Nick Bonino: “Neumarkt is my refuge”

Nick Bonino shows up at the interview almost on tiptoe SportNews editor Thomas Laconi . And just as quiet, calm and modest is the personality of the 24-year-old NHL star, who came to Italy during the strike in the USA to get to know the country of his great-grandparents (his family comes from Avellino and Campobasso).

In Neumarkt, Nick Bonino is currently enchanting not only on the ice, but also outside the Würth Arena, the people of Unterland have long since taken him into their hearts. And as long as the NHL and the players' union NHLPA do not come to an agreement, Bonino will continue to chase the puck in the south of South Tyrol. “I couldn't have gotten it better. Neumarkt is a fantastic place, the people and the club leave me wanting for nothing and I already feel like I'm at home. I love the mountains. “I can work here with confidence,” laughs Bonino.

Bonino slips into the leader role

Bonino came to Italy primarily to have a new life experience. “I wanted to get to know a new culture and Italy has a lot to offer in this regard. Next week we have two days off. I think I'll then go to Rome or Milan and see one of these two cities," explains the striker.

Nick Bonino also has new experiences on the ice in the Wild Geese uniform. Because in Neumarkt, Nick Bonino is the sole star. The leader. The player on whom all eyes are focused. This is a role that the American has to get used to. In Anaheim, Saku Koivu, Cory Perry and captain Ryan Getzlaf are the greats who set the pace within the team. “I do feel like a leader, but of course we have a lot of experienced and talented players in our ranks at the Ducks. I try to help all my teammates and make my contribution. But believe me, everyone knows exactly what they have to do. “It makes everything much easier and you can see that in the results,” explains Bonino.

Neumarkt is the ideal choice In the interview, Nick Bonino returns to Neumarkt again. “My agent had contacts with teams in Germany and Austria. But I made the right choice. I don't miss anything here. I love Italian cuisine, especially spaghetti alla carbonara. The fans like me, but I won't be under siege from morning to night." The 24-year-old also got a detailed picture of the second Italian ice hockey league. “The game is very physical, the opponents don't give me anything, but they don't overdo it with the hardness either. Serie A? I saw a match on TV, the level is okay.”

The future The NHL strike will continue at least until the end of November. The future of the best ice hockey league in the world is up in the air. “The situation is obviously frustrating for us players. I hope that a solution will be found, perhaps even in December. Many of my colleagues like Saku Koivu or Ryan Getzlaf are without a team and cannot play. But I promise that I will stay in Neumarkt until the end of the strike. You can rely on that.”

Speaking of the future: The course will be set on November 6th with the presidential elections in the USA. Incumbent Obama is being challenged by Republican Mitt Romney. “Unfortunately I can't vote, but I would vote for Romney. The USA needs a change,” explains the offensive player.

The Bonino Effect In the meantime, those responsible for the wild geese in Neumarkt are rejoicing. “Since Bonino's arrival, we have had 20 percent more fans in the stadium and have over 1000 spectators per game. Bonino's salary and insurance amount to almost 10.000 euros a month. Money that is well invested,” says Werner Zanotti. His brother Manfred agrees: “On Sunday we sold 400 tickets within half an hour. The prize was Nick's jersey. Unbelievable.” And everyone lived happily and contentedly…

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Nick Bonino: “Neumarkt is my refuge”

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