HCB: All hands on board – earlier than ever before

The new squad of the EBEL defending champions includes 23 players – 2 goalkeepers, 7 defenders and 14 strikers. 13 of them are playing in Bolzano for the first time. These include 7 Canadians (Irving, Campbell, Geiger, MacKenzie, Blunden, Crescenzi, Findlay), 2 Italian Canadians (Carozza, Catenacci), 2 Finns (Nordlund, Kuparinen) and 2 South Tyroleans (Brighenti, Deluca). Only in the very first EBEL season 2013/14 did the Bolzano team start the season with more new transfer card players (12 instead of 11).

SportNews has compared the transfer activity in Bolzano over the last 6 years.

2013/14 – Several direct hits The HCB started the EBEL adventure with 12 new transfer card players : Hübl, Tomassoni, Piché, Nicoletti, Charlebois, Santorelli, Beaudoin, Whitfield, Strömberg, Schofield, Civitarese and John Esposito. In the following weeks, John's brother Angelo Esposito, Laliberté, Pance and Pajic came along 4 more added . There were also new members of the team 3 Italian or local players : Miglioranzi, Frank and Franza. As is well known, the big castling was a complete success with the first EBEL title win. 2014/15 – McMonagle hits the ground running After the triumph, the team was again significantly renewed. 11 new transfer card players were on the roster at the start of the season: Crowley, Galvins, Lee, McMonagle, Cullen, DeSimone, Keller, Nesbitt, Sisca, Zanoski and Zanette; 2 more followed shortly afterwards: Rodney and Carnevale. Also a new local – Roland Hofer – was added. This season ended in the EBEL quarterfinals. 2015/16 – Pollastrone becomes a crowd favorite At the start of the season there were still a few pieces of the puzzle missing. At the start, “only” 8 new transfer card players to the team: Flemming, Podlipnik, Broda, Pope, Pollastrone, Saviano, Vause and DiCasmirro. Soon came across 4 more also: Reid, Palmieri, Bell and Foster. With Deanesi also belonged a new homegrown player to the HCB squad. In the end the final stop was already in the quarter-finals, again against Linz. 2016/17- Metropolitan not a superstar Similar to the previous year, the HCB season began with an incomplete squad. This time they were 9 new legionnaires there from the start: Melichercik, Jake Smith, Everson, Seymour, Kearney, Root, Yogan, Vallerand and Oleksuk. 4 more They were joined later: Glenn, Luoma, Sparks and ex-NHL star Metropolit, who owed a lot. This time also came across 4 new local players also: Gellert, Michele Marchetti, Frigo and Glira. This time the season ended in the semi-finals after feared opponents Linz were defeated in the quarter-finals. 2017/18 – From the basement to the 2nd triumph thanks to Halmo & Co. The season of the fairytale 2nd Bozen EBEL triumph began again with a comprehensive renovation. At the start of the season the squad included 10 new transfer card players : Gartner, Clark, Carlisle, Monardo, Petan, Angelidis, Austin Smith, DeSousa, Halmo and returning Tomassoni. Came later 5 more In addition: the 3 goalkeepers Sedlacek, Climie and Tuokkola as well as Miceli and Sointu. Stefano Marchetti and Schweitzer also joined us 2 new locals in addition. After a few rounds at the bottom of the table, the climb led to the second title win, which was never thought possible. 2018/19 – Big goals thanks to early planning Unlike in previous seasons, Bolzano's 23-man squad is already complete during development training. In addition to those listed at the beginning 11 new transfer card players you absolutely have to as third new homegrown player Mention returnee Marco Insam, who is returning to HCB after a season in the first Finnish league. HCB Südtirol as a “shopping center” for EBEL competition The fact that HCB Südtirol has to revamp its team every year is also due to the fact that after Bolzano's first EBEL season, the league rivals poached some players from the White Reds. In 5 years, 19 HCB players have moved to other EBEL clubs. This summer alone there were 6 departures to Austria. The following table lists all transfers from Bolzano to a league competitor. Start of the season Name new club 2014/15 Sebastien Piché EHC Linz 2014/15 Mark Santorelli Villacher SV 2014/15 Kim Stromberg Klagenfurt AC 2015/16 Phil De Simone Graz 99ers 2015/16 Rick Schofield Villacher SV 2015/16 Ziga Pance Villacher SV 2016/17 Sean McMonagle Orli Znojmo 2016/17 Joel Broda EHC Linz 2016/17 Taylor Vause Vienna Capitals 2016/17 Jerry Pollastrone Vienna Capitals 2017/18 Ryan Glenn Villacher SV 2017/18 Andrew Yogan HC Innsbruck 2017/18 Brody Reid Dornbirner EC 2018/19 Matt Climie HC Innsbruck 2018/19 Austin Smith (*) HC Innsbruck 2018/19 Robin Gartner Klagenfurt AC 2018/19 Chris DeSousa Vienna Capitals 2018/19 Matt Clark Vienna Capitals 2018/19 Travis Oleksuk Graz 99ers

(*) = Austin Smith announced shortly after his return to Innsbruck that he would have to take at least a career break for health reasons.

ICE Regular Season ICE	SP	TV	P
1. Klagenfurt	47	183:101	102
2. Fehervar	46	146:126	89
3. Salzburg	46	142:107	87
4. HCB South Tyrol	46	137:125	76
5. Linz	46	146:116	75
6. Villach	46	155:136	74
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HCB: All hands on board – earlier than ever before

With the signing of Andrew Crescenzi, HCB Südtirol completed its transfer activity on Thursday. New to the team are 11 legionnaires, 2 young South Tyroleans and returnee Marco Insam. Since joining the EBEL in 2013, the HCB has never had its squad complete so early. A 6 year comparison.

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