Pustertal ICEHL: Hockey Giant & Unexpected Connections

Bruneck, December 25, 2025

HC Pustertal Striker Austin Rueschhoff Dreams of the Skies—and Has NHL Pedigree

The American forward for HC Pustertal balances a professional hockey career with a long-held ambition to become a pilot, and he grew up alongside two of the NHL’s brightest stars.

• Austin Rueschhoff, a forward for HC Pustertal, once studied airspace management with the goal of becoming a pilot.
• Rueschhoff played youth hockey with NHL stars Matthew and Brady Tkachuk.
• HC Pustertal is currently in 4th place in the ICE Hockey League.
• Rueschhoff hopes to continue his success with the Wolves and potentially pursue his aviation dreams after his hockey career.

What do you do when your childhood dream involves soaring through the clouds, but your present reality is battling for puck possession on the ice? For Austin Rueschhoff, a striker with HC Pustertal, it’s a question he’s pondered—and one he answers with a surprising revelation. “I always wanted to be a pilot,” the 28-year-old American says with a smile.

Rueschhoff isn’t just idly dreaming. He actually began pursuing that goal in college, studying airspace management for two years. He was poised to begin flight lessons in his third year before deciding to dedicate himself to professional ice hockey. But the dream isn’t abandoned, merely postponed. The 2-meter tall forward envisions returning to it after his playing days are over.

Rueschhoff is celebrated by his Puster colleagues.

Despite not yet taking to the skies, Rueschhoff is certainly “flying high” on the ice this season. He’s become a key player for the Wolves, helping propel HC Pustertal to a current 4th-place standing in the ICE Hockey League. “It’s impressive what a tight-knit group we are,” Rueschhoff explains. “Since the first day, since the first hour, everyone here has been fighting for everyone. That’s a great feeling.”

Childhood Ties to NHL Royalty

Rueschhoff’s ambitions extend beyond personal success; he aims to follow in the footsteps of some familiar faces. Growing up in St. Louis, Missouri, he shared the ice with Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, who have since become stars in the National Hockey League. Matthew (28) has led the Florida Panthers to Stanley Cup victories in the past two years, while Brady (26) captains the Ottawa Senators.

Matthew Tkachuk is a two-time Stanley Cup winner.

“We played together from the ages of eight to 14,” Rueschhoff recalls with a grin. “The two of them weren’t entirely bad ice hockey players even back then.” He also fondly remembers the influence of their father, Keith Tkachuk, a veteran of nearly 1,300 NHL games and over 2,400 penalty minutes. “He was playing in St. Louis at the time. After his morning practice, he often came to our afternoon practices. He showed us how to skate properly and he also taught us some tricks.”

Future Plans in Bruneck

Rueschhoff maintains contact with the Tkachuk brothers, particularly when he returns home to St. Louis during the off-season. His hockey journey has taken him from the American Hockey League to Finland’s top league, where he recorded an impressive 30 points in 60 games with Kärpät in 2024.

Austin Rueschhoff wants to cause a sensation with HC Pustertal.

In August, he arrived in Bruneck, where he and his teammates are making a significant impact. “I hope we can go far,” Rueschhoff says, hinting at a desire to continue his upward trajectory. The potential future pilot is clearly enjoying the ride.

HC Pustertal will face Innsbruck away on St. Stephen’s Day at 5:30 p.m. Meanwhile, HC Bozen will host Olimpija Ljubljana at 7:45 p.m. in what promises to be a thrilling matchup.

ICE Hockey League Weekend Schedule

Friday, December 26th
Gaz99ers – Black Wings Linz (5.30 p.m.)
Fehervar AV19 – Vienna Capitals
HC Innsbruck – HC Pustertal
Pioneers Vorarlberg – Red Bull Salzburg (6 p.m.)
HC Bozen – Olimpija Ljubljana (7:45 p.m.)

Saturday December 27th
Klagenfurter AC – Villacher SV (2.30 p.m.)

Sunday December 28th
Black Wings Linz – HC Innsbruck (3:30 p.m.)
Red Bull Salzburg – FTC Telekom (4.30 p.m.)
Villacher SV – HC Bozen (5 p.m.)
Olimpija Ljubljana – Fehervar AV19
Graz99ers – HC Pustertal (5.30 p.m.)
Vienna Capitals – Klagenfurter AC

	SP	G	U	V	TV	P
1. EC Klagenfurt	29	20	0	9	105:72	61
2. Graz99ers	28	18	0	10	90:64	56
3. HC Pustertal	29	18	0	11	100:77	53
4. Olympia Ljubljana	30	19	0	11	118:88	53
5. EC Salzburg	29	17	0	12	89:64	50
6. HCB South Tyrol	27	16	0	11	98:72	49
7. Ferencvárosi	29	12	0	17	79:95	40
8. EC Villach	27	12	0	15	89:90	39
9. Fehérvár	29	13	0	16	67:89	39
10. Vienna Capitals	28	12	0	16	73:84	37
11. Linz	29	13	0	16	92:102	34
12. Vorarlberg	29	8	0	21	63:117	25
13. HC Innsbruck	29	8	0	21	75:124	22