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Daniel Mantenuto & Co. fell against Ukraine. © Vanna Antonello/FISG
First World Cup setback: This slip-up hurts Italy
Italy's national ice hockey team suffered a severe setback at the World Championships in Division 1 (Group A). Ukraine snatched two points from the Blue Team on Monday. The realization: This will make their mission for promotion even more difficult.
28 April 2025
From: fop
This was not what the Azzurri had imagined: Only 24 hours after the promising start against Japan They lost 2-3 to a strong Ukrainian team in a penalty shootout. Now they're under considerable pressure in the race for the top two spots that qualify for promotion to the World Group.
At times, the Blue Team was unrecognizable in the World Cup arena in Sfântu Gheorghe, Romania. While they had significantly more shots on their opponents' goal (37:18), star coach Jukka Jalonen's team was only truly dominant for short periods. The two goals conceded, making the score 0:1 and 1:2, in particular, repeatedly threw them off their stride. Goalkeeper Davide Fadani, who was again preferred over Damian Clara, is not to blame for the goals. In both cases, the Ukrainians were simply given too much space.
The positive thing about this World Cup day is the fact that we at least managed to take a point from a difficult match, and the realization that the Azzurri showed their courage time and time again and fought back. They deserved the winning goal, especially in extra time.
Frycklund injured from the ice
Instead of the winning goal, there was another shock in overtime: First-line center Mikael Frycklund suffered a leg injury and had to be assisted off the ice. A few hours later, the association announced the 31-year-old’s World Cup exit.Emotions on both sides
| Goalscorer with a bad past | Frigo and Di Tomaso lose the puck along the boards, and it falls to Denyskin in front of the net – and he coolly scores to make it 1-0 (15th minute)! Denyskin is no stranger to international ice hockey: At the beginning of 2022, he was suspended worldwide for a full year for using the most vicious racist slur against a black opponent. |
| An absolute premiere | Di Tomaso scores his first goal for the Blue Team—and what an important one! The Azzurri's only AlpsHL player flicks the puck in after a nice pass from Gazley (33'). Earlier, Tedesco had hit the post on one side, and on the other, a Ukraine goal was disallowed for goaltender interference. |
| Zakharov, the sly fox | During Italy's best moment, the Eastern Europeans struck with their only real chance. Zakharov was behind the net and played the puck to Fadani's back, from where it fell over the line (39th minute). That was a bitter blow for the Azzurri. |
| Zanatta forces overtime | Although Ukraine suddenly emerged as the better team in the final period, Jalonen's players were the ones to celebrate this time. Pustertal's Zanatta fired a one-timer from the blue line, sending both teams into overtime (45th minute). |
| Aluminum and injury | In overtime, Italy had several chances to score the winning goal. A Larkin-Frycklund shot hit the post, nearly ending Ukraine's game. Just seconds later, the HCP striker was forced off the ice with a knee injury. |
| Italy just doesn't score | The Azzurri failed to score a single goal in the penalty shootout. Mantenuto, Gazley, Purdeller, Tedesco, and Ierullo all missed, while Ukraine's Peresunko beat Fadani to decide the match. |
> You can read the complete game here.
Italy now has a rest day before the game continues on Wednesday. Then, from 15 p.m. (im SportNews-Live ticker) Poland is the opponent. One thing is certain: Italy must win from now on to avoid being pushed down in this evenly matched field.
Italy – Ukraine 2-3 aet
Italy: Fadani (Clara); Glira-Larkin, Trivellato-Di Tomaso, Zanatta-Pietroniro, Di Perna-Seed; Tedesco-Frycklund-Purdeller, Ierullo-Misley-Saracino, Frigo-Mantenuto-Gazley, Mantinger-Kostner, Zanetti.Coach: Jalonen
Ukraine: Diachenko (Levshin); Sysak-Merezhko, Hrebenyk-Pangelov Yuldashev, Ratushny-Varava, Dakhanovsky; Denyskin-Zakharov-Borodai, Trakht-Fadyeyev-Peresunko, Lialka-Kuprianov-Korenchuk, Kryvoshapkin-Sadovikov,Yanishevskyi, Vorona
Coach: Khrystych
Gates: 0:1 Andri Denyskin (14.37), 1:1 Gregory Di Tomaso (32.21), 1:2 Viktor Zakharov (38.49), 2:2 Zanatta (44.35), 2:3 Oleksander Peresunko (decisive penalty)
Spectatoris: 1.274
The other games on Monday:
Poland – Japan 2:1Goals: 1:0 Bizacki (6.27), 2:0 Krezolek (19.16), 2:1 Osawa (59.54)
Great Britain – Romania 2:1 (aet)
Goals: 1:0 Waller (0.31), 1:1 Gajdo (9.31), 2:1 Neilson (60.36)
The table:
| Pos | Team | Games | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Poland | 2 | 6 |
| 2. | Italy | 2 | 4 |
| 3. | Great Britain | 2 | 4 |
| 4. | Ukraine | 2 | 3 |
| 5. | Romania | 2 | 0 |
| 6. | Japan | 2 | 0 |
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