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The Brixen hockey players will no longer compete in the IHL.
Out of the league: A South Tyrolean ice hockey club gives up.
It's a decision that had been anticipated. One that nevertheless gives cause for concern: The Brixen Falcons are withdrawing completely from men's ice hockey. The city of Brixen now has a new focus.
07 May 2026
From: fop
The decision is final! The Brixen Falcons will not field a first team in the 2026/27 ice hockey season. This seals their fate in the Italian Hockey League, leaving only three South Tyrolean teams: Toblach, Eppan, and Kaltern.
This marks the end of an era in the Eisack Valley that began in 2013 when five Brixen natives – Patrick Bona, Alex Gusella, Luca Scardoni, Oliver Schenk, and Matthias Lazzeri – took over the club and revived the traditional venue under the new name "Falcons." For eight years, they played in the IHL, formerly known as Serie B. The Falcons qualified for the playoffs four times, but most recently finished in ninth place.
"It must never be at the expense of our youth." Statement Falcons Brixen
“However, the financial demands and possibilities in the senior division led us to a point where the board was forced to make a decision. And we were all in agreement: It must never be at the expense of our youth,” reads a statement from the Falcons, who elaborate: “When we have over 50 children in the U8 team today, when we see the enthusiasm with which they train, laugh, and compete – then we know why we do it all.”
The Falcons missed the playoffs last season.
This means Brixen will focus entirely on youth development while remaining a club that "embodies community." The resources, both personnel and financial, will now be pooled to benefit the many young players in the club. They are intended to form the basis for long-term success – and perhaps, in the distant future, lead to the re-establishment of a men's team.
The Brixen statement:
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