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Almost everything and everyone bounced off him: Bolzano goalie Jonny Vallini. © EC Red Bull Salzburg / Gintare Karpaviciute - EC Red Bull Salzburg
Incredible Jonny Vallini: Bolzano disenchants the champion
It was a great show: HC Bozen handed reigning champions Red Bull Salzburg their first home defeat of the season on Friday. One man outshone everyone.
03 October 2025
From: det
The great Bolzano hero of this still-young season is 31 years old, wears the number 35 on his jersey, has a slightly larger helmet and a thicker stick than his teammates – and goes by the name Gianluca "Jonny" Vallini. The HCB goalie, a true Bolzano native, led his team to a 4-1 away win at champions Red Bull Salzburg on Friday – and, like his teammates, put on a great show.
Vallini is actually the number two in Bolzano, behind regular goalie Sam Harvey. But in this form, he's becoming serious competition for the starting spot. In his first two games of the season, Vallini didn't concede a goal, and even in the toughest away game of the season—in Salzburg—it looked like a shutout for a long time.
Vallini repeatedly drove the Bulls' stars, including former NHL great Michael Raffl, crazy with spectacular saves. The Bozen native's net seemed not just locked, but practically cemented over. The goal drought was broken only with 125 seconds left in the game. After a total of 177:55 minutes without conceding a goal and 78 blocked shots, Vallini was defeated for the first time this season.
Pollock stands out in attack
But it wasn't just the goalie who was outstanding on Friday; his teammates also put on a great performance. The line of Michele Marchetti, Cole Schneider, and the excellent Brett Pollock (one goal and a wonderful assist) were particularly brilliant. Bolzano was a model of efficiency: they needed only 25 shots to score four goals. In short: HCB, which was without the injured Brad McClure this Friday, is a lot of fun to watch.The Bolzano Show in fast motion
| A pleasure | Salzburg dominated the game in the first period (16:7 shots), Bozen scored the goal: After a counterattack, Pollock tricked Red Bull goalie Tolvanen with a feint and shoveled the puck under the crossbar with his backhand (10th). |
| Physio on the ice | Bolzano's physiotherapist Ferdinand Morandell has his hands full: First, Samuelsson limps off the ice after an unnatural leg movement, then Valentine is hit in the face – two unfortunate actions, but both players are able to continue. |
| It's bubbling | The sniper increases the lead for Bolzano: Cole Schneider fires the puck into the net after a fine Pollock assist (31st minute). Things then get heated on the ice, and DiGiacinto is given a ten-minute penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct after the period buzzer. |
| Coast-to-Coast | Gildon's 3-0 goal capped off Bozen's perfect night (47th minute). The HCB defender started behind the net, zipped through the Salzburg opponents, and found the back of the net with a powerful shot. Vallini, by the way, was credited with the assist, as he stopped the puck behind the net for Gildon. |
| Shutout spoiled | Misley seemingly puts the final point on an empty-net goal (57th minute), but then Vallini's shutout is spoiled. Nissner scores after a Stephens pass (58th minute). |
HC Bozen's next big match is on! On Sunday (18 p.m.), league leaders Olimpija Ljubljana will visit the Sparkasse Arena. The Foxes are currently one point behind the Slovenians and can take the lead with a win. HC Pustertal celebrated an away win on Friday evening.
Red Bull Salzburg – HC Bozen 1:4
RBS: Tolvanen (Kickert); Robertson-Corcoran, Nienhuis-Lewington, Stephens-Kirchebner, Rebernig; Thomas Raffl-Nissner-Thaler, Michael Raffl-St. Denis-Schneider, Kraus-Baltram-Huber, Schreier-Auer-Böhm, GessonCoach: Viveiros
HSBC: Vallini (Harvey); Valentine-Barberio, Gildon-Seed, Samuelsson-DiPerna, Miglioranzi; Gersich-Bradley-Gazley, Marchetti-Pollock-Schneider, Frank-Misley-Brunner, Frigo-Mantenuto-DiGiacinto
Coach: Kleinendorst
Gates: 0:1 Brett Pollock (9.34), 0:2 Cole Schneider (30.51), 0:3 Max Gildon (46.00), 0:4 Bryce Misley (56.16), 1:4 Benjamin Nissner (57.55)
Viewers: 2.704
ICE Hockey League, the other games
AV Fehervar – HC Pustertal 1:3 (click here for the report)Goals: 0:1 Bowlby (00.53), 0:2 Purdeller (2.03), 0:3 Zanatta (12.03), 1:3 Archibald (58.44)
Audience: 3.366
Vienna Capitals – Olimpija Ljubljana 3:1
Goals: 1:0 Antonitsch (1.05), 1:1 Masic (33.51), 2:1 Zach-Kiesling (42.51), 3:1 Antonitsch (46.32)
Audience: 3.690
Villacher SV – Pioneers Vorarlberg 5:2
Goals: 1-0 Wallenta (12.47), 2-0 Katic (14.14), 3-0 Scherbak (28.03), 3-1 Dornbach (31.56), 4-1 van Nes (38.46), 4-2 Allen (39.43), 5-2 Hughes (57.10)
Audience: 3.111
Black Wings Linz – EC KAC 2:3
Goals: 1:0 Barron (1.23), 1:1 Mursak (9.03), 2:1 Knott (29.30), 2:2 Maier (41.53), 2:3 Mursak (58.07)
Audience: 4.038
Table
| SP | G | U | V | TV | P | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Olimpija Ljubljana | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 38:15 | 16 |
| 2. HCB South Tyrol | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 23:8 | 15 |
| 3. EC Salzburg | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 19:13 | 14 |
| 4. EC Villach | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 24:22 | 13 |
| 5. HC Pustertal | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 18:10 | 12 |
| 6. Vienna Capitals | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 21:25 | 11 |
| 7. Graz99ers | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 22:14 | 10 |
| 8. EC Klagenfurt | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 17:16 | 9 |
| 9. Ferencvarosi | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 15:19 | 7 |
| 10. Fehervar | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 13:23 | 7 |
| 11. Linz | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 18:24 | 3 |
| 12. HC Innsbruck | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 14:34 | 3 |
| 13. Vorarlberg | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 12:31 | 3 |
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