Ritten brings a former resident of Sterzing back to South Tyrol. © Daniel Frusone

New top striker: Ritten brings in a familiar face

The Rittner Buam SkyAlps are continuing to prepare their squad for the 2026/27 season. And they are pleased to announce another new signing. This time it's a striker who has already found success in South Tyrol.

June 19, 2026

From: pm/dl

The blue-and-reds have secured the services of newly minted Italian-Canadian Adam Capannelli for their attack. The 27-year-old is already a familiar face in South Tyrol. In recent years, Capannelli has played for teams including the Icebears Toblach in the Italian Hockey League and then the Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan in the Alps Hockey League. He also faced the Ritten/Ritten SkyAlps and made a strong impression.

The Canadian-born player, who recently also acquired Italian citizenship, amassed 156 points (69 goals) in 102 games for the Wild Horses. In the 2024/25 season, he was the Alps Hockey League's top scorer with 31 goals, and two years prior, the 1,78-meter tall and hefty 94-kilogram left-handed shooter led all other players in the IHL with 37 assists and 57 points.

Back in South Tyrol

Born on May 17, 1999, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Capannelli came up through the youth ranks of the Lac St. Louis Lions, the Moncton Wildcats, and later Concordia University in his native Canada. At the end of the 2021/22 season, he crossed the Atlantic to the land of his ancestors, Italy. He initially signed with Varese in the Italian Hockey League, then with Toblach for the 2022/23 season, before playing for Sterzing for two seasons starting in 2023/24. Last season, Capannelli played for the Iowa Heartlanders in the US ECHL. Now, Capannelli is returning to Italy, to the Ritten plateau.

Adam Capanelli (right) was the top scorer of the 2024/25 AlpsHL season. © Daniele Frusone

Sporting directors Dan Tudin and Alexander Eisath are particularly pleased: “Adam Capannelli is a fast, clinical finisher and physically robust striker. He has everything it takes to score a lot of points, as he already proved at Sterzing. We believe he will be a great help to us in attack.”