European Pond Hockey Championships

Europond 2026

European Pond Hockey Championship Inspires International Community

Ritten/Klobenstein – February 13–14, 2026
The European Pond Hockey Championship once again proved that it is far more than just a sporting event. Around 85 teams from seven nations came together to celebrate fast, fair and passionate hockey in classic pond hockey style – true to the motto “Back to the Roots.”

In the TopCup final, the Dirty Danglers from Bad Tölz claimed victory, featuring South Tyroleans Simon Berger and Felix Lintner. Second place went to AS-Hockey from the Czech Republic. The Company Cup was won by Gloriette Guesthouse (5–1 against Team Loacker). The Ladies Cup went to the Turbotampons, while Kaltern (U8) and Unterland (U10) triumphed in the Kids Cup. In the popular Skills Competition, Alex Heiss secured the top prize – a 75-inch TV.

Special attention was given to youth development: part of the event’s proceeds goes directly to supporting young hockey players, with the goal of promoting the sport across generations.

Off the ice, the championship offered a vibrant program with live music, DJs, a magic show and the legendary “Eule Party” as a festive highlight.

The organizing committee looks back on a highly successful edition and extends sincere thanks to all volunteers, partners and sponsors. One thing is certain: the European Pond Hockey Championship remains a cult highlight and a strong symbol of community spirit and pure hockey passion.

The winners 2025An anniversary and many winners

Klobenstein - This year's anniversary edition of the “European Pond Hockey Championship” on the Ritten has come to an end with a thrilling final that was only decided in extra time. The Lapps from Lapland, who were beaten by the veterans in last year's final, won the tournament this time against the team from the Ploner construction company with a golden goal from Manuel Ramoser to win the unofficial title for the first time.

350 games were played on the artificial ice rink of the Ritten Arena as part of this year's unofficial European Pond Hockey Championships over the Carnival weekend in Klobenstein. 50 teams from the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria and South Tyrol were in action. One team even traveled from the USA. The final between the teams “Die Lappen vom Lappland” and “Baufirma Ploner” kicked off shortly after 9 pm. Former Ritten ice hockey players played in both teams and it was a match of equals. After leading 3:1 and with the score at 4:3 until 20 seconds to go, it looked as if “Baufirma Ploner” would emerge victorious. It seemed as if this team could win the tournament for the third time after 2015 and 2020.

But then Julian Kostner, who only ended his impressive career with the Rittner Buam Skyalps last year, equalized. The game went into extra time and after around five minutes Manuel Ramoser scored the golden goal that decided the tournament in favor of “Die Lappen aus Lappland”. Afterwards, there was no end to the jubilation of the victorious team, who not only received the traveling trophy - a snow shovel - but also the NFL-style winner's rings. In addition to Kostner, Ramoser and Spinell, Moritz Oberrauch, Andreas Alber, Tobias Fink, Adrian Marzoner and Simon Stedile also played for the new unofficial European champions. The “Lapps from Lapland”, as well as the teams Baufirma Ploner, the Eulers and the Circo Cesare Togni sports club, have competed in all ten previous editions of the tournament and came off the ice as winners for the first time this year at the fourth attempt.

Skills Competition

Jakob Rottensteiner ha dimostrato le migliori capacità nell'omonimo concorso. Nella finale si è imposto su Roland “Rolly the Kid” Ramoser e Andreas Wanker e ha vinto un Piaggio Ciao come premio principale.

For the love of the game

In the cold winter country of Canada, since the beginning of time, every frozen-over lake or pond has had to serve for a game of ice hockey. And this is where and how pond hockey was born. It requires little equipment, because technically all you need is a stick and a pair of skates. But, it demands and promises a whole lot of fun! Pond hockey is all about the true nature and essence of hockey. Checks and slap shots are prohibited. Players need to be good skaters and skilled stickhandlers. So, it’s pure, innocent hockey! You gotta love it!

Back to the roots

In Ritten, people have chased a puck across the ice ever since the early 20th century. Every year, when wintertime came round, hockey buffs would come together at the pond Wolfsgrubner See. In 1928, one of Italy’s first professional ice hockey teams was founded.
Soon the lake was not enough anymore, so after WWII Ritten built its first ice hockey rink. Today, hockey players and lovers can play or watch their favorite sport at three locations: the ice rink in Oberbozen, the pond in Wolfsgruben, the Ice Rink and Arena Ritten in Klobenstein. And as soon as those temperatures fall below freezing, hockey players sharpen their skates, tape their sticks and hit the ice.

A winter’s dream

When winter settles in Ritten, everyone gets excited. It’s the season of glistening snow landscapes, enhanced by the breathtaking 360° view of South Tyrol’s snow covered peaks, and of all kinds of winter sports. The local ski resort Rittner Horn offers winter joys to everyone, whether they love skiing, cross-country, sledding or hiking. The rinks and the Wolfsgrubner See pond guarantee lots of fun on ice for all ages, and local inns and restaurants will pamper the taste buds with delicious hearty and warm dishes.