The A-World Cup with the “Azzurri” can begin

Last year, Armin Helfer ensured the “Azzurri” returned to the elite of ice hockey with his goal to make it 1-4 over hosts Hungary at the 3st Division World Cup in Budapest.

Now it's time for the Italian selection to defend the right to take part in the A-WM. From Friday, May 4th, the Kufencracks will fight to stay in the league in Stockholm and Helsinki.

New mode

This year the game will be played in a new competition mode. The 16 participating teams play in two groups. Eight teams play in Stockholm (with Italy), the other eight in Helsinki. Each team plays against every other team once. After this group phase, we know the eight quarter-finalists, which are the top four in each group. The bottom two of the two groups are relegated, making way for Austria and Slovenia, who took first and second place at the B World Cup in Laibach.

Italy wants to avoid relegation to the second “league” and manage to stay in the league for the first time in four years. The Azzurri last achieved this feat five years ago, when Jason Cirone beat Latvia 4-3 and secured Italy's ticket to the 2008 World Cup in Quebec. Italy last took part in the A-World Cup in 2010. At that time the title fights took place in Mannheim. Italy was relegated due to an unfortunate defeat against the USA in a penalty shootout. The decisive factor for the relegation at the time was certainly the meager goal tally, as only six goals were scored.

The preparation phase

The Italian selection played six friendly matches in the preparatory phase. There was one win and one defeat against France, the record against Kazakhstan is negative with one win and two defeats and on May 1st Denmark beat the “Azzurri” 4-2. During these test games, Rick Cornacchia had the opportunity to put his team together and optimize the processes in the individual blocks. It will be interesting to see whether he managed to give the team the necessary and correct fine-tuning.

Well, at the World Cup, Italy will definitely always be the underdog. The team must – at least that’s what Rick Cornacchia said in a recent interview – win at least two games to stay in the A group. And that's possible in the early stages of the World Cup. Because the “Azzurri” won’t have much to gain against teams like the Czech Republic, Sweden or Russia in the final group games.

You can also follow the World Cup on television, as SportItalia will broadcast the games of the national team and other teams on channels 60, 61 and 62.

Italy's final squad for the World Cup in Stockholm:

GOALMEN: Daniel Bellissimo (Bofors IK-SWE) Thomas Tragust (WSV Vipiteno) Andreas Bernard (Saipa FIN)

DEFENDER: Christian Borgatello and Alexander Egger (HC Bozen) Armin Helfer (HC Pustertal) Roland Hofer (Pelitiat Heinola-FIN) Trevor Johnson (HC Valpellice) Stefano Marchetti (HC Asiago) Matthew DeMarchi (Vik Vasteras HK-SWE) Nicholas Plastino (Bofors IK-SWE) Thomas Larkin (Colgate University - USA)

STRIKER: Anton Bernard, Marco Insam and Derek Edwardson (HC Bozen) Thomas Pichler (Ritten Sport) Luca Ansoldi (Hockey Milan Rossoblù) Robert Sirianni (HC Valpellice) Diego Iori (SHC Fassa) Patrick Iannone (SG Pontebba) Luca Felicetti (SG Cortina) Vincent Rocco, Nicola Fontanive and Manuel DeToni (Alleghe Hockey) Giulio Scandella (HC Pustertal)

Italy's World Cup program: May 4th: Italy - Germany (12.15 p.m.) May 6th: Italy - Denmark (12.15 p.m.) May 8: Italy - Latvia (16.15:XNUMX p.m.) May 9th: Italy - Norway (16.15:XNUMX p.m.) May 11: Italy - Czech Republic (16.15:XNUMX p.m.) May 12: Italy - Sweden (20.15:XNUMX p.m.) May 14: Italy - Russia (20.15:XNUMX p.m.)

football

Italy

International leagues

International

hockey

tennis

Winter sports

Learn More

Motorsport

Cycling

Watersports

Favorites

The A-World Cup with the “Azzurri” can begin

The Italian national ice hockey team is ready for the A World Championship in Stockholm and Helsinki. The team coached by Rick Cornacchia will face Germany, Denmark, Latvia, Norway, the Czech Republic, Sweden and Russia in the title fights in the preliminary round from Friday, May 4th.

Comments (0)