Why Lauridsen played under a different name in qualifying

Rumors have repeatedly surfaced that a Milanese team might join the ICE Hockey League (ICEHL) in the foreseeable future. The cross-border league certainly has a strong presence in the Lombardy metropolis at present. A total of 20 ICEHL players are currently chasing the puck at the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena and the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena. Host nation Italy is fielding eight players from HCB Südtirol Alperia, six from HC Falkensteiner Pustertal, and one from Olimpija Ljubljana.

France's roster includes Yohann Auvitu (Linz), and Latvia's features Roberts Bukarts (Vorarlberg), both from the multinational league. Furthermore, three ICEHL players have made Denmark's roster. Alongside flag bearer Jesper Jensen Aabo (Klagenfurt) and Anders Koch (Graz), Pustertal's defenseman Markus Lauridsen will be competing in the Olympics for the second time, following his appearance in 2022.

Lauridsen experiences a special Olympics Four years ago in Beijing, he made history: In the 2-1 victory against the Czech Republic, he scored the opening goal, Denmark's first-ever Olympic goal. "The Olympics are something special. They only take place every four years, while the World Championship is held annually. This year is even more special because numerous NHL stars, the best players in the world, are competing for gold, silver, and bronze. But also because, unlike in Beijing four years ago, there's no coronavirus pandemic," explains Lauridsen, who celebrates his 35th birthday on the last day of this month.

Mikael Frycklund (left) and Markus Lauridsen smile at the camera.

But these games are special for him for another reason as well. His wife and two daughters (aged two and five) are in Milan, along with other family members and friends. "There are 15 of us in total. They've rented a house just outside the city and are cheering me on at every game," says Lauridsen, his eyes sparkling.

Sweden is followed by the USA The defenseman, who played forward until he was 15, first put on skates at the age of four. He followed in the footsteps of his brother Oliver, who was two years older. The brothers played every day, at home and on the street. They then played for their hometown club, Gentofte, before, like so many Danes, they moved to Sweden and received excellent training there. This was followed by the move across the Atlantic. "Unfortunately, it didn't work out – even though I came close. You need luck and have to be in the right place at the right time." Markus Lauridsen While his older brother briefly made it to the NHL, the best league in the world remained a dream for the younger brother. "Unfortunately, it didn't work out – even though I came close. You need luck and have to be in the right place at the right time," reflects the offensive defenseman, who has excellent vision and can make superb passes from the backcourt, on his five years in North America. There, he won the USHL, the best US junior league, with the Green Bay Gamblers, played three seasons in the AHL, and met his wife Katy, an American, 14 years ago.

A facial injury stopped Lauridsen When Markus Lauridsen looks back on his career, he can't ignore the 2017/18 season. The Dane spent it in Germany, winning the DEL title with EHC Munich. That winter is memorable not only for his only professional championship to date, but also because he was plagued by injuries. After missing six games in November, he was hit in the face by a puck during his comeback in Düsseldorf at the beginning of December, and the resulting wound required 18 (!) stitches.

A deep wound ran across Lauridsen's face at that time.

At the beginning of January, Lauridsen was sidelined for several weeks following leg surgery and only returned to the ice for the start of the playoffs. In the fourth quarterfinal game against Mannheim, he broke a finger and had to end his season prematurely. "Despite everything, it was a unique experience. I was part of an extraordinary team with countless winners," raves the skilled defenseman, who has participated in eleven World Championships and played nearly 270 international games for Denmark.

Lauridsen falls in love with South Tyrol Lauridsen arrived in Bruneck last summer via Sweden and Germany and quickly fell in love with the valley and the region. "A few years ago, I participated in the Dolomitencup with Frankfurt and was immediately captivated by South Tyrol and its people. I knew then that I absolutely had to come back, and I certainly don't regret it. It's a small but wonderful region. The club, which my friend Emil Kristensen highly recommended, is very professionally run. We have a very good team that could definitely cause an upset in the playoffs," says Pustertal's number 11 confidently. For now, however, his full focus is on the Olympic Games, where Latvia, Germany, and the USA await him in Group C.

Why Lauridsen played under a different name When he steps onto the ice at the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena today, where Germany awaits him at 9:10 p.m., he will, as he does at every game, look up and think of his mother, Pia. She was the Lauridsen brothers' biggest fan and, a year and a half ago, had one last wish: that her two sons would play in the final and decisive qualifying round at the end of August 2024 in Aalborg with the name "Holton" on their jerseys instead of "Lauridsen."

Lauridsen played under a different name in the qualifying round.

“Holton was our mother’s last name. She was very ill at the time. That’s why we decided to honor her and play with her name on our backs,” says Markus Lauridsen, adding sadly, “Our mother died a week after we qualified for the Olympics.” Pia Holton would surely have been proud to see her two sons play together on Olympic ice one last time.

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Why Lauridsen played under a different name in qualifying

Markus Lauridsen is living his Olympic dream with Denmark. During the qualification for Milan, the HC Pustertal player once took to the ice under a different name. Read his story here.

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