A new glamorous couple in South Tyrol: The former Miss South Tyrol and the Bolzano star. © Instagram

Inspired by a Miss South Tyrol: Bolzano star blossoms

HC Bozen has rediscovered its former strength in recent weeks. One player who has been particularly outstanding this year is forward Brad McClure. The Canadian is on cloud nine, both on and off the ice.

08 January 2026

From: det

When you ask hockey stars about their best career moments, the answers are usually similar: their debut in the best league in the world, winning a championship – or scoring the game-winning goal in a big match. Brad McClure, however, picks a slightly different event. "At the end of October, I experienced one of the best weekends of my career," says the 32-year-old Canadian.

Back then, McClure and his HC Bozen celebrated an unbelievable 9-1 victory over their arch-rivals HC Pustertal in the packed Sparkasse Arena. With a hat trick, the forward was the hero of the evening. But that's only part of the story.

A special moment: McClure celebrates with his nephew on the ice. © HC Bozen

“My family was visiting during those days. My mom, my sister, my brother-in-law – and last but not least, my little nephew – traveled from Canada and came to the arena. To manage such a game on top of that was unforgettable,” said the blond-haired player, who was celebrated by fans after that match on the ice with his one-year-old nephew in his arms.

In love with a former Miss South Tyrol

McClure is a family man through and through. And for some time now, the family of the 212-time Bolzano player has grown by one member. The ice hockey star is in a relationship with Valentina Campanella, who is very well known in the South Tyrolean celebrity scene. The Lana native won the Zett Miss South Tyrol title in the fall of 2014 and is still a well-known advertising and modeling face in our region.

Valentina Campanella was crowned Zett-Miss-Südtirol 2015.

“We met in August during a training camp. I went to a small concert with some friends, and that’s where we first met,” says McClure, who adds: “It’s really nice to have a good life outside of ice hockey. Valentina is great.”

McClure is better than ever.

Campanella has become a regular in the stands at HCB home games. There, she sees Brad McClure in top form for weeks. The numbers speak for themselves: With 20 goals this season, the 32-year-old is the league's second-highest scorer and has already set a personal record: He has never scored so many goals in a single regular season during his professional career. Overall, McClure has an impressive 33 points after 28 games.

Brad McClure (right) is in great shape. © Vanna Antonello

This is McClure's fourth season in Bolzano, where he calls South Tyrol his second home and is diligently working on his Italian. "I want to speak it fluently by summer," he says with a grin. The affable striker also grins at another question: Is this the best Brad McClure Bolzano has ever seen? "Yes, I think so. But I hope there's still more to come! Our goal is clear: We want to reach the finals!" Something else is also clear: The HCB star is on cloud nine – both on and off the ice.