Luca Frigo & Co. prevailed against Poland. © Polski Hokej

First test match before World Cup: Azzurri defeat Poland

The Italian national ice hockey team won the first of three friendly matches before the Division 1A World Championship in Romania. Jukka Jalonen's team defeated Poland on Saturday after an impressive performance.

18 April 2025

From: leo

Alex Trivellato and his team played their first friendly match of the preseason in Sosnowiec on Saturday. Their opponents, Poland, had already played four matches. However, the Azzurri showed no signs of lacking match practice. They dominated the game throughout and ultimately earned a deserved 3-2 victory.

From the very beginning, the visitors were the more active and dangerous team, firing the first warning shot through Daniel Mantenuto. They then survived two Polish power plays unscathed before taking a 1-0 lead on the power play. After a perfect cross from Mikael Frycklund, Phil Pietroniro blasted the puck under the crossbar. Just 49 seconds later, the Blue Team celebrated again when Ivan Deluca gratefully accepted a gift from goalie John Murray, who had saved a harmless shot from Brunner.

Fadani strong

In the second period, Poland increased the pressure and not undeservedly scored a 1-2 lead. Karol Bilas fired a shot from the blue line, and Pawel Zygmunt deflected the puck into the Italian net, leaving Davide Fadani unable to save it. The 24-year-old, who will be in goal for Swiss first division club Kloten next season, subsequently made several strong saves and held on to the lead.

Davide Fadani showed his class. © Polski Hokej

Shortly after the start of the final period, Nick Saracino sealed the victory with a quick counterattack. Although Poland pulled back to 2-3 through Patryk Krezolek, who profited from a superb pass from Zygmunt, the home side could not muster any more. Fadani and the Azzurri held on to their narrow lead until the end.

Jalonen gave Damian Clara, Diego Kostner, and Matthias Mantinger, among others, a rest. With the exception of Clara, who recently joined the team, they are expected to play on Sunday, when Italy and Poland play a second friendly at 14.15:XNUMX p.m.

Italy – Poland 3:2

ITA: Fadani (Smith); Glira-Larkin, Trivellato-Di Tomaso, Zanatta-Pietroniro, Spornberger-Gios; Salinitri-Frycklund-Purdeller, Ierullo-Gennaro-Saracino, Frigo-Mantenuto-Gazley, Deluca-Misley-Brunner, Zanetti.
coach: Noble

POLE: Murray (Maciej); Bizacki-Ciura, Florczak-Bryk, Gorny-Jaskiewicz, Bilas- Zielinski; Zygmunt-Pas-Jeziorski, Lyszczarczyk-Komorski-Sadlocha, Krezolek-Dziubinski-Kapica, Goscinski-Syty-Michalski.
coach: Calaber

Gates: 1:0 Pietroniro (13.32), 2:0 Deluca (14.21), 2:1 Zygmunt (26.13), 3:1 Saracino (41.46), 3:2 Krezolek (52.29)