NHL debut! A Kalterer man writes South Tyrolean sports history

Thomas Di Pauli had to wait a long time for this moment. On Sunday night (Central European time) the time had finally come: the striker, who grew up in Kaltern, made his NHL debut for the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 25-year-old played on the fourth line for a good 5 minutes against the Montreal Canadiens and was able to celebrate a 22.000-3 win after overtime in front of around 2 spectators.

welcome to the show, @Thomasdipauli ! 💪 pic.twitter.com/djfgUp1Ylf

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 5, 2020

Di Pauli, who usually plays for the Penguins farm team in the AHL, had already been called up for two games by the NHL team in mid-December, but was not used. But all good things come in threes: Because Pittsburgh currently has to play with numerous injured professionals (including superstar Sidney Crosby), Di Pauli now got his chance and was actually allowed to go on the ice. “What a setting for a debut. The atmosphere is great. “It’s what I dreamed of,” said Di Pauli during a third-period break. From Kaltern to the best league in the world The left-handed shooter is the first South Tyrolean and only the second Italian-born ice hockey crack after Luca Sbisa (Winnipeg Jets) to play in the NHL. Di Pauli, the son of a Kalterer man and an American woman, grew up in Überetscher Weindorf and played in his childhood for both Kalterer Hechte and HC Bozen, winning an Italian championship title with both teams.

When he was a teenager he moved to the USA with his family. There he was drafted by the Washington Capitals in 2012, but then played for a university team and moved to Pittsburgh in 2016. In recent years, Di Pauli played in the AHL for the Penguins farm team. However, due to numerous injuries, he was initially denied a breakthrough into the NHL. In the summer he said Interview with SportNews: “If I stay fit, I have what it takes for the best league in the world.” And that’s true. With his first NHL appearance, Thomas Di Pauli not only fulfilled a dream, but also wrote South Tyrolean sports history.

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NHL debut! A Kalterer man writes South Tyrolean sports history

South Tyrol has produced numerous world-class athletes over the years. A local ice hockey player in the best league in the world - but that has never happened before. Until January 5, 2020.

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football

Italy

International leagues

International

hockey

tennis

Winter sports

Learn More

Motorsport

Cycling

Watersports

Favorites

NHL debut! A Kalterer man writes South Tyrolean sports history

South Tyrol has produced numerous world-class athletes over the years. A local ice hockey player in the best league in the world - but that has never happened before. Until January 5, 2020.

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