Italy started "here to stay" for the next WC

[Gianpaolo]

Italy has closed the development project and started a new one called "here to stay". The goal is to stay in the Top Division. This the roster for the test matches against Belarus, Slovenia and Hungary. Officially they want to test so many players as possible, but in fact some are ix in the WC roster (at least all the Italian Canadians), while others have no chance to be selected.

GK
Jacob Wesley Smith (01/05/1995/HC Bolzano – Ebel)
Gianluca Vallini (27/10/1993/Wipptal Broncos – Alps Hockey League) (Ev Bozen 84)
D
Lorenzo Casetti (14/09/1993/Asiago Hockey 1935 – Alps Hockey League) (Amatori Hockey Trento)
Daniel Glira (25/03/1994/HC Bolzano – Ebel) (HC Pustertal Junior)
Roland Hofer (24/06/1990/Wipptal Broncos – Alps Hockey League) (AHC Freienfled)
Stefano Marchetti (11/10/1986/HC Bolzano – Ebel)
Enrico Miglioranzi (08/10/1991/Asiago Hockey 1935 – Alps Hockey League)
Phil Pietroniro (27/05/1994/ Asiago Hockey 1935 – Alps Hockey League)
Luca Zanatta (15/05/1991/EHC Olten – LNB – Svizzera) (SG Cortina)
Michael Angelo Zanatta (31/05/1989/SG Cortina – Alps Hockey League)
Alex Trivellato (05/01/1993/Krefeld Pinguine – DEL – Germania)
F
Raphael Andergassen (14/06/1993/HC Val Pusteria – Alps Hockey League) (SV Kalterer)
Anthony Robert Bardaro (08/09/1992/Asiago Hockey 1935 – Alps Hockey League)
Ivan De Luca (28/07/1997/HC Bolzano – Ebel) (Wipptal Broncos)
Alex Frei (06/05/1993/Rittner Buam – Alps Hockey League) (SV Kalterer)
Luca Frigo (30/05/1993/HC Bolzano 2000/Ebel)
Markus Gander (16/05/1989/HC Val Pusteria – Alps Hockey League) (HC Bolzano)
Simon Kostner (30/11/1990/Rittner Buam – Alps Hockey League)
Riccardo Lacedelli (03/05/1995/Sportivi Ghiaccio Cortina – Alps Hockey League)
Michele Marchetti (27/09/1994/Asiago Hockey 1935 – Alps Hockey League)
Angelo Miceli (01/03/1994/HC Bolzano – Ebel)
Alexander Franc Petan (02/05/1992/HC Bolzano – Ebel)
Joachim Ramoser (22/02/1995/ERC Inglostadt – Del – Germania)
Marco Rosa Gonzales (15/01/1982/Asiago Hockey 1935- Alps Hockey League)
Tommaso Traversa (04/08/1990/HC Val Pusteria Lupi – Alps Hockey League) (Real Torino HC)
Peter Hochkofler (04/10/1994/EC Salisburgo – Ebel)

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[Dr Pepper]

Cool! Good luck to them.

 

[wings5]

Italy has closed the development project and started a new one called "here to stay". The goal is to stay in the Top Division. This the roster for the test matches against Belarus, Slovenia and Hungary. Officially they want to test so many players as possible, but in fact some are ix in the WC roster (at least all the Italian Canadians), while others have no chance to be selected.

