The Italian national team prepares in Bolzano. © Vanna Antonello

Blue Team eager for World Cup: “Knife between the teeth”

On Monday, the Italian national ice hockey team began preparations for the World Championship in Division 1 Group A. The Blue Team is getting the final touches in Bolzano.

07 April 2025

From: never

The Ice Hockey World Championship 27st Division Group A kicks off in Romania on April 1th. National coach Jukka Jalonen has nominated 28 players for the tournament in Eastern Europe, with whom he hopes to achieve his long-awaited promotion to the World Group. Around three weeks before the big event, the Azzurri have gathered in Bolzano to position themselves for their goal. The first five days of preparation will consist of training sessions on and off the ice. On April 16, they will then travel to Sosnowiec, where two test matches against Poland are scheduled for April 18 (18:00 p.m.) and April 19 (14:15 p.m.).

Then it's back to South Tyrol, where Slovenia will host the Intercable Arena in Bruneck on April 22nd (19:30 p.m.). Two days later, the national team will finally depart for Romania. Optimism prevails among the Blue Team ahead of the World Cup. "We're entering this match with great confidence," explained Alex Trivallato of the Schwenninger Wild Wings. "The next few weeks will be very important to find the necessary chemistry and form a cohesive group."

Trivellato: “A lot of work ahead of us”

The Blue Team doesn't want to take the upcoming challenges lightly. While the Blue Team is aware of its strengths, it's also aware of its weaknesses. "We have a lot of hard work ahead of us; we want to be ready in Romania," says Trivellato. "We're confident we'll have the edge." The past two World Championships, in which they only managed third place in Division 1, should serve as "an incentive to give 110 percent and try to achieve the goals we've set for ourselves."

The Azzurri squad

goalkeeper
Davide Fadani (HC Ambrì Piotta – NLA / Bellinzona Snakes – Swiss League), Rudy Rigoni (HC Merano – AlpsHL), Jake Smith (Esbjerg Energy – Danimarca) – Damian Clara (reserve)

Abwehr
Dylan Di Perna, Jason Seed, Peter Spornberger (HC Bozen – ICEHL), Daniel Glira, Luca Zanatta (HC Pustertal – ICEHL), Thomas Larkin, Alex Trivellato (Schwenninger Wild Wings – DEL), Gregory Di Tomaso (SG Cortina – AlpsHL), Gregorio Gios (Asiago Hockey – ICEHL), Phil Pietroniro (Rytiri Kladno – Extraliga)

attacker
Pascal Brunner, Luca Frigo, Dustin Gazley, Daniel Mantenuto, Anthony Salinitri (HC Bozen - ICEHL), Ivan Deluca, Mikael Frycklund, Matthias Mantinger, Tommy Purdeller (HC Pustertal - ICEHL), Matteo Gennaro, Alex Ierullo, Bryce Misley (Asiago Hockey - ICEHL), Diego Kostner (HC Ambrì-Piotta - NLA), Nick Saracino (HC Bozen/Asiago Hockey – ICEHL), Marco Zanetti (HC Lugano – NLA)

Coaching staff
Jukka Jalonen (Head Coach), Giorgio De Bettin, Stefan Mair, Diego Scandella (Assistant Coach), Thomas Tragust (Goalkeeper Coach), Mike Kader (Athletic Coach)