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Michele Marchetti put up a brave fight with HC Bozen. © Vanna Antonello / HC Bozen
Cannon fodder not to be expected: Bolzano's strong CHL performance
HCB Südtirol Alperia kicked off the new ice hockey season on Friday. On the first matchday of the Champions Hockey League, the clear underdog put on a strong performance in Sweden.
August 29, 2025
From: det
There were two completely different ice hockey worlds that clashed on Friday in Frölundaborgs Ice Stadium clashed in Gothenburg. Here, the Swedish top club Frölunda, one of the country's flagships and winners of the Champions League four times in the last nine years. Here, HC Bozen, the record champion in Italy and two-time ICE winner, is still considered a clear underdog in international comparison. Anyone expecting a goal-fest, however, was disappointed: Frölunda beat the extremely brave and feisty Foxes 3-0.
In their first competitive game of the season on Friday, HCB did what you'd expect from an underdog: Daniel Frank and his team threw everything into the mix, fighting for every inch, and at times, even played some strong hockey. In the first two periods, the Foxes played boldly against Frölunda, one of the favorites to win the Champions Hockey League title, and had some top-notch chances. Matt Bradley and Cole Schneider each failed to score in front of goalie Tobias Normann, and Shane Gersich hit the post.
Sam Harvey (center) was a rock in the storm. © BILDBYRÅN / MICHAEL ERICHSEN
On the other side, HCB goalkeeper Sam Harvey was in outstanding early form, pulling off several fantastic saves. Bozen was still in the game with a 0-2 deficit until just a few seconds before the final whistle. That Frölunda ultimately emerged victorious was due to the individual class and coolness of the Swedes. Nevertheless, Bozen's performance is something to build on.
The highlights of the match
| Cold… | ...colder, Frölunda: The Swedes take the lead with their first chance. Lindholm breaks free behind the Bolzano defense, receives the pass, is alone in front of Harvey, and beats him with a fine backhand lob (5'). |
| Centimeters missing | Bolzano grew stronger – thanks in part to their goalie Sam Harvey – and had several great chances to equalize in the second period. Gersich hit the post (23'), then Schneider appeared all alone in front of goalie Normann, but the top goalkeeper kept the win (29'). |
| Too fast | Marchetti loses the puck in front of the Frölunda goal, and then things happen very quickly: The Swedes launch a counterattack, which Peterson successfully finishes off to make it 2-0 (38th minute). This shows the class of the four-time Champions League winner. |
| Tooth wanted | Emotions often run high in the final period, including when Frigo accidentally hits his opponent Cederqvist in the face. The Swede apparently loses a tooth, as he spends a long time searching for it on the ice and then has to leave the ice bleeding. Seconds before the end, Tömmernes scores from an empty-net goal to make it 3-0. |
Bolzano's next match is on Sunday with their away game against Lukko Rauma in Finland. The match starts at 15 p.m., with the SportNews-As always, you won't miss anything with the live ticker.
Frölunda HC – HCB Südtirol Alperia 3:0
Frölunda: Norman (Johansson); Tömmernes-Egli, Högberg-Tom Nilsson, Heens-Filip Hasa, Wahlberg-Noah Hasa; Innala-Peterson-Friberg, Lindholm-Niederbach-Noah Dower Nilsson; Westergard-Ruotsalainen-Stenberg, Cederqvist-Lasu-BornCoach: Robert Ohlsson
Bolzano: Harvey (Vallini); Barberio-Samuelsson, Gildon-Valentine, Miglioranzi-Di Perna, Larcher; Gersich-Bradley-Gazley, Schneider-Pollock-DiGiacinto, Brunner-Misley-Frank, Frigo-Mantenuto-Marchetti
Coach: Kurt Kleinendorst
Gates: 1:0 Max Lindholm (4.19), 2:0 Jacob Peterson (37.10), 3:0 Henrik Tömmernes (59.50)
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