Ending the Rittner Buam SkyAlps era

Adolf Insam’s decisions helped shape Rittner Buam SkyAlps over the past eight years, and thanks to his vital contribution, the club from the South Tyrolean plateau has become one of the most successful clubs in Italy. Now, with great gratitude and appreciation for the work done by the nearly 72-year-old from Val Gardena, the fruitful collaboration between the Sporting Director and the Renon Club has come to an end.

In the world of South Tyrolean sports, this was the news for some media outlets until the news of the week, when on 16 May 2015 Rittner-Boam announced the appointment of Adolf Insam as the new sporting director. After 2,881 days and eight seasons, the collaboration came to an end, crowned with many successes culminating in the Alpine Hockey League title, four scudetti and three Super Cups. Insam contributed significantly to shaping the second half of Blue-Red’s most successful decade, above all through his personnel decisions, in which he showed he was happy, with few exceptions, in the course of his work.

This is a long preparation farewell.

“Two years ago we sat with Adolphe Insam and planned his departure at the end of the 2022/23 season. I was hoping our sporting director would welcome us and our fans with a title. Unfortunately it is no longer awarded. Despite this, he will leave his mark among us, ”says Roberto Rampoldi, President of Rittner Buam SkyAlps.

He will also be asked for advice in the future

Rampoldi believes that Adolf Insam has a deep knowledge of ice hockey. A great professional who demanded a lot from the players and from the whole environment, perhaps precisely because he has been active in this sector for more than fifty years. “Adolf Insam and his wife Manuela, who also attend many matches at the Ritten Arena, will always be welcome. I will definitely ask Adolf Insam for advice in the future as well,” admits Roberto Ramboldi, President of Rittner Buam SkyAlps.

Adolf Insam gladly reviews his eight years on the plateau.

“First of all I would like to thank the good years I spent here. And for this I owe above all to one person. A little more than eight years ago, Thomas Rottensteiner, during a federal meeting in Trento, when I was still coaching in Milan, told me of His idea to get a sports director into Rittner Buam. At that time, that number didn’t exist yet in Italian ice hockey. I was immediately excited about it, and then I also landed on Renon. In the first four years we won seven titles, and then we decided to integrate the Rittner Buam players The youngest in the team. It certainly wasn’t a mistake, even if we don’t win trophies like before. In the meantime, these guys have grown exceptionally well and will continue to please the club a lot, “says the expert from Val Gardena.

Many titles also as a player and coach

Even as a player and coach, Adolf Insam has won many titles. As a coach, he has won seven scudettos: two with HC Bolzano (1997 and 2012) and five in a row with Milan (from 2002 to 2006). Moreover, again with a team from the Lombard capital, he won the Italian Cup twice (2004 and 2005) and three Super Cups (2001, 2002 and 2006). As a player, Insam won four championships with HC Gherdëina in 1969, 1976, 1980 and 1981. With the Italian national team, the Ladin hockey player played 185 matches and scored 62 goals. At the end of the 1984 Winter Olympics, Adolf Insam had ended his football career.

Image credit: Max Battis