Henry Bowlby posed for a portrait by SportNews. © det

In the same class as Obama's daughter: Pustertal's brightest mind

It's finally here! The new ICE Hockey League season kicks off on Friday evening. Bruneck will host a blockbuster match between last season's runner-up, HC Pustertal, and the reigning champions, Graz99ers. To mark the occasion, we've taken a closer look at one of the Wolves' key players, who has a very special story to tell.

September 18, 2026

Henry Bowlby is a cheerful person. A guy who radiates good vibes the moment he enters a room. A fellow who strides through life with a broad smile. But during one question in our conversation, his grin widens even further. "Oh God, that's tough," the American replies when we ask him: Which is higher, his normal IQ or his hockey IQ? "I'm not the smartest hockey player, so I'd say: My normal IQ!"

Such a question is undoubtedly one of the more unusual ones in an ice hockey interview. But it fits Henry Bowlby perfectly. Because: The lightning-fast forward and last year's top scorer for HC Pustertal is arguably the brightest mind on his team.

Henry Bowlby, the lightning-fast forward for HC Pustertal. © HCP / Iwan Foppa

Need an example? Well, when Bowlby isn't making waves on the ice hockey rink, he enjoys reading books. Sometimes even five at once. He prefers books on finance, philosophy, and nonfiction in general. Before launching his professional career, the 29-year-old from Minnesota spent two summers working in the financial metropolis of New York City, in investment banking and wealth management. "It was an intense but very enjoyable experience," says Bowlby.

How does one get to Harvard?

And then there's his university: Bowlby studied at Harvard. There he earned a degree in economics "with a touch of computer science," as the Puster Valley striker states on his LinkedIn profile. Harvard isn't just any university; it's the most prestigious in the world. Former US presidents like Barack Obama, John F. Kennedy, and George W. Bush were educated there, as were tech billionaire Bill Gates and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

"When I saw Harvard, I fell in love with it immediately." Henry Bowlby

It's hardly surprising that Bowlby also met some notable figures during his time there. "For example, Barack Obama's daughter was in my class," explains the Puster Valley native. But how does one end up at such a prestigious university? Bowlby explains: "It was somewhat by chance. I had attended another university for a year, but my ice hockey coach there left. So I also started looking for something new, and that's how I came across Harvard. When I saw the university, I immediately fell in love with it and knew I wanted to go there."

$25.000 for one semester

After some very challenging entrance exams, Bowlby landed at this prestigious university, which also meant a considerable financial burden. "I didn't have an athletic scholarship at Harvard, so I had to pay for everything myself. A semester cost around $25.000 back then, which is a lot of money," explains the Puster Valley top scorer, who not only studied with the brightest minds at Harvard but also made a name for himself on the university's ice hockey team. And ultimately, launched a professional career.

Bowlby is one of the key players at HC Pustertal.

Bowlby spent four years of his career in the American Hockey League before making the move to Europe in 2024, signing with the Swedish top club Rögle BK. There, he also experienced a significant personal event, as he met his girlfriend, Amalie Andersen. The Dane was also an ice hockey player at the time and played for Rögle's women's team. "Sparks flew at the club's Christmas party," Bowlby says with a smile.

Right in the middle of the Stanley Cup victory

The curious thing is that Bowlby and his girlfriend both come from ice hockey families. Henry's three sisters used to chase after the puck, and Amalie's three brothers are also at home on the ice. What's more, her eldest brother, Frederik Andersen, is considered one of the best goalies in the world.

A special moment: Henry Bowlby (second from left) with girlfriend Amalie Andersen (left) and NHL goalie Frederik Andersen (right) after winning the Stanley Cup. © Instagram

Last season, the Dane led the Carolina Hurricanes to victory in the Stanley Cup, the NHL championship. "That was a wild summer," Bowlby recalls. "We followed Frederik on his journey, traveling with him across the States during the playoffs. When he won the final, we somehow managed to get on the ice and celebrate with him. I'll never forget that."

Dream of winning the title with Pustertal

While his girlfriend Amalie now also lives in Bruneck and works at Kronplatz, Bowlby wants to follow in his brother-in-law's footsteps – and go on a trophy hunt with his Puster Valley team. Last season, the American proved to be one of the biggest surprises, becoming the team's top scorer with 51 points. 22 goals and 29 assists – Bowlby wasn't even that good in college. The American wants to build on that this year. And who knows: perhaps Puster Valley's brightest hockey mind will soon be reading a history book for a change. If Puster Valley were to actually win its first championship title, it would certainly be something for the annals of hockey.

ICE Hockey League, Matchday 1 – Friday

Ferencvárosi TC – Olimpija Ljubljana (18.30 p.m.)
Red Bull Salzburg – Klagenfurter AC (19.15 p.m.)
HC Innsbruck – Milano Hockey (7:15 pm)
Fehervar AV19 – Black Wings Linz (7:15 pm)
Pioneers Vorarlberg – Villacher SV (7:30 pm)
HC Pustertal – Graz99ers (19.45 p.m.)
HC Bozen – Vienna Capitals (19.45 p.m.)