"After the championship title come the duels against Pustertal"

The fourth derby of this year's ICEHL season between HCB Südtirol Alperia and HC Falkensteiner Pustertal, which will kick off tomorrow, Sunday, at 18 p.m. in the sold-out Sparkasse Arena in Bolzano, could be a taste of the upcoming quarter-finals. Ultimately, there's a good chance the two South Tyrolean teams will meet again in the first playoff round. In the following interview, Bolzano's managing director and sporting director, Dieter Knoll, discusses the upcoming match and the associated euphoria, his team's current mini-crisis, potential transfer activity, and the upcoming Olympic Games. Congratulations to your team on reaching the playoffs! How happy are you about achieving your first goal of the season? Dieter Knoll: Thank you! I'm naturally delighted that we've achieved this first goal. Direct qualification for the playoffs is the reward for the fact that, despite some ups and downs, the season so far hasn't been all that bad. Speaking of ups and downs: How do you explain the fluctuating performance of your team? Knoll: Participation in the Champions Hockey League this fall has certainly taken its toll. The lackluster performances in the recent games can only be explained by the players' fatigue and the fact that the Olympic participants already have their minds on Milan. We played 16 games in the 37 days between December 26th and February 1st. That's a fact, but it shouldn't be used as an excuse, as the other teams also played many games in recent weeks. Since the Olympic roster was announced, our eight Olympians haven't taken any risks, have avoided checks, and have stayed out of physical contact as much as possible. Consequently, their teammates have only done the bare minimum. Shortly before Christmas, HCB changed coaches. Since Doug Shedden took over, the teams' performances have hardly improved. Knoll: That's right. In my opinion, it's because we've conceded too many goals recently. Our new coach's system is very attack-oriented. In the 17 games under Shedden, we've conceded 54 goals and only scored 56. This is partly due to our goalkeeping, which has been inconsistent and not as good as in the past. It's also due to our poor finishing: we're not making nearly enough of our numerous opportunities. Besides unnecessary penalties, individual errors have also crept in time and again. The fourth derby against HC Pustertal is scheduled for Sunday. What are your expectations for this game? Knoll: I expect the three points. I want to be number one in South Tyrol and consequently in Italy. That's why I want three wins in the four derbies during the regular season. We've won twice so far, which is why that wish could come true on Sunday. For me, the championship title is the most important thing. Right after that come the matches against HC Pustertal. Do you have a favorite? Knoll: No. I'd say the chances are 50/50, since both teams are evenly matched and derbies have their own rules. Anything is possible. In the end, it will probably come down to who's on form on the day. The excitement surrounding the derby is huge. The 6.800 tickets sold out within just a few days. What makes this game so special? Knoll: I'm happy and grateful that we'll have a full house again and a fantastic atmosphere. It's unique for South Tyrol and proof that we live in a hockey-loving country. It's very gratifying that there's this hype surrounding the derby. It's a social event that everyone wants to be a part of. The fans are looking forward to an exciting game and want to experience the spectacle live. The atmosphere is always special because both sets of fans are very loud. It's quite possible that HCB and HCP will face each other again in the playoffs. What would you think about that? Knoll: That would be a real highlight, both in terms of atmosphere and finances. South Tyrol would be in a state of euphoria for 14 days. I would certainly be delighted if the quarter-finals saw a derby. That would also mean that at least one South Tyrolean team would be in the semi-finals. The transfer window closes in mid-February. Will you invest some of Sunday's earnings in new players? Knoll: I don't think so. At the moment, I certainly don't have anything planned. We have a fairly broad squad. I have high expectations for Mark Barberio's return. His recovery is progressing excellently thanks to the outstanding work of our medical department, led by Christian Thuile. Barberio is our defensive leader, and we've really missed him recently. He's not only an exceptional player, but also a leader and a very pleasant person. Everyone respects him – including his teammates. He could still be the decisive factor. What will happen to goalkeeper Chris Gibson, whose contract expires at the beginning of February? Knoll: We will extend Gibson's contract – purely as a precaution. Samuel Harvey remains our number one. With Gianluca Vallini back from injury, we then have three strong goaltenders who can be crucial in the final stretch of the championship. Gibson can leave until the transfer deadline, provided he receives an offer from a DEL team. The Olympic Games in Milan begin in one week. How excited are you for this major event? Knoll: I'll definitely watch a game or two. But only on TV. I won't be there in person. I'm sure they'll be exciting matches played at a very high level. I'm delighted that eight of our players will be participating in this major event. What is still possible for HCB this season? Knoll: I think anything is still possible. After all, despite a few inexplicable lapses, I remain convinced that we have good players with a lot of potential. We can compete with almost any top team. Except for Salzburg: The reigning champions are a cut above all the other teams. That's why the title will go to Salzburg again this season. After reaching the quarterfinals, our next goal is to get to the semifinals. But first, all our focus is on the derby against HC Pustertal. Interview: Kurt Platter

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"After the championship title come the duels against Pustertal"

Dieter Knoll, managing director and sports director of HCB Südtirol, talks about tomorrow's derby, the euphoria and the mini-crisis.

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