A setback at the wrong time

This opponent is simply no match for the Azzurri: For the second time in just a few weeks, Poland has shown Italy's national ice hockey team its limits. Coach Jukka Jalonen has a lot of work ahead of him.

13 December 2025

From: fop

On Friday, the Blue Team was able to Victory against Hungary The euphoria was still shining, but less than 24 hours later the mood of optimism had already been dampened. At the European Cup of Nations in Budapest, a lackluster Azzurri lost to Poland 2-4 – exactly the same score as their most recent encounter at the beginning of November.

National coach Jalonen made several changes to his lineup compared to the previous evening, putting his trust in Davide Fadani between the pipes, who replaced Damian Clara. However, the EHC Kloten goalie had an off day.

Frycklund's horror blunder

But let's take it one step at a time: Italy initially picked up where they left off against Hungary – with plenty of attacking intent. Swiss-based player Alessandro Segafredo scored with a slapshot in the 3rd minute to make it 1-0. But then the Azzurri's efforts fizzled out.

Poland took control – and scored in quick succession. Alan Lyszczarczyk tied the game at 1-1 with the help of the inside of the post (8th minute), then Lukasz Krzemien surprised Fadani with a saveable shot on his glove side (14th minute). But that wasn't all: Dominik Pas increased the lead to 3-1 on the power play (26th minute), and Jakub Lewandowski added the fourth goal (29th minute). The final goal against Poland was down to Mikael Frycklund, who lost possession of the puck behind his own net and then stumbled after the opposing player.

Now France is still waiting.

In the remaining 30 minutes of the game, Italy tried to mount a response, but they could only manage Peter Spornberger's fifth goal for the national team, at the end of a well-executed counter-attack.

The Blue Team will have another chance to warm up for the Olympics on Sunday starting at 12:30 pm. They will face France in the final match of the tournament.

Italy – Poland 2:4

ITA: Fadani (Rigoni); Zanatta-Di Tomaso, Segafredo-Frycklund-Purdeller; Glira-Pietroniro, Ierullo-Morini-Gazley; Spornberger Seed, De Luca-Kostner-Zanetti; Amorosa-Larcher, Brunner-Misley-DiGiacinto. Coach: Jukka Jalonen

POLE: Kieler (Studzinski); Narog-Gorny, Michalski-Kieblicki-Krezloek; Schafer-Bilas, Wronka-Pas-Lyszczarczyk; Wanacki-Jaskiewicz, Hofman-Jarosz-Brynkus; Bizacki-Macias, Lewandowski-Krzemien-Slusarczyk.
Coach: Pekka Tirkkonen.

Gates: 1:0 Segafredo (2.43), 1:1 Lyszczarczyk (7.52), 1:2 Krzemien (13.15), 1:3 Pas (25.19), 1:4 Lewandowski (29.56), 2:4 Spornberger (36.58)