The A2 series is in the starting blocks

HC Eppan Sarah As every year, the traditional Überetsch club starts the championship with great ambitions. Coach Jarno Mensonen (Finland) was confirmed in the coaching bench. The “Pirates” have strengthened their defense with Jake Newton (USA) and Peter Stimpfl (Milan). Patrick Wallenberg should take care of the attack. The 35-year-old Swede has earned his living at HC Gherdeina over the past three years and is now under contract in Überetsch. Eppan will face Pergine away at the start of the season, while on Sunday they will face WSV Sterzing Weihenstephan in the home ICiT Photovoltaik Arena. Coach Mensonen can rely on his entire squad.

SV Kaltern rothoblaas The “Pike” are looking for compensation before the start of the new season. Coach Tomas Sandlin's aim will be to ensure that enthusiasm for the fastest team sport in the world breaks out again in Kaltern. Steve Pelletier has moved from Neumarkt to Überetsch, and ex-Eppaner Lorenz Röggl and Finnish Matias Loppi - who was already in Kaltern in the 2003/04 season - will take care of the attack. On the first match day, SV Kaltern rothoblaas travels to Meran, while Spinell & Co. host Val Gardena on Sunday in the Raiffeisen Arena. The “Hechte” have to do without Mirko Quinz (shoulder injury) and Markus Kofler with thigh problems at the start of the season.

HC Neumarkt Riwega In the lowlands, nothing has changed in terms of objectives. HC Neumarkt Riwega wants to become champions. Joseph West has taken a seat in the dugout, but there have also been some changes in terms of the staff on the ice. Alex Caffi (Lugano) is supposed to keep the wild geese box clean. The ex-Sterzinger Paolo Bustreo and the former Fassa attacker Rudy Locatin should take care of the attack. Neumarkt starts the new season where it ended almost six months ago: with a game against Val Gardena in the Pranives Stadium. On Sunday the Unterlanders will meet Pergine. Pergine was Neumarkt's feared opponent last season. Joe West can count on the entire squad.

HC Gherdeina After reaching the final last year, in which the people of Val Gardena beat the eventual champions Milan well, the Ladin team is starting the upcoming season with a partially renewed squad. Thomas Kostner, the new coach at HC Gherdeina, will be supported on the bench by Pepi Linder as an assistant. Niklas Anger from Alleghe should provide the necessary accents in attack, while Ryan Gaucher is the trump card in defense. Neumarkt will travel to the Pranives Stadium on Friday, while the Ladiners will be guests at Kaltern on Sunday. Coach Kostner doesn't have to specify any player.

HC Meran Junior Doug McKay is also the coach of the Adler from Passerstadt this year. The Italian-Canadian Vincenzo Marozzi is in goal, while Viktor Wallin has been confirmed in defense. Taggart Desmet, who can point to a Serie A past with Pustertal and Valpellice, should provide the necessary accents up front. HC Meran Junior will play a home game against Kaltern at the start before the Adler play against EV Bozen 84 in the Eiswelle on Sunday. For Meran, this second match will be a reunion with Oliver Schenk - he ended up with the Talferstadt team in the summer.

HC Pergine Solarplus This year too, the Trentino team is sending a quick-witted and very experienced team into the race that can cause many surprises. Troy Barnes and Pontus Moren have been confirmed, while ex-Neumarkt player Michele Ciresa and the former Hechte captain Armin Ambach are expected to provide accents. Pergine Solarplus will face Eppan for their season debut in front of their home crowd, while De Toni & Co. will travel to Neumarkt Riwega on Sunday.

EV Bozen 84 This year the Bolzano team will be led by the “Iron General” Fred Carroll, who can count on Marcello Platè in goal. Stanislav Jasecko has been confirmed as defensive conductor, while Dilan Stanley will act as a sniper in the attack. What caused the biggest stir, however, was the comeback of Christian “Kiki” Timpone, who will be donning the EV uniform this year. The Talferstädter will meet the Broncos Sterzing away on Friday, before Battisti & Co. face Meran on Sunday in front of their home crowd - in the Bolzano Eiswelle. Carroll will probably have to give preference to Jasecko and Stanley, who had problems signing up. Thomas Unterfrauner could also be missing, as he is still missing the OK from Ritten Sports, from whom he was borrowed.

WSV Vipiteno Weihenstephan After the unfortunate relegation last year, the Broncos want to return to the Italian ice hockey top flight. Coach Oly Hicks, who was confirmed by the Wipptal team, relies on the saves of Charles Corsi (Merano) in goal, while the defensive coach relies on the experience (and goals) of Derek Eastman (Gröden). On the offensive end, they trust TJ Caig's ability. For the Vipiteno team, the new ice hockey year begins with the home game against EV Bozen 84 on Friday, before the showdown with Eppan on Sunday. Oly Hicks can rely on the entire squad, with the exception of defender Luca Scardoni.

Serie A2, 1st matchday of the regular season – Friday, September 28, 2012 Weihenstephan Arena Vipiteno, 20.30 p.m WSV Vipiteno Weihenstephan – EV Bozen 84

Stadio del Ghiaccio Pergine, 20.30 p.m Pergine Solarplus – HC Eppan Sarah

Pranives Stadium in Wolkenstein, 20.30 p.m HC Gherdeina – HC Neumarkt Riwega

MeranArena in Meran, 20.30 p.m HC Meran Junior – SV Kaltern rothoblaas

Serie A2, 2nd matchday of the regular season – Sunday, September 30, 2012 Raiffeisen Arena in Kaltern, 19.00 p.m SV Kaltern rothoblaas – Hc Gherdeina

Ice wave in Bolzano, 19.00 p.m EV Bozen 84 – HC Meran Junior

IcIT Photovoltaic Arena in Eppan, 19.00 p.m HC Eppan Sarah – WSV Vipiteno Weihenstephan

Würth Arena in Neumarkt, 19.00 p.m HC Neumarkt – Pergine Solarplus

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The A2 series is in the starting blocks

The second Italian ice hockey league begins on Friday evening. On the first match day, HC Gherdeina and HC Neumarkt Riwega face each other. This pairing played one of the two semi-finals last season. On Sunday, HC Eppan Sarah and WSV Sterzing Weihenstephan will be in the spotlight.

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