This is what winners look like: The Hechte celebrate their IHL title. © Social Media

“We had to get supplies”: This is how Kaltern celebrated the title

SV Kaltern crowned a fantastic season with the Italian Hockey League title, becoming champions for the first time since 2021. Together with President Peter Brunner, we look back on the third IHL title and the wild hours that followed.

16 April 2025

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Last Thursday at around 22.15:2020 p.m., the Pike players and management were in a state of shock. For the first time since the 21/4 season, the Oltradige team crowned themselves champions of the former Serie B championship. While some players had already lifted the trophy four years ago, for others it was their first title win. This includes new president Peter Brunner, who has been in office since June 2024 and celebrated the major coup in his first season.

"It was of course a very special moment for me. To win the first title in the first year is sensational," said the president when asked by SportNews"But this doesn't just apply to me. Teemu Virtala also did an excellent job in his first season as coach."

The “celebration fuel” ran out

In a thrilling final, Kaltern turned a 0-2 series deficit against the financially superior Aosta to win four consecutive games. Asked what the decisive moment in the final was, Brunner replied: "I think we were physically stronger than Aosta. While we consistently played with four lines, our opponents became increasingly tired towards the end of each game. This could have been the difference."

Peter Brunner, Kaltern's president for the past year. © Social Media

Following the decisive sixth final game, the Hechten celebrated all night long. "We celebrated so much that we even had to get more supplies at one point," explained the president with a smile. It wasn't until 7 a.m. that the Überetsch team reached their home ice rink. There, the newly crowned champions were greeted by many children and youth players who wanted to see their idols before school started. "It was wonderful to see how many children were waiting for the players. It shows us once again that the youth work in Kaltern works very well and that we are one big family," said a delighted Brunner.

Marko Virtala retires

gegenüber SportNews The club's boss announced that head coach Teemu Virtala will be back on the bench next fall. His brother and KSV star, Marko Virtala, is hanging up his skates. Whether there will be further departures or arrivals cannot be determined at this time. However, one or two more stars could follow Virtala into ice hockey retirement. Nevertheless, SV Kaltern will certainly be at the forefront again next season.