Plans, goals and hopes: That's what Daniel Gellon has in mind

Gellon has not forgotten November 21, 2022 to this day. In Budapest he was in the “Azzurri” squad for the first time. As part of the “Sarközy Tamas Memorial”, the lively attacker hit the mark straight away in the 4-2 win. The opponent then, as now, was Slovenia. He had to wait almost 2 months for his second international match. “Last April I took part in part of the preparation for the World Cup before I had to stop after almost two weeks for work reasons. And last November and December I also had to miss out because of work commitments,” Gellon regrets. He has been working at the Meraner Weinhaus in the field service and in the wine shop for a good two years and is about to graduate as a wine sommelier: “My working week usually extends from Monday to Saturday. On the 2 days I usually work from 6 a.m. to 8:18.30 p.m. Afterwards I drive straight to the Meranarena for training. I come home around 22 p.m., have dinner and then go to sleep soon.” At the age of 14 he went to St. Pölten Gellon started playing ice hockey at a very early age. “When I was 4 years old, I took my first steps on the ice. But I didn't like it at all. Then when I was a year older, I tried again. This time it worked,” he remembers his beginnings and adds: “I have a lot to thank my parents for. They always had my back and made a lot of sacrifices so I could play hockey.” He stayed in Meran until he was 14 years old before moving to St. Pölten in the summer of 2015 and in the following 4 years he hunted for goals for the respected sports school “Okanagan HC Europe” in the U16, U18 and U20. “I really liked it there. “I met a lot of people and learned a lot,” says Gellon, who shared the room with Matteo Luisetti, enthusing about his time in Lower Austria. There he had Gary Prior, Gary Clark and John Miner, who were well known in this country, as coaches, while Oly Hicks acted as ice hockey director. Experience in the USA In the summer of 2019, the Merano native took the leap across the pond and joined the South Shore Kings in the National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC). His coach was Drew Omicioli, who was unforgettable in Bolzano. “The first year was a great experience. On the smaller field things were going really well and the rhythm was higher. In the second season I only played 2 games before the championship was canceled early due to corona and I returned home," regrets the 5-year-old, who took part in the IHL with the HCM after his return and played in the final against SV Kaltern lost. Over the past 3 years, Gellon has competed in the Alps Hockey League (AlpsHL) with his hometown club and has continually improved. He is currently experiencing his best season to date and is on the verge of collecting as many points as he did in the first two years combined, when he had 71 points in 49 games. After 35 games this winter he already has 43 points (13 goals). The youngster knows exactly why this is: “On the one hand, because I get to play on the same line with Calder Anderson and Nolan Ritchie and on the other hand, because we are a very talented team offensively and the fast style of play required by the coach suits me very well. “ Looking forward to the international match in Val Gardena The lively attacker is really looking forward to the game on Friday: “I’m proud that I can wear the azure jersey today. I’m very happy that my family, my girlfriend and some friends will be cheering me on in the stands.” The winger is currently the second youngest player in national coach Mike Keenan's team. Only his Merano compatriot Pascal Brunner is a year younger. But Gellon is not satisfied with the two international matches: “The home World Cup this year in Bolzano would be a dream for me. Being able to play the first World Cup at home would be unforgettable. I already played a game with HCB Südtirol in the ICEHL in the 2/2021 season. The arena and the atmosphere are unique. The non-plus-ultra would be to take part in the 22 Olympic Games in Milan. My teammates in Merano, Christian Borgatello and Luca Ansoldi, often told me about the 2026 Olympic Games in Turin. They are the highest for every athlete.” But there is still a long way to go until then. Joining an ICEHL team would certainly make things easier for Gellon. In any case, he would be ready for it: “The ICEHL would appeal to me.” But before that, he wants to reach the play-offs in the AlpsHL with HC Meran: “We’ll see about it after that.”

AlpsHL Austria	SP	TV	P
Kitzbühel	0	0:0	0
Bregenzerwald	0	0:0	0
Salzburg II	0	0:0	0
Jesenice	0	0:0	0
HK Celje	0	0:0	0
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Plans, goals and hopes: That's what Daniel Gellon has in mind

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