Italy's head coach Mike Keenan is supposed to secure a return to the top group at the World Cup in Bolzano. © FISG

Mike Keenan plans the home World Cup: “I’m confident”

In just under 2 months, the home World Championships will take place in Bolzano for the Italian national ice hockey team. The goal is clear: promotion to the top division. National coach Mike Keenan has commented on this.

March 02, 2024

From: cst

The Blue Team's home World Cup begins on April 28th in the Bozner Sparkasse Arena. Until then, there will still be a lot of water running down the Etsch, but the tension is slowly increasing. Also for national coach Mike Keenan, who has to deliver with his team at the World Cup.

Keenan has examined no fewer than 60 potential World Cup candidates in recent weeks and months, as he explained to the ice hockey association FISG: “We will now create an expanded nomination list that will take part in the training camp. There we will then make the selection as to who will take part in the World Cup.” The training camp begins on April 7th.

Physics is in the foreground

Last year's World Cup in Nottingham was a sporting disaster for Keenan and his team. The coach does not see this danger this year because: “We can count on a deeper squad, the players already know the system better. Last year, important players only joined at the last moment or were injured. I am confident that the preparation in April will give us the ultimate motivation boost.”

Daniel Frank and Alex Petan should still be in top condition for the World Cup. © André Ringuette

Keenan attaches great importance to the physical condition of his players: “You can always get stuck in the system, but first and foremost the athletes have to be fit. As a national team you can't work with the players every day, so we talk to them a lot when they're at the clubs. Under fitness trainer Mike Kadar, everyone has created their own fitness program and also monitors it. This means that all players should be in top shape for the World Cup.”

The Blue Team's preparation for the World Cup

April 7th: Start of training camp
April 13: Test match against France
April 14: Test match against France
April 20: Test match against South Korea
April 23: Test match against Hungary
April 24: Test match against South Korea