GK
Jacob Wesley Smith (01/05/1995/HC Bolzano – Ebel)
Gianluca Vallini (27/10/1993/Wipptal Broncos – Alps Hockey League) (Ev Bozen 84)
D
Lorenzo Casetti (14/09/1993/Asiago Hockey 1935 – Alps Hockey League) (Amatori Hockey Trento)
Daniel Glira (25/03/1994/HC Bolzano – Ebel) (HC Pustertal Junior)
Roland Hofer (24/06/1990/Wipptal Broncos – Alps Hockey League) (AHC Freienfled)
Stefano Marchetti (11/10/1986/HC Bolzano – Ebel)
Enrico Miglioranzi (08/10/1991/Asiago Hockey 1935 – Alps Hockey League)
Phil Pietroniro (27/05/1994/ Asiago Hockey 1935 – Alps Hockey League)
Luca Zanatta (15/05/1991/EHC Olten – LNB – Svizzera) (SG Cortina)
Michael Angelo Zanatta (31/05/1989/SG Cortina – Alps Hockey League)
Alex Trivellato (05/01/1993/Krefeld Pinguine – DEL – Germania)
F
Raphael Andergassen (14/06/1993/HC Val Pusteria – Alps Hockey League) (SV Kalterer)
Anthony Robert Bardaro (08/09/1992/Asiago Hockey 1935 – Alps Hockey League)
Ivan De Luca (28/07/1997/HC Bolzano – Ebel) (Wipptal Broncos)
Alex Frei (06/05/1993/Rittner Buam – Alps Hockey League) (SV Kalterer)
Luca Frigo (30/05/1993/HC Bolzano 2000/Ebel)
Markus Gander (16/05/1989/HC Val Pusteria – Alps Hockey League) (HC Bolzano)
Simon Kostner (30/11/1990/Rittner Buam – Alps Hockey League)
Riccardo Lacedelli (03/05/1995/Sportivi Ghiaccio Cortina – Alps Hockey League)
Michele Marchetti (27/09/1994/Asiago Hockey 1935 – Alps Hockey League)
Angelo Miceli (01/03/1994/HC Bolzano – Ebel)
Alexander Franc Petan (02/05/1992/HC Bolzano – Ebel)
Joachim Ramoser (22/02/1995/ERC Inglostadt – Del – Germania)
Marco Rosa Gonzales (15/01/1982/Asiago Hockey 1935- Alps Hockey League)
Tommaso Traversa (04/08/1990/HC Val Pusteria Lupi – Alps Hockey League) (Real Torino HC)
Peter Hochkofler (04/10/1994/EC Salisburgo – Ebel)

What is this project? Is it just a fancy quote or is there an actual long term thought out plan behind it.

 

[SoundAndFury]

What is this project? Is it just a fancy quote or is there an actual long term thought out plan behind it.

Italy seems to do something different every 2 years always with the same result so I wouldn't put too much weight into it..

 

[member 305909]

I think the main reason why the worlds has been expanded to 16 countries is because of the bresk-up of the Soviet Union there were not only one but 3-4 countries which were too good for Italy and France.

Well, since then Ukraine and Belarus have plummeted.

 

[Peiskos]

Very nice my parents are Italian immigrants so if there's another hockey nation I'll cheer for as strong as Canada it'll be Italy, Forza Azzuri! Quattro volte campioni del mondo qui ad affrontare l'hockey!

Obviously Italy stands no chance against the top 5-6 but you have to start somewhere, would be fantastic if they eventually one day become as powerful as the Swiss have become.

 

[Cassano]

Forza Italia

 

[Urbanskog]

Very nice my parents are Italian immigrants so if there's another hockey nation I'll cheer for as strong as Canada it'll be Italy, Forza Azzuri! Quattro volte campioni del mondo qui ad affrontare l'hockey!

Obviously Italy stands no chance against the top 5-6 but you have to start somewhere, would be fantastic if they eventually one day become as powerful as the Swiss have become.

Well, they debuted internationally 95 years ago so it's not exactly "starting somewhere".

 

[SoundAndFury]

Yeah, also they seem to be making one step forward and 2 backward recently. Their U20 is in the bottom half of D1B and was shootout away from being relegated to D2A. Doesn't sound too inspiring to me. The only reason they are close to elite at men's level is Canadian imports and D1A being a roulette wheel basically where anyone can get promoted.

 

[Albatros]

Italian hockey shows no signs of being here to stay as long as it's little more than an Austrian B team reinforced with some Italo-Canadians. They'll be going back down for sure.

 

[wings5]

Yeah, also they seem to be making one step forward and 2 backward recently. Their U20 is in the bottom half of D1B and was shootout away from being relegated to D2A. Doesn't sound too inspiring to me. The only reason they are close to elite at men's level is Canadian imports and D1A being a roulette wheel basically where anyone can get promoted.

This, changes need to start in the early ages and results need to be seen from u16-u20 teams.

 

[Peiskos]

Well, they debuted internationally 95 years ago so it's not exactly "starting somewhere".

I'm talking about them beginning to make significant strides and posting significant wins when I mention Italy "starting somewhere" as of this moment Italy hasn't really made much progress, the nation still awaits its "watershed" moment.

