Big and little brother: The two ice hockey stars Michael (left) and Tommy Purdeller.

Pustertal Brotherly Love: The Purdellers in Reversed Roles

The HCP Juniors will fight for the IHL Division I title in the all-important final on Sunday evening (20 p.m.). The Purdeller brothers will swap roles for once.

13 April 2025

He was a huge attraction at the Intercable Arena last winter. When Tommy Purdeller of HC Pustertal glided across the ice with the puck on his stick, everyone in the chic Bruneck stadium knew: Watch out, something's about to happen! The young striker from Montal, who celebrates his 21st birthday today, was the discovery of the winter, scoring 38 points in his debut year with the adults, was named Young Star of the Season by the ICE Hockey League, and just on Friday received the Ossi Pircher Prize for Young Athlete of the Year handed over.

In short: Tommy Purdeller has thrilled the Pustertal crowds over the past few months and is the man of the future in local ice hockey. However, after his team, HC Pustertal, was eliminated in the quarterfinals, the youngster's season ended a few weeks ago. Unlike his brother Michael, who is nine years older than him. Michael is not only an ardent fan of Tommy, but also the captain of HCP Junior, which faces the most important match in its history on Sunday evening at 20 p.m. The Pustertal junior team will battle for the title in the IHL Division I, better known as Serie C, in the all-important final game 5 against HC Chiavenna.

Michael Purdeller, captain of the HCP Juniors. © Iwan Foppa

Between 1.000 and 1.500 fans are expected at the Intercable Arena, which once again demonstrates how crazy the Pustertal Valley is about ice hockey. This time, however, the eyes of the Wolves' fans are not on the young Purdeller, but on his big brother Michael. With 29 points, the 45-year-old striker is the top scorer for HCP Junior, along with Lucas Crepaz, and thus a key figure in the Max Oberrauch team. "Playing a final like this at home is really special. The anticipation is huge," Michael said in an interview with SportNews.

Fingers crossed in the stands

The HCP junior captain also reveals: "Tommy texted me right after our victory in Game 4 and asked when the match would take place. It's quite possible he's rooting for us in the stands." So, roles reversed, because during the ICE season, it was Michael who, as a regular guest at the Intercable Arena, cheered on young Tommy.

Star and audience favorite in Bruneck: Tommy Purdeller.

The Purdellers have five siblings in total: three boys and two girls. Tommy's interest in ice hockey has a lot to do with his brother Michael. "I started playing ice hockey relatively late, and Tommy was immediately fascinated by it. It wasn't long before he was lacing up his own skates—and giving me some serious competition. He hated losing," Michael recalls with a grin.

“I was amazed at what Tommy delivered this year.” Michael Purdeller

When asked about his brother's season, the HCP Junior captain added: "I was amazed at what he achieved this year at HC Pustertal. Returning home is always a tricky thing. Tommy played in the Canadian junior league for two years and, to many, was already considered a world star, so you're under a lot of pressure at home. But he delivered a really strong performance."

Topic of conversation at the snack stand

Michael Purdeller and his HCP Junior team also want to deliver. In the all-important Final 5, a trophy should finally make its way to the Pustertal Valley. "It would also be something special for Bruneck, because we haven't won that many titles in the senior division," says Purdeller, who concludes: "I run a snack bar in Bruneck with my parents. It was amazing how many people have stopped by in the last few days and talked about this final." Whether it's Serie C or ICE Hockey League, whether it's Michael or Tommy Purdeller – the ice hockey euphoria in the Pustertal Valley is once again huge.