More time for prominent son: referee icon quits

It was a big ice hockey festival that was celebrated on Tuesday evening in St. Michael. On the one hand, because the Eppaner Pirates achieved their first quarter-final victory with a 9:4 win against Alleghe , on the other hand, because Marco Bagozza was said goodbye.

The 59-year-old from Ortisei, who has recently been living in Laion, has been a referee and linesman since he was 24. He refereed 2170 games in a wide variety of leagues and competitions, from the Alpine League in the 90s or an Olympic qualifying game in Slovenia in 2005 right down to the youth leagues.

From the safari straight to the ice rink But Bagozza remembers one experience in particular: the D World Cup in 1998 in South Africa. “From the safari we went almost straight to the ice rink. I will never forget these impressions.” In terms of sport, a Serie A final between Bolzano and Asiago was an absolute highlight. “Lucio Topatigh and Bob Oberrauch made life really difficult as referees.” Marco Bagozza Cracks also played at Asiago and Bozen, and Bagozza doesn't forget them so quickly. “Lucio Topatigh and Bob Oberrauch were gifted ice hockey players. But they made life really difficult for you as a referee.” The complete counter-example was the Chelodi brothers. “Really two Gentlemen on the ice,” said Bagozza.

Marco Bagozza refereed on international ice for years.

Many of the long-time companions came to Eppan on Tuesday to say goodbye to the referee. More than twenty current and former “Zebras” were there when Bagozza stepped onto the ice one last time.

In the future, he wants to devote more time to his many friends and acquaintances, but primarily to his son, the exceptional snowboarder Daniele Bagozza. He is currently having the season of his life and has already won three World Cups this winter. At the weekend in Winterberg his aim is to win the small crystal ball in the parallel slalom World Cup. “But I won’t be there, my nerves can’t take it,” said Bagozza Sr.

So far, father and son have benefited from each other. “In the summer we regularly trained together, went cycling and went to the mountains. “So I was always in good shape at the start of the ice hockey season,” reveals Marco Bagozza, who now wants to let things slide a bit, “but I will spend more time with my son and certainly stay active.” He also wants to do more with himself Dedicate himself to his second big hobby, his classic cars. He even drove from Val Gardena to the North Cape in Norway with one of these cars.

In any case, the Bagozza house doesn't give up ice hockey entirely. “We are generally big winter sports fans, but ice hockey is always a topic for us,” says Marco Bagozza. In the future he will attend games in Wolkenstein, Bozen and Bruneck. Just different. “No longer as a referee, but as an ice hockey enthusiast. I am looking forward."

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More time for prominent son: referee icon quits

A great career came to an end on Tuesday evening in the Eppan ice stadium. Not that of an ice hockey player, but that of referee Marco Bagozza. His main focus is now on his son, who is even more famous in the sports world than the Val Gardena referee legend.

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