Scott Valentine will also wear the Bolzano jersey next season. © Vanna Antonello

Please stay back: the “Valentrain” is rolling through Bolzano again

HCB Südtirol Alperia has already confirmed its parade line in attack. Now a fundamental building block has also been laid in defense.

24 May 2023

From: det

Dustin Gazley, Brad McClure and Mike Halmo led HC Bozen's offense last season and sometimes enchanted their opponents. Club boss Dieter Knoll has already reached an agreement with all three strikers for next season. Knoll has now signed its first defender. Scott Valentine will also be mixing concrete in Bolzano in the winter of 2023/24.

Valentine came to the Talferstadt last summer after seven years in Augsburg (DEL). And it hit like a bomb. The 100-pound package from Canada was probably the toughest defender in the league, who didn't shy away from a duel, let it rip on the boards and was generally responsible for the rough stuff. It is not for nothing that Valentine earned the nickname “Valentrain” during his career. Because when Scott comes rushing in, the opponent has to dress warmly.

Scott Valentine in action: The Canadian is considered to be the toughest defender in the league. © VANNA ANTONELLO

But it wouldn't be right to reduce Valentine to his physicality alone. Because the 32-year-old also has a lot up his sleeve in terms of play. Just think of the assist for Daniel Frank in the final game 6, when he faked a shot and instead delivered a sugar pass across half the field. Ultimately, one can confidently say that Valentine was the best defender in Bolzano last season. His contract extension was a top priority at the HCB and is now finalized.

“We still have a score to settle.” Scott Valentine

He is overjoyed to be returning to Bolzano and is especially looking forward to it Champions Hockey League, explains Scott Valentine. At the same time, he also launches a declaration of war: “I can hardly wait to continue the victorious tradition of Bolzano and to go on the hunt for success in the championship, which we missed last year by a hair's breadth. We still have a score to settle, a job to do and I'm already on a roll thinking that we will come together as a group and start working to achieve our goals."