Brad McGowan played 249 games for HC Gherdëina. © Andreas Senoner

An era comes to an end in Val Gardena: Brad McGowan says goodbye

An era is coming to an end at Hockey Club Gherdëina: Brad McGowan is leaving the Furie after six unforgettable seasons.

June 07, 2025

From: pm/sn

It was 2019 when HCG announced the signing of Brad McGowan on July 19. He played his first friendly match in Switzerland against the Ticino Rockets. He scored his first goal in the Alps Hockey League (AlpsHL) away against EC Kitzbühel.

What followed was a success story. The Vancouver native played 249 games, scoring an incredible 389 points. This puts him third in the AlpsHL's all-time scoring list. Only Ivan Demetz (425) and Patrick Brugnoli (441) have scored more points for the HCG in their careers.

But Brad McGowan is much more than just points. He was a role model for the Furie players both on and off the ice. In six seasons, the Canadian missed only three games. Always friendly and cooperative, McGowan quickly won the hearts of the fans. "He repaid their love with wonderful goals, sensational dribbling, and exemplary passing. And even when things weren't going well, he always gave his heart and soul to the club," the HCG wrote in a press release.

"Thank you, Brad McGowan, for everything you've given to our club over the past six years. You will always be one of us," the club said in a statement.