Nathan Garau is moving to South Tyrol. © Fantini Serena

After Gellon's departure: Merano brings in a Bolzano native

HC Meran has reacted to the departure of Daniel Gellon and signed a talent from South Tyrol for the new season in the Alps Hockey League (AlpsHL).

June 11, 2026

From: pm/sn

As HCM announced on Thursday evening, one of South Tyrol's most promising young forwards, 20-year-old Nathan Garau, who had been linked with a move to HC Bolzano in recent weeks and could theoretically even see some playing time there during the season, is joining the Eagles. Garau most recently played for league rival Asiago.

The attacking player began his career at Bolzano's academy before moving to Aosta's youth academy. There, at the age of 16, he made his first appearances for the senior team, which at that time played in Italy's third division.

International experience in the USA

In 2022, he took the step to the USA, where he played for the Elmira Junior Enforcers in the USPHL Premier, scoring 85 points in 43 games. He then returned to Aosta, where he impressed in both the IHL Division 1 (38 games, 73 points) and the Italian Hockey League (43 games, 26 points) despite his young age.

After a strong U20 World Championship (5 games, 8 points), the 1,87-meter-tall forward had another short stint in America before returning to Italy last October for personal reasons and joining Asiago. With the Stellati, he won the Italian championship and scored 16 points in 41 games in the AlpsHL.