The 19th edition of the Dolomitencup is slowly but surely taking shape: When the prestigious preparatory tournament is held in Neumarkt/South Tyrol from August 15 to 17, 2025, a very special team, Löwen Frankfurt, will be making an appearance.
Fancy a quick trip down memory lane? Well, let’s travel back 20 years to the spring of 2005, when Löwen Frankfurt – the 2004 German champions – were toying with the idea of coming to South Tyrol for a summer training camp including a test match. The opponent was quickly found thanks to a joint sponsor: HC Neumarkt, reinforced with some exceptional South Tyrolean players, was to play against the Hessian DEL club. The result was an ice hockey festival that exceeded all expectations: In Merano, more than 1,300 fans did not miss this treat, which Frankfurt won 6:1.
Why this historical excursion? Quite simply! The Dolomitencup began with this test match in the summer of 2005. The following year, HC Neumarkt organized its first “real” preparation tournament with Löwen Frankfurt, which also attracted the Augsburg Panthers and Servette Geneva. The first victory went to the “hosts” from Frankfurt, who also took the coveted trophy in the following two years. Over the years, the Dolomitencup has grown into one of the most popular preparation tournaments in Europe.
So there is something romantic about Frankfurt coming to Neumarkt next August. Last summer, the Hessians took part again for the first time after a 16-year hiatus and were only beaten in the final by EHC Kloten. Now the DEL club is launching a new attack towards winning the title. Löwen Frankfurt are currently still in full championship mode: they are fighting for a place in the play-offs in Germany’s top ice hockey league.
In any case, the field at the Dolomitencup is taking on ever clearer contours. In addition to Frankfurt, another European ice hockey heavyweight has confirmed its participation: Czech top club Dynamo Pardubice will be chasing its third Dolomitencup title in August. The two other participants will be announced soon.
