Home World Cup in Bolzano: This is Italy's master plan

Ultimately, the Azzurri's goal is to return to the World Group at the home World Cup. Zisser and national coach Mike Keenan, who currently lives in Bolzano and will only return to his Canadian homeland for a few days over Christmas, are currently busy to come into personal contact with potential national players.

“Last week we were in Bruneck, at the weekend in Switzerland, on Wednesday in Bolzano and next week we will be in Asiago to hold talks with the players. We created a 60-page play book that we handed out to all cracks,” explains Zisser.

Clear rules So far, no one has expressed their disinterest in the national team. “If a player cancels a tournament or a test match in the run-up to the World Cup for a reason that is not valid, then the door to the national team is definitely closed for him,” Zisser speaks plainly and points out that Daniel Tedesco was in the middle during the first form check November will not be there in Budapest because “the championship in Great Britain will not be interrupted. In such a case, our hands are tied because we don’t want to mess with the clubs.”

From November 10th to 12th, Keenan's team will take part in the “Sarközy Tournament” in the Hungarian capital. She won this tournament a year ago on the 72-year-old coach's debut. At the start, the “Blue Team” will face Slovenia on November 10th at 15 p.m., the next day against hosts Hungary at 18.30:12 p.m. and finally against Ukraine on November 13.30th at 6:7 p.m. In order to be prepared for the tournament, there will be a short training camp in Bolzano on November 7th and 18th. On the evening of November XNUMXth, the team will travel to Linz and from there the next day to Budapest, where a training session is planned at XNUMX p.m. in the “Tüskecsarnok Arena”.

The national coach of Italy, Mike Keenan, is under pressure: promotion is mandatory at the World Cup in Bolzano. © Valentina Gallina

Before Christmas, two test matches were originally planned in South Tyrol against Ukraine. Because the opponent canceled, Zisser managed to negotiate participation in the “Klagenfurt Cup” with Austria at the beginning of October at the semi-annual congress of the International Ice Hockey Federation IIHF in Faro, Portugal. Italy will face Poland in the first semi-final on Thursday, December 2th at 14 p.m. on Lake Wörthersee, while hosts Austria and Hungary will cross bats in the second semi-final at 15 p.m. On Friday, December 1th, the game for third place will kick off at 19 p.m. and the final will kick off at 2 p.m.

The timetable Two test matches against Slovenia are planned for February 8th and 9th, 2024. These will take place in the Bolzano World Cup Arena. Preparations for the World Cup are expected to begin on April 2, 1. Six more test games are planned until the peak of the season. First twice away against France (on April 2024th, 6 in Megeve and on April 2th, 13 in Meribel), then twice each in Bolzano or Neumarkt against South Korea (April 2024th and 14th, 2024) and Hungary (2nd and 20rd April 25).

At the World Cup in the Sparkasse Arena, which was inaugurated with a World Cup tournament 30 years ago, Italy is fighting for promotion to the world group with the home advantage against Slovenia, Hungary, South Korea, Romania and Japan. In addition to the World Cup in Bolzano, other title fights will take place in South Tyrol this winter. From January 6th to 12th, 2024, Neumarkt will be the venue for the U18 World Cup in the I. Division Group A for women.

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Home World Cup in Bolzano: This is Italy's master plan

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