Release from 14.06.2024

Contract extensions in Bolzano and Klagenfurt

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HCB Südtirol Alperia announced the contract extension with goalie Gianluca Vallini. The Bolzano native is thus entering his second season with the Foxes. In addition, Daniel Obersteiner will wear the Klagenfurt jersey in the upcoming season of the win2day ICE Hockey League again. The forward has spent his entire career to date with the EC-KAC and has already played 255 league games.

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Gianluca Vallini first gained experience with EV Bozen and then spent two years in the USA. After his return, he played for several Italian clubs, including Val Gardena, Vipiteno and Asiago in the Alps Hockey League. Vallini also played with the "stellati" in the win2day ICE Hockey