitra. A sign of continuous growth that has led the club to important successes: last year they reached the semifinals for the first time after spending most of their history playing in the Slovak second league (which they won four times). Spišská Nová Ves can count on many young Slovak talents, but also on experienced players such as Juraj Majdan, Juraj Valach and Dalibor Bortnak, the latter two are old acquaintances of the ICEHL, having played for the Black Wings Linz. Connor Ford, who wore the Foxes' jersey last year, and Dante Hannoun, who played in Bolzano in 2020 and then played three seasons in Bruneck, will also be on the ice with the Slovak runners-up. There are no previous encounters between Bolzano and Spišská Nová Ves.

HC Košice
Founded in 1962, HC Košice is one of the most prestigious clubs in the Slovak Extraliga. The club used to be one of the most important in the Czechoslovak championship, winning it in 1986 and 1988. During this historic period, Košice also reached the final of the European Cup, which they lost to CSKA Moscow. After the division of Czechoslovakia in 1993, Košice won eight Slovak championship titles, the last one in 2023. Last season, Košice was eliminated in the semifinals after finishing the regular season in fourth place.

Košice has also participated in the Champions Hockey League four times. Among the most famous players trained in Košice are Peter Bondra and Ladislav Nagy. A team that, like many in Slovakia, relies mainly on local players who have great experience in the Extraliga, Czech League and KHL. There are also some familiar faces: goalkeeper Jaroslav Janus, with Fehérvár in 2020, defender Radek Deyl, who played for Gherdëina for 2018 games in 21, and Blake Parlett, who moved to Košice just a few days ago after a season in white and red.

In 1996, Bolzano organized the second round of the European Cup with EHC Kloten, HC Steaua Bucharest and the then TJ VSŽ Košice: the white-reds beat the Slovakians 2:1. This game represents the only meeting between the two teams.

Supermercati Migross Asiago
Asiago is a team that needs no detailed introduction. Founded in 1935, Asiago has eight Italian championship titles and two Alps Hockey League titles in its history. One of HCB's great rivals in the Serie A years, it is preparing for its third season in the ICEHL. A duel that is reviving, with the "Stellati", still waiting for their first playoff qualification: this year, the Veneto team is putting together a competitive squad to achieve the long-awaited goal. There are many new faces in all areas, starting with the head coach: after parting ways with Tom Barrasso, the team is led by Ron Fogarty, a 52-year-old Canadian who spent ten seasons at Princeton University.

The schedule

Friday, August 30, 20:00 p.m.
HCB Südtirol Alperia vs HK Spisska Nova Ves

Saturday, August 31, 20:00 p.m.
Asiago Hockey vs HC Kosice

Sunday, September 1rd, 15:00 p.m
Match for 3rd/4th place

Sunday, September 1rd, 20:00 p.m
Final



Winners list South Tyrol Summer Classic
2019
1. HCB South Tyrol Alperia
2. Stavanger Oilers
3. Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers
4. Kladno River

2022
1. Düsseldorfer EG
2. HCB South Tyrol Alperia
3. HC Skoda Plzen
4. HC Ambrì-Piotta

2023
1. Fribourg-Gotteron
2. Straubing Tigers
3. HCB South Tyrol Alperia
4. Slovan Bratislava