The HC Puster Valley entered the Icehl four years ago. Since then, people have always developed, but still does not see an end to the flagpole.
From the beginning, Erich Falkensteiner, who is now acting as President and with his hotel empire, was also the main sponsor and name patron of the club. The 68-year-old invests a lot of time in the club, as he indicates “Sportnews.bz”: “It should be a working day a week that I dedicate to ice hockey. Although this cannot be called work. I love this club!”
“We have not done everything right since the start, but we have managed to build the club in an entrepreneurial manner. We have quintupled the budget for the past five years. It is a satisfaction to see how the HCP has developed during this period,” continued the president, who has a vision.
Structurally, one wants to grow even more, become even more professional and even more successful on the ice: “I appreciate ten teams for six fixed playoff places. We want to play in front of one of these places. As president, I have to say that, otherwise I am the wrong person in this position. I don’t want to start just to be there.”
But he also knows that it is important to preserve down -to -earthness. “Absolute top teams are different, we are a club from a 15,000-inhabitant town that wants to scratch an entire valley with honest work and offer successful ice hockey.”
For this purpose, the budget was increased to around four million euros, higher salaries are paid, from up to € 100,000 with some top players, such as “Sportnews.bz”. Falkensteiner clearly makes it clear that this is supposedly only possible with his person and his hotel chain: “I have approved the decision as chairman of the supervisory board, but not threaded the deal. This is a normal sponsorship contract, where money is given and an equivalent is expected. Faith!
Much more is expert than entrepreneurs who bring the HCP and is so valuable: “If I have learned something, then that it takes a positive energy in a company. We are many alpha animals at the HC Puster Valley, there are also friction. But friction creates energy and important that everyone works in one direction. Then the energy becomes positive.”
It is precisely these energy that should also bring the cracks to the ice and thus the goal of reaching a fixed playoff spot.
Image: HCI/Papa Productions
