Tommy Purdeller scored the winning goal. © HC Pustertal/I. Foppa

Incredible wolves stop the high-flyer

Only very few would have bet on this victory: A struggling HC Pustertal defeated Klagenfurter AC, who had been unbeaten for nine games, in a thrilling, emotional game on Friday evening - and that despite being 1:3 behind.

10 January 2025

From the Intercable Arena

The Red Jackets' series had taken them to second place. Goalie Sebastian Dahm & Co. recently kept their goal clean twice in a row. The 2:8 derby victory against Villacher SV 0 hours ago was the icing on the cake. HC Pustertal, on the other hand, had to contend with serious personnel problems after the derby defeat in Bozen. Given these omens, everything pointed to a victory for the guests in the almost sold-out Intercable Arena. But the brave Wolves wanted nothing to do with that and were happy with a fantastic 48:4 victory.

The victory is to be rated highly because everything was going against the HCP when the score was 1:1. After the eye-catching Brett Findlay made Steven Strong look old, he met his match in Sebastian Dahm. Shortly afterwards, Jason Akeson made a hair-raising pass that led to the 1:2. Then a Petan shot that hit the post was just centimeters away from Senna Peeters making it 3:1. The game seemed decided at this point. With a lot of heart and passion and a strong Andreas Bernard in goal, the Jaspers team turned the tables and celebrated one of the best victories of the season.

The home team once again had to make do with only three complete attack lines. Lenny Hasler and Ivan Deluca made brief appearances at the beginning, but Jaspers quickly pushed his top players. The first attack line, including Tommy Purdeller, Akeson and Findlay, was on the ice almost non-stop - and for all four goals. Bernard also deserves special praise for making numerous brilliant saves.

Thanks to the win, the gap to 11th place remains seven points. The next match is in less than 48 hours with the home game against Fehervar (16 p.m.). HC Bozen is visiting Villach on Sunday at 17.30 p.m.

HC Pustertal – EC KAC 4:3

HCP: Bernard (Mair); Andersen-Osmanski, Svedberg-Bouramman, Glira-Wesley, Zanatta; Purdeller-Findlay-Akeson, Coulter-Lacroix-Petan, Mantinger-Andergassen-Conci, Deluca-Hasler.
coach: Jasper

KAC: Dahm (Vorauer); Sablattnig-Maier, Strong-Nickl, Unterweger-Preiml; Herburger-Hundertpfund-From, Fraser-Mursak-Petersen; Schwinger-Obersteiner-Hochegger; van Ee-Pastujov- Peeters.
coach: Furey

Gates: 0:1 Hundertpfund (14.29), 1:1 Akeson (23.54), 1:2 Mursak (34.49), 1:3 Peeters (36.34), 2:3 Akeson (39.14), 3:3 Conci (40.36), 4:3 Purdeller (42.31)

Viewers: 3034

ICE Hockey League

Graz 99ers – Fehervar 2:5
Goals: 0:1 Magosi (10.41), 0:2 Hari (24.37), 1:2 Vela (32.10), 2:2 Vela (37.47), 2:3 Brown (55.56), 2:4 Berger (59.21), 2:5 Ambrus (59.59)
Audience: 3303

Vienna Capitals – Asiago 4:2
Goals: 0:1 Turnbull (1.42), 1:1 Gregoire (3.05), 2:1 Widhalm (3.54), 2:2 Gennaro (19.42), 3:2 Preiser (25.30), 4:2 Böhm (52.32)
Audience: 4370

Black Wings Linz – Villacher SV 5:1
Goals: 1:0 Knott (15.59), 1:1 Hancock (25.48), 2:1 Lebler (30.34), 3:1 Lebler (31.20), 4:1 St-Amant (40.27), 5:1 Stuart (59.12 )
Audience: 3913

HC Innsbruck – Pioneers Vorarlberg 1:3
Goals: 0:1 Maier (22.37), 0:2 Erne (47.14), 1:2 Rassell (48.25), 1:3 MacDougall (53.39)
Audience: 2000

Olimpija Ljubljana – Red Bull Salzburg 1-2
Goals: 0:1 Schneider (10.31), 1:1 Cerveny (15.47), 1:2 Thaler (27.43)
Audience: 3125

The table