Gianluca March has already won the first title with La Chaux-de-Fonds. © HC La Chaux-de-Fonds

Dream debut in front of 6000 fans: Gianluca March's "huge chance"

Damian Clara, Alex Trivellato and Diego Kostner – South Tyrol is represented by professionals in many of Europe's top leagues. While these players ventured abroad at a young age, Gianluca March enjoyed his education here. The defender is steadily climbing the career ladder and has recently signed with a top Swiss club. He told us his story.

10. February 2025

On January 31st, a chapter came to an end for Gianluca March. With EHC Winterthur, the 27-year-old lost the last game of the regular season away against the GCK Lions 2:5 and thus missed the playoffs in the Swiss League. "The disappointment was huge," says the Leiferer. "I knew that it would probably be my last season in Winterthur. We were a close-knit group, worked really well together, but Küsnacht was better and absolutely deserved the win." While the season came to an end for many of his teammates, the defender's was relaunched. Just a few hours later, he was signed by HC La-Chaux-de-Fonds, the reigning champions.

When sports director Loïc Burkhalter knocked on March's door, he didn't hesitate for a second. "I hoped to reach the playoffs with Winterthur until the last second. At the same time, however, it is a huge opportunity to play for a top club like La Chaux-de-Fonds." March signed a contract with the club from eastern Switzerland until the end of the season. "I played the last game in Winterthur on January 31st at 19.45:10 p.m. The next morning, at XNUMX a.m., I attended the first team meeting in La Chaux-de-Fonds, two and a half hours away. It was a bit stressful, but I was very well received by my teammates, the coaches and the rest of the staff," explains March, who is very grateful to his agent Fredy Püls, who had already arranged the move to Winterthur.

A title for the debut

March didn't have much time to settle in the canton of Neuchâtel. "When I signed the contract, the club couldn't guarantee that I would play in the cup final two days later. But when I came into the dressing room, I saw that I was in the third line. Without really knowing my teammates and the system, it was quite a challenge, especially as there were 6000 fans in the hall. But in the end, everything worked out well," said March happily. La Chaux-de-Fonds won 4:2 - against Küsnacht of all teams. During the national team break, the South Tyrolean now has the opportunity to fit in even better with the team.

Gianluca March is causing a stir in Switzerland. © Social Media

Not so long ago, few people believed that March would have such a career. Trained in the youth teams of Leifers, Auer and Neumarkt, the left-handed shooter moved to HC Pustertal in 2017. In total, he played for the Wolves for five seasons - one of them in the ICE Hockey League: "I benefited a lot from that time," says March, looking back. "You train with around 15 foreigners all year round. It's important to find your role in the team and to take it on. Because I got a lot of ice time, it was a very important year of learning," says March.

When he moved to Switzerland in 2023, the man from the Lower Austrian region, who has Swiss citizenship, had to adapt twice. On the one hand in everyday life, on the other hand on the ice. "Life here is very different. The Swiss are a bit different, maybe don't do as much as we do. And yet I immediately felt at home in Winterthur. The change was also very big in terms of hockey. While in the ICEHL a lot of emphasis is placed on the system and the tactics, here everything revolves around the speed. The many young players in the Swiss League literally fly across the ice," describes March.

Forgotten by the national team

As a player, he had to get used to it. "My identity hasn't changed. I'm still a stay-at-home defender who works hard and is strong in one-on-one combat. But I've had to step up my game physically because the players are so fast and technically skilled. Thanks to my greater experience, I'd say I'm a more mature player now than I was two years ago," explains March.

Gianluca March talks about his adventure in Switzerland. © Social Media

Despite his strong performances, he has not been considered for the national team since moving to Switzerland. "Last year I had to deal with a lot of injuries. Due to a concussion, a shoulder operation and an abdominal and groin strain, I only played 16 games in total. In the summer I was in contact with the new coaching team. I was very happy and was ready to work for a place, especially since they said they were scouting a lot of players. But I haven't heard anything since then," regrets the ambitious March.

If he can maintain his current performance, it will only be a matter of time before national coach Jukka Jalonen picks up the phone. For now, however, March wants to seize the huge opportunity mentioned at the beginning, defend the title with La Chaux-de-Fonds and - who knows - get promoted to the National League. The team led by last year's Vorarlberg crack Steve Owre has been granted a license for the Swiss top division this year. The playoffs begin on Tuesday against EHC Olten.