Diego Demetz is also staying in Val Gardena. © Giacomo Rossi

Gröden extends contracts with three talented players

Hockey Club Gherdëina has extended the contracts of three up-and-coming forwards for the new season in the Alps Hockey League (AlpsHL).

July 09, 2026

From: pm

Diego Demetz, Nicolas Andriolo and Igor Bogdanov They will therefore demonstrate their skills at HCG again in the new season. "Last season they gained their first experience in the senior ranks and showed 100% commitment. We expect the same this year so that they can take the next step forward and earn their place in the team," emphasizes Sporting Director Joel Brugnoli.

The youngest of the group is 18-year-old Diego Demetz, who started playing ice hockey in the HCG youth categories. From 2022, he played for the Bolzano Academy before returning to his hometown club last summer. He became the team's top scorer in the U19 division with 25 points in 17 games and scored his first goals in both the AlpsHL and the Italian Hockey League (IHL). He also played 17 games for HCG in IHL Division I.

Take the next step

Nicolas Andriolo also hails from Val Gardena and, like Demetz, joined the Furie last summer, having previously gained experience in Canada, Neumarkt, and with HC Aosta. He was on the Furie's AlpsHL roster 22 times last season before injuries sidelined him towards the end. In the IHL Division, the agile winger impressed with four goals in eleven games.

Igor Bogdanov learned to play ice hockey with the Falcons Brixen and the Wipptal Broncos before moving to Germany in 2020. There, the 20-year-old played for ESV Kaufbeuren, the Schwenninger Wild Wings, EV Füssen, and SC Riessersee. Due to injury, the right-handed shooter only played nine games for the AlpsHL team last season, but he showed glimpses of his potential.