HCB star Mark Barberio cannot train (yet).

Damaged Foxes: How the injured Bolzano players are doing

HC Pustertal is currently the team to beat in the ICE Hockey League, while HC Bozen is limping through the season – and not just metaphorically. The Foxes are struggling with injuries.

13 November 2025

From: fop

The league standings aren't decisive at this stage of the season, and the results are sometimes just a snapshot – yet there's a lot of worry at HCB Südtirol Alperia. The progress that coach Kurt Kleinendorst has been preaching is currently eluding them. This is partly due to the fact that the Foxes have been without their most important player, Mark Barberio, for weeks, and other key players are also frequently sidelined with injuries.

The so important Brad McClure He has already missed five games this season, but appears to be back to full strength after the international break. Kleinendorst will count on him in Friday's away game against Ljubljana. However, he will have to do without four other players again – including... Cristiano DiGiacinto, who suffered a blow during his national team match last week and will only be able to fully participate in training again next week.

Dylan DiPerna's health is a cause for concern.

Even Mark Barberio He could soon resume light training sessions, although his muscle strain is not yet fully healed. He will be out for HCB until the end of the month. The defensive star is therefore unlikely to return before Pascal Brunner will be available for selection again, although his injury does not require surgery, it will still result in a forced break of approximately one month. The situation is completely unclear regarding... Dylan DiPernaHis upper body injury makes a precise comeback timetable impossible. In any case, the defensive giant is not expected to play in the short term.

Will Bolzano and Bruneck be upgraded?

This inevitably raises the question: Will HC Bolzano make any reinforcements? The club management seems to have abandoned the idea of ​​replacing Barberio with a new foreign player due to the limited recovery time. As long as there is no clarity regarding DiPerna and no suitable replacement with an Italian passport is on the horizon, the player carousel at HCB is likely to remain at a standstill.

HC Falkensteiner Pustertal is also eyeing the transfer market, looking to strengthen its defense. However, no names have been mentioned yet, nor is there a timeframe for any potential transfer. The return of Jon Blum and their solidified lead in the standings after the top-of-the-table clash against Ljubljana mean there's no immediate pressure to act.

Jon Blum is back – and the bottleneck in HCP's defense has been resolved.

Speaking of Ljubljana: HC Bozen travelled from Szekesfehérvár to the Slovenian capital on Thursday afternoon, where they can help the Pusterer Wolves continue their upward trajectory with a victory against the second-placed team on Friday – provided that the latter also successfully complete their away game in Linz at the same time.

HCP is aiming for its eighth win in its last nine games against the Black Wings, and the following day they face Ferencvaros in Budapest. The struggling Foxes, on the other hand, have only managed one win in their last four matches. Whether either of these South Tyrolean clubs will see a turnaround will be revealed on Friday at 7:15 pm.

The next ICE dates:

Fri. 14 November
Graz 99ers – EC Salzburg (6:30 pm)
Black Wings Linz – HC Pustertal (7:15 pm)
Olimpija Ljubljana – HC Bozen (7:15 p.m.)
Fehérvár AV – Ferencvaros (19.15 p.m.)
Villacher SV – Klagenfurter AC (19.15 p.m.)

Sat. 15 November
Vienna Capitals – HC Innsbruck (5:30 pm)
Ferencvaros – HC Pustertal (18.30 p.m.)