A Canadian top goalie for the HCB

Bolzano is closing “at the back”. HCB managing director Dieter Knoll and his staff have landed a “big fish” for the important goalkeeper position: the choice fell on the 30-year-old Canadian Leland Irving, who has a lot of experience from the best leagues in the world, from the NHL via the KHL to the Liiga.

The new goalie from Bolzano is an extremely versatile player; his strengths include excellent positional play as well as quick reactions when it comes to rebounds and exposed targets. He is also very agile between the goal posts.

Drafted by the Calgary Flames in 2006 Irving (183 cm x 80 kg) began his career in 2004 as a 16-year-old in the WHL with the Everett Silvertips. His catch rates there were between 92% and 93%, so that he was drafted by the Calgary Flames in the first round in 2006 as the 26th player overall. However, his debut in the highest American league was delayed by a few years: After another season with the Silvertips, Irving won gold with Team Canada at the U20 World Cup and then moved to the AHL, first in the ranks of the Quad City Flames, then with the Abbotsford Heat.

His NHL debut followed in 2011 with Calgary: He played 13 games with the Flames over two seasons, but spent most of the season guarding the goal in Abbotsford. The turning point came in 2013, when he played for the first time in Europe in the Finnish Liiga for Jokerit, again with a catch rate of over 92%. With KHL club in the Spengler Cup final The following year he moved to the KHL to Salavat Yulaev Ufa: With this Russian team he also took part in the Spengler Cup and only lost in the final against Geneva. In 2015 he returned to the AHL, this time to the Iowa Wild (41 games, 91,3% catch rate), while in 2016 he moved again to Finland to KooKoo (35 games, 92,3%).

In the past season he played part of the Lehig Valley Phantoms and the San Diego Gulls: Here, however, he got little ice time as the season was about to be over for his team and the club therefore decided to give preference to the younger goalkeepers. Irving has always taken part in full training and now his first adventure in the EBEL begins in the Foxes jersey. Praise for Bolzano's fighting heart and beautiful area “I can't wait to play in Bolzano,” these are the first words of the new goalkeeper. “Some friends who played there or in the EBEL not only told me about the high level of ice hockey there, but also about the fighting heart of the club and the beautiful area. I am ready to support my colleagues in defending their title.”

The Finnish HCB coach Kai Suikkanen, however, explains: “I got information about Irving from the GM of KooKoo. He is not only an excellent goalkeeper, but also a great person. The Finns wanted to bring him back, but they were already stocked with three goalies. I am firmly convinced that his signing is a major coup for us.” 2 goalkeepers, 6 defenders, 9 attackers - let's move on Following this latest signing, the HCB squad currently includes 2 goalies (Irving, Smith), 6 defenders (Nordlund, MacKenzie, Geiger, Campbell, Glira, Marchetti) and 9 attackers (Miceli, Petan, Carozza, Deluca, Bernard, Insam, Kuparinen). , Frank, Frigo). Of these, 9 are new additions, including the Finland returnee Marco Insam. But the shopping gate isn't over yet - especially for the attack area.

ICE Regular Season ICE	SP	TV	P
1. Klagenfurt	47	183:101	102
2. Fehervar	46	146:126	89
3. Salzburg	46	142:107	87
4. HCB South Tyrol	46	137:125	76
5. Linz	46	146:116	75
6. Villach	46	155:136	74
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A Canadian top goalie for the HCB

NHL, AHL, KHL and the Finnish Liiga - 30-year-old Canadian Leland Irving played in all of these top ice hockey leagues before he became the new goalkeeper for HCB Südtirol Alperia, where he followed in the footsteps of the EBEL champion who won the 2017/ 18 decisive Pekka Tuokkola kicks.

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