Brad McClure, top performer at HC Bozen. © det

The HCB virtuoso: He performs magic on the ice and storms to mountain peaks

Several players are giving HC Bozen a special shine these days. One of them is Brad McClure: The striker from Canada is not only a big support at HCB, but is now also a “little South Tyrolean”, as he puts it himself. We took a closer look at him before the fifth semi-final against Salzburg (Thursday, 19.30 p.m.).

March 28, 2024

A kneeling archer, a plane taking off, the Statue of Liberty in New York: if you play with your imagination a little, the goal celebration poses of the Bolzano ice hockey cracks can definitely be reminiscent of these images. Yes, with a vivid imagination it is even possible for the incredible Hulk to appear on the ice at the Sparkasse Arena every now and then: namely when Brad McClure parks the hard rubber disc in the net.

In keeping with the style of the comic character, the Bolzano offensive virtuoso appears twice as big, twice as strong and twice as loud. His thunderous roar can echo from the ice rink to the stands in the collective cheering noise. Simply put: Hardly anyone else in the White Reds celebrates their goal as emotionally charged as the 30-year-old Canadian.

“That’s when all the hard work is worth it.” Brad McClure

“Scoring goals has always been what I loved most. “It’s just a lot of fun, it makes all the hard work worth it,” says McClure when we ask him about this special feature. 39 goals in two seasons at HCB not only mean that the blonde is one of the most successful shooters on his team, but also that the resilience of his vocal cords is relatively high.

A player with many emotions: Brad McClure. © 2024,Vanna Antonello

But it's not just the goals - and McClure scored some very important ones - that make the attacker a real weapon at HCB. It's also his delicate little hand with which he literally caresses the puck; his precise eye, which always keeps an eye on the better positioned teammate; and last but not least, its unpredictability, which can make something decisive at any moment.

After a slump in this year's regular season ("not scoring for two months was tough, but it's part of the business"), McClure is blossoming again in the playoffs. The fact that he scored nine points in nine games and therefore has more to his name than in the playoffs last season is only mentioned in passing.

In the summer he became a summiteer

Another thing that cannot just be mentioned in passing is that McClure is no longer an ordinary Canadian guest worker. He is now even a “little South Tyrolean”. “I found my girlfriend in Bolzano. “She’s from here and works as a physical therapist,” says McClure happily. His friend Martina was also the reason why the North American only returned to his Canadian homeland for a month after last season and enjoyed the rest of the summer in South Tyrol.

Summiteer Brad McClure. © Social Media

“I spent a lot of time in the mountains, did a lot of hiking and cycling. There are really beautiful places here,” explains McClure. Of course, a brilliant sporting performance could not be missed even during the ice hockey-free period. “I did a Skyrace in the Dolomites,” said McClure. During the DoloMythsRun, the professional ice hockey player fought his way up and down the 23-meter-high Piz Boe on a 3.152-kilometer route. “It was one of the most challenging things I have ever done in my life. But it was fun."

Will Brad McClure also attempt a summit attempt with HC Bozen? In any case, everything is still open in the semi-final series against Salzburg, after four games the score is 2-2. On Thursday evening the Foxes will be on from 19.30 p.m. (live ticker on SportNews) demanded in the city of Mozart - and want to get on course for the final with an away win. In any case, the white and red fans wouldn't mind if they could still hear the primal scream of the Bolzano Hulk in the future.

ICE Semifinals, Game 5 – Thursday, 19.30:XNUMX p.m

Red Bull Salzburg – HC Bozen
Standing in the best-of-7 series: 2:2