 

[Gianpaolo]

Well, they tried to start a development project, but it's really too hart to pursue this way in Italy. For hockey fans who always saw imports playing for the national team, prioritising the use of Italian developed players means only reducing the own chance at the WC. Because nobody believes Italian players can really perform at international level. In 2017 in Cologne Italy had still the chance to avoid the relegation in the last game until Denmark scored late and earned a victory. The development project came immediately under criticism because just some imports with scoring qualities in the team could have been enough to stay at the Top Division.
Austria will be the closest competitor this year and a loss by one or two goals of difference is the most probable result in the direct game. With Alex Petan, Angelo Miceli, Marco Rosa and Antony Bardaro there are now four forwards becoming elegible. They will all make the final roster in Slovakia, so the coaching staff will not have to deal with criticism. Even if Italy gets relegated, everybody just gives the thumbs up. But what will happen next year in the First Division? How many Italian Canadians are still ready to play?

 

[SoundAndFury]

"The development project came immediately under criticism because just some imports with scoring qualities in the team could have been enough to stay at the Top Division."

I just don't understand this logic at all. Staying at elite for a year, or even more, is all flash no substance. Whom does it benefit in any way? We know Canada can produce players good enough to stay at elite. What does it prove if you manage to talk them into or pay to play for Italy? From what I understand Gianpaolo himself isn't in that camp but I would love to hear how those who think so rationalize their belief in it.

 

[Alessandro Seren Rosso]

I just don't understand this logic at all. Staying at elite for a year, or even more, is all flash no substance. Whom does it benefit in any way?

You don't understand the logic, because there is no logic. In Italy, everything works that way, even football, where the country enjoyed much more success. So, be assured that in a couple of years they'll create the "Back to the top1!1!!1" project.

 

[kabidjan18]

It's literally a slogan. There's nothing to understand or get excited about.

I really don't buy the notion that with Legios they would have stayed up in 2017, but if they want to believe that then they can...

 

[member 305909]

I'd much rather have Italy than Kazakstan or Belarus. Well, who wouldn't?

 

[Albatros]

Belarus has provided at least occasional moments of greatness.

 

[SoundAndFury]

I'd much rather have Italy than Kazakstan or Belarus. Well, who wouldn't?

What's wrong with Belarus and Kazakhstan, exactly? And the way it's going Italy will have to ramp up their Canadian intake pretty damn hard if they want to keep up with those two.

 

[Alessandro Seren Rosso]

What's wrong with Belarus and Kazakhstan, exactly? And the way it's going Italy will have to ramp up their Canadian intake pretty damn hard if they want to keep up with those two.

Guess he has a problem with Dawes and the likes...

 

[varano]

No one knows what hockey is in Italy. Trying to explain hockey there is so foreign.

 

[SoundAndFury]

Guess he has a problem with Dawes and the likes...

But likes Sean McMonagle? I doubt that's the case here because that would be just the pot laughing at the kettle.

 

[Alessandro Seren Rosso]

But likes Sean McMonagle? I doubt that's the case here because that would be just the pot laughing at the kettle.

I don't know where he is from

 

[Incubajerks]

No one knows what hockey is in Italy. Trying to explain hockey there is so foreign.

Plenty of people like hockey in the north part of Italy.

 

[Gianpaolo]

Here is a short Q&A session useful to understand the logic of Italian hockey:

Q: what is the only goal the national team of Italy has?
A: the only possible goal is to reach the highest placement possible at the next World Championship.
Q: how can this goal be accomplished?
A: building the best possible roster with the strongest hockey players Italy has.
Q: who are the strongest players Italy has?
A: All the Italian Canadians who are already eligible to play.
Q: what about adding some own developed players into the team roster?
A: no way, they are all too bad to success at international level.
Q: can we somehow improve the level of the Italian players?
A: no way. Hockey is only played in a little part of the country, Italy does not have enough players, does not have have enough arenas.
Q: what if an Italian Canadian player is recovering from an injury?
A: He still the better option than a given Italian player.

This is not ironic, that's really what most of Italian hockey fans thinks and also what the most Canadian coaches who worked in Italian hockey thinks. And that's why Italian hockey never showed any significant improvements.