Jukka Jalonen will be coaching the Azzurri again next week.

Not without surprises: This is Italy's squad

Next Monday, Italy's national ice hockey team begins preparations for the B World Championship in Romania. Star coach Jukka Jalonen has now named his squad for the final phase.

01 April 2025

From: dl

On April 7, the Blue Team begins its World Cup preparations at the Sparkasse Arena in Bolzano. Jalonen has nominated 28 players for the tournament, including three goalkeepers, ten defenders, and 3 attackers. Damian Clara, who is currently training in the USA after his Finnish club Kärpät was eliminated, is not yet included. The talented goalkeeper is expected to join the team in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, young Merano goalkeeper Rudy Rigoni is on board. Surprisingly, Tommaso De Luca, who scored twice in the playoffs for Ambrì-Piotta, is not in the squad. Former captain Daniel Frank is also missing. His participation in the World Cup is a big question mark.

13 Italians in the provisional squad

On the road to the World Cup, Italy will play three friendlies in Division 1, Group A: on April 18 and 19 in Poland against the Polish national team. On April 22, the Azzurri will then play a friendly at home in Brunico against Slovenia. Two days later, the Blue Team will travel to Romania before kicking off their World Cup campaign against Japan on April 27.

The Azzurri squad

Goalkeeper:
Davide Fadani (HC Ambrì Piotta – NLA / Bellinzona Snakes – Swiss League), Rudy Rigoni (HC Merano – AlpsHL), Jake Smith (Esbjerg Energy – Danimarca) – Damian Clara (reserve)

Defense:
Dylan Di Perna, Jason Seed, Peter Spornberger (HC Bozen – ICEHL), Daniel Glira, Luca Zanatta (HC Pustertal – ICEHL), Thomas Larkin, Alex Trivellato (Schwenninger Wild Wings – DEL), Gregory Di Tomaso (SG Cortina – AlpsHL), Gregorio Gios (Asiago Hockey – ICEHL), Phil Pietroniro (Rytiri Kladno – Extraliga)

Attacker:
Pascal Brunner, Luca Frigo, Dustin Gazley, Daniel Mantenuto, Anthony Salinitri (HC Bozen - ICEHL), Ivan Deluca, Mikael Frycklund, Matthias Mantinger, Tommy Purdeller (HC Pustertal - ICEHL), Matteo Gennaro, Alex Ierullo, Bryce Misley (Asiago Hockey - ICEHL), Diego Kostner (HC Ambrì-Piotta - NLA), Nick Saracino (HC Bozen/Asiago Hockey – ICEHL), Marco Zanetti (HC Lugano – NLA)

Coaching staff:
Jukka Jalonen (Head Coach), Giorgio De Bettin, Stefan Mair, Diego Scandella (Assistant Coach), Thomas Tragust (Goalkeeper Coach), Mike Kader (Athletic Coach)