Rolly Ramoser remembers: The 1994 home World Cup was so magical

Together we reach for the stars: That is the motto of the World Cup in the I. Division Group A, which started on Sunday in the Sparkasse Arena. The Italian national team had already reached for the stars at the same location. That was exactly 30 years ago. At that time the stadium was still called Eiswelle and had just been inaugurated. I can still remember the title fights in 1994 very well, although - I have no idea why - I didn't watch a single game there.

One person who was there first hand and whose star rose that year is Roland Ramoser. In 1994, at the age of 21, the Rittner played his first of 17 world championships, including 13 in the top group. “It was a special year for me that I will never forget. First the Olympic Games in Lillehammer and two months later the World Cup just a stone's throw from home," says Ramoser, even 2 years later.

Enjoyed every change Also because the World Cup has found its way into the history books of Italian ice hockey. The “Azzurri” finished the title fights in Bolzano, Alba di Canazei and Milan in 6th place. They have never been so well placed before or since. And will never be so again in the next few decades. “Our coach at the time, Brian Lefley, told us that we should enjoy the World Cup and not just be there, but play along. We succeeded. Because there were several injured players, we young players got a lot of ice time. I enjoyed every change. It wasn't until many years later that I realized what we had achieved," assures the now 51-year-old and says proudly: "We lost the first game against Canada 1-4, but we beat the eventual world champions by one goal Paul Beraldo took the lead 1-0.”

After the 0-7 defeat against Russia, the hosts, led by the best attack line of all time with Gaetes Orlando, Bruno Zarrillo and Lucio Topatigh, celebrated 3 times in a row: first in the 10-2 win against Great Britain and then in the two 3-1 -Prestige victories against Austria and Germany. In the quarter-finals, Lefley's team had no chance again in Milan, losing 2-7 to Sweden. Mats Sundin, who later became the tournament's top scorer, was also in the Swedes' ranks. But this was just one of the countless top stars who delighted fans at the time.

Magic on the ice and in the nightlife The list of exceptional performers was headed by Canadians Paul Kariya, Luc Robitaille, Brendan Shanahan, Joe Sakic, Rob Blake and Rod Brind'Amour, who not only played like they were from another planet, but also enjoyed Bolzano's nightlife to the fullest. But the Finns Saku Koivu and Jari Kurri, the Russians Waleri Kamensky and Waleri Bure and the US boys Chris Chelios and Scott Young have also left their mark. Not only with Ramoser, who was one of the ones on Saturday at the small but fine opening ceremony at Bolzano's Waltherplatz together with Italy's 1994 World Cup heroes Lucio Topatigh, Martin Pavlu, Georg Comploi, Patrick Brugnoli and Robert Oberrauch as well as the then assistant coach Adolf Insam was the main actor.

Italy started the home World Cup with a win.

“Rolly the Kid” will return to the place of great success on Wednesday and Friday and keep his fingers crossed for the “Blue Team” against Slovenia and Hungary so that the desired return to the top division works: “I am firmly convinced that "That Italy will be promoted, even if the test matches didn't go quite as planned." The opening game between Italy and Romania last night was certainly under a good star. And it is quite possible that there will be one or two “Night of the Stars” in the coming days so that the “Azzurri” can reach for the stars on matchday 5.

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Rolly Ramoser remembers: The 1994 home World Cup was so magical

In 1994, the home World Cup in Bolzano caused huge enthusiasm. Roland Ramoser, one of Italy's protagonists at the time, remembers.

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