Videos
Norway scored to make it 1-0. © ANSA / ANTHONY ANEX
Luckless and without points: Italy loses against Norway
Before facing tougher challenges in their next two matches against Sweden and the Czech Republic, Italy's national ice hockey team was determined to get on the scoreboard at the World Championship in Fribourg on Tuesday. However, efficient Norwegians thwarted their plans.
19 May 2026
From: leo
After opening losses against Canada and Slovakia, in which the Azzurri managed only one goal, they wanted to step up their offensive game in their third group match. The Blue Team's motto was: get more pucks on goal, play a simpler style, create more traffic. Alessandro Segafredo and his teammates implemented parts of this plan. However, the most crucial aspect – converting those scoring chances – once again failed them. And so, despite a spirited performance, Jukka Jalonen's team lost 0-4. The wait for their first points continues.
Italy's coach surprised everyone even before the game started by relegating Tommy Purdeller to the stands. The same fate befell Bolzano's Cristiano DiGiacinto. Purdeller's HC Pustertal teammate, Ivan Deluca, and Nicolò Mansueto moved into the lineup. This change didn't have the desired effect offensively, although the Blue Team created significantly more scoring opportunities compared to their first two games.
Fadani without assistance
The fact that none of the numerous opportunities were capitalized on was partly due to their own shortcomings. But it was also down to sheer bad luck: Alessandro Segafredo, Nick Saracino, and Phil Pietroniro all hit the woodwork. Norway, on the other hand, were far more clinical. The ever-reliable Davide Fadani in the Italian goal couldn't prevent the defeat because he was repeatedly let down. The defensive pairing of Alex Trivellato and Dylan DiPerna, in particular, was woeful that afternoon. They made crucial errors on three of the goals conceded.
Despite another strong performance for much of the game, the Azzurri can once again take nothing for granted. As everyone knows, in ice hockey, what counts is the clock. A point would have been crucial before the matches against the Czech Republic on Wednesday and Sweden on Friday. Now, in the fight to avoid relegation, everything points to a final showdown in the last group game against Slovenia – provided their eastern neighbors don't pull off another upset beforehand.
The highlights
| The wrong decision | Trivellatos' stick gets caught under the barrier, the Leiferer then lets Bakke-Olsen go, who uses the free space to his advantage and scores into the top corner unchallenged. |
| Fadani, the devilish fellow | That the deficit wasn't greater is thanks to Fadani. The goalkeeper made a miraculous save against Pettersen. At the other end, a Frycklund shot, deflected by Solberg, almost trickled into the net. |
| The bar clanks | After Fadani twice excelled against Rønnild, Italy had bad luck. Both Saracino, on a 2-on-1 counterattack, and Segafredo with a one-timer hit the post. |
| That's how it's done | If you don't score, you concede. DiPerna loses the puck, Trivellato stumbles, and Steen has a breakaway which he calmly finishes. Shortly afterward, none other than former HCP player Kåsastul scores into the top corner. |
| The pole again | Italy attempts to achieve the impossible. Pietroniro, however, hits the crossbar again from a tight angle. At the other end, Koblar outwits the weak DiPerna and seals the victory. |
Italy – Norway 0:4
ITA: Fadani (Smith); Zanatta-Phil Pietroniro, Trivellato-Di Perna, Spornberger-Gios, Buono-Nitz; De Luca-Bradley-Mansueto, Saracino-Frycklund-Zanetti, Frigo-Mantenuto-Segafredo, Mantinger-Misley-Delucacoach: Noble
NOR: Haukeland (Norman); Kaasastul-Krogdahl, Solberg-Johannesen, Ostby-Hurrod, Saxrud Danielsen; Salsten-Vikingstad-Ronnild, Vesterheim-Bakke Olsen-Elvsveen, Pettersen-Koblar-Martinsen, Steen-Ostrem Salsten-Berglund, Oby Olsen.
coach: Thoresen
Gates: 0:1 Bakke Olsen (11.32), 0:2 Steen (31.40), 0:3 Kåsastul (38.51), 0:4 Koblar (55.28)
Viewers: 4989
The table
| Pos | Country | Games | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Canada | 3 | 9 |
| 2. | Slovakia | 3 | 8 |
| 3. | Czechia | 3 | 7 |
| 4. | Norway | 3 | 6 |
| 5. | Sweden | 3 | 3 |
| 6. | Slovenia | 3 | 3 |
| 7. | Denmark | 3 | 0 |
| 8. | Italy | 3 | 0 |
Ice Hockey World Championship, Group B:
Latvia – Austria 1:3Goals: 0:1 Harnisch (27.11), 1:1 Balcers (40.25), 1:2 Nissner (44.22), 1:3 Rohrer (59.58)
Edit Profile
You have to by registering.to use the comment function.
Comments (0)