National coach Jukka Jalonen keeps a close eye on his charges in Poland. © Vanna Antonello

Italy's preparation for the World Cup

For the third time this season, Italy's ice hockey team is meeting to prepare for the World Championship of the 1st Division Group A. It is a real endurance test.

05. February 2025

From: fop

After three days of training together, the Blue Team will face the Polish hosts on Thursday (18 p.m.) in the brand new ice arena in Sosnowiec. The Azzurri will then meet them again in a few months at the World Championships in Romania. There, they will play against Great Britain, Ukraine, Japan and Romania - as well as Poland - for promotion to the World Group.

Before that, however, the tournament in Sosnowiec will be about building up self-confidence and also about feeling out future opponents. "The level will be similarly high here in Poland and at the World Cup in Romania," says captain Thomas Larkin. "We want to develop a clear identity and pull together as a team - from the goalkeeper at the back to the strikers at the front."

The Blue Team has been training in Sosnowiec since the beginning of the week © Vanna Antonello

National coach Jukka Jalonen has taken 27 players (2 goalies, 10 defenders, 15 strikers) with him to Poland, including Asiago's Filippo Rigoni, who is replacing Giordano Finoro in the squad. The slightly injured HCB striker canceled at short notice.

After the tournament opener against Poland, the Azzurri will face Hungary on Friday before the final showdown with Slovenia on Saturday.

Italy's squad:

Goalkeeper: Damian Clara (Färjestad BK – SHL), Davide Fadani (HC Ambrì-Piotta – NLA / Bellinzona Snakes – Swiss League)

Defense: Dylan Di Perna, Enrico Miglioranzi, Peter Spornberger (HC Bozen – ICEHL), Thomas Larkin, Alex Trivellato (Schwenninger Wild Wings – DEL), Gregorio Gios (Asiago Hockey – ICEHL), Phil Pietroniro (Rytiri Kladno – CZE), Nick Rein (HC Meran – AlpsHL), Sebastiano Soracreppa (Rittner Buam – AlspHL), Gregory Di Tomaso (SG Cortina – AlpsHL)

Striker: Pascal Brunner, Luca Frigo, Michele Marchetti (HC Bozen - ICEHL), Matteo Gennaro, Alex Ieruollo, Bryce Misley, Filippo Rigoni, Nick Saracino (Asiago Hockey - ICEHL), Davide Conci, Ivan Deluca (HC Pustertal - ICEHL), Dan Catenacci, Daniel Tedesco (Guildford Flames - EIHL), Tommaso De Luca (HC Ambrì-Piotta – NLA), Daniel Gellon (HC Meran – AlpsHL), Alessandro Segafredo (ZSC Lions – NLA / GK Küsnacht Lions – Swiss League)

Trainer: Jukka Jalonen (head coach), Giorgio De Bettin, Stefan Mair (assistant coach), Thomas Tragust (goalie coach), Janne Hietaniemi, Diego Scandella (video trainer), Mike Kadar (athletic trainer)

The program:

Thursday February 6nd
Italy – Poland (18 p.m.)

Friday February 7th
Italy – Hungary (14.15 p.m.)

Saturday, February 8
Italy – Slovenia (18.15:XNUMX p.m.)