Angelo Miceli (2nd from right) meets HC Bozen with Asiago. © Asiago Hockey

Angelo Miceli: A Rendezvous with Old Love

On Wednesday (20.30 p.m.) there will be a special treat in the ICE Hockey League: HC Bozen will be visiting its big rival Asiago. For Angelo Miceli, Asiago's striker, it is a special match: he will be meeting his former team for the first time.

04 December 2024

From: det

Came as a Canadian, stayed as a native of Kaltern. This simple sentence sums up the life of Angelo Miceli. The ice hockey professional from Montreal joined HC Bozen in 2017, played no fewer than 404 games for the Foxes and was part of the team that brought the last ICE title to South Tyrol in 2018. But perhaps the most important thing is something else: Miceli met the love of his life here. Last summer he married Gerda, a teacher from Kaltern, in the Kaltern parish church.

It was the highlight of a year that was otherwise quite turbulent for Miceli. In June it was announced that his contract with HC Bozen would not be renewed after seven seasons. The Italian-Canadian, whose grandparents come from southern Italy, then signed with the top English club Sheffield Steelers. But things didn't go as planned for Miceli there and so a month ago he moved back to the ICE Hockey League, to Asiago.

Angelo Miceli (left) played for HC Bozen for years.

“I am really happy to be at Asiago,” says the 30-year-old striker to SportNews. "The team welcomed me really well, I only live an hour and a half away from Kaltern and in my opinion the championship is better than in England. We want to make the playoffs this year," said Miceli.

For the first time as Bozen opponent

On Wednesday, the Kaltern native will face a very special duel. HC Bozen will be the guests - and Miceli will be on the ice for the first time as an opponent of the Foxes. "I had a wonderful time in Bozen, but now I am an Asiago player and will do everything I can to ensure that we win. It is a derby, and therefore something special. But for us, it is about more: we need points for the playoff places," says Miceli.

“Of course, we don’t talk about ice hockey before a game like this.” Angelo Miceli

The striker - who had to take a short break in Asiago due to an injury but is now fit - still has some good friends in Bolzano. "I hear some of the players from Bolzano regularly. But of course we don't talk about ice hockey before a game like this," says Miceli.

Bolzano has a score to settle

The big favorite on Wednesday evening is definitely Bozen. The Foxes, who have all their players available for the first time this season, are not only top of the table, but also have a score to settle with Asiago. At the beginning of October, the White-Reds suffered an inexplicable 2:8 defeat in front of their home crowd. Daniel Frank & Co. now want revenge for that.

The HC Pustertal Meanwhile, the Wolves are facing a difficult task. On Wednesday at 18.30 p.m., the crisis-ridden Wolves will be visiting third-placed Graz. Pustertal has recently suffered seven defeats in a row - will they be able to break free against the dark horse favorites?

ICE Hockey League, Wednesday games

18.30 pm
Graz99ers – HC Pustertal

19.15 pm
Fehervar AV19 – Olimpija Ljubljana
Black Wings Linz – Pioneers Vorarlberg

20.30 pm
Asiago Hockey – HC Bozen