Release from 24.09.2025

Martin Castlunger ahead of clash with former club Cortina: “It’s a special game”

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HC Gherdeina valgardena.it will face S.G. Cortina Hafro on Thursday. For Martin Castlunger, it will be a special matchup, as the 31-year-old center will meet his former club already in round two. In an interview, the Italian explains why he moved to Gherdeina in the summer, what his expectations are for Thursday’s game and the season as a whole, and what went wrong last Saturday in the heavy 2–6 season opener against Kitzbühel.

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You moved from Cortina - where you made 40 appearances - to Gherdeina in the summer. What motivated this decision?
Martin Castlunger: “The coach really wanted me, and it didn’t take long for me to decide. Gherdeina is a strong team. One of the reasons I moved here is the club’s project. The club is a really good place, we have clear goals for this season, and we have to work step by step. We need to win games against direct competitors. There aren’t many excuses – we simply have to win.”

On Thursday, you face your former club Cortina for the first time. How special is this matchup for you, and what are your expectations?
Martin Castlunger: “It’s definitely a special game, even though I only played in Cortina for one year. I felt very comfortable there and made some good friends. I have nothing but positive words for Cortina. Of course, we want to win, and we will give it our all – also because this game is important for the Italian league. We have to give 100%.”

The season opener in Kitzbühel didn’t go as planned. What was the main reason for the 2–6 defeat?
Martin Castlunger: “Kitzbühel was tough; they were definitely better than us. They wanted the win more and were better prepared. We have to put it behind us, learn from it, and keep working hard.”
Watch HC Gherdeina valgardena.it’s home game against S.G. Cortina Hafro live on Valcome.tv on Thursday from 8:30 p.m.