Leo Insam died at the age of 48. © Max Pattis

Mourning for South Tyrolean ice hockey great: Leo Insam is dead

He was considered one of Italy's best defenders at the time. Now Leo Insam from Val Gardena has died at the age of 48.

June 25, 2023

From: sn

Leo Insam was an impressive presence in South Tyrolean ice hockey, and not just because of his height of almost two meters. He was one of the best domestic defenders around the turn of the millennium and also played a key role in the Italian national team for a long time. He competed in the 1994 and 1998 Olympic Games with the Blue Team.

From his hometown club Val Gardena, the talented Insam went out into the wide world of ice hockey, playing for the KAC in Austria and also in the DEL, the best league in Germany. The uncompromising defensive man was a regular at Düsseldorfer EG in the 1997/98 season. Immediately afterwards, Insam made a short trip to the USA, where he played four games in the West Coast Hockey League, the third division in the states.

Four championship titles and the end of his career at home

The man from Val Gardena later moved back to Italy, where he played for Asiago, Milan and HC Bozen. At the Foxes, Insam was even promoted to assistant captain and won the Serie A title with the White Reds in the 2007/08 season. He had previously achieved this feat three times with Milan.

At the end of his career, Insam moved back to his hometown club Val Gardena, where persistent back problems forced him to quit in November 2010. After his sporting career, the defender worked as a hotelier. On Saturday, at the age of 48, his heart stopped beating far too early. Leo Insam leaves behind two daughters and a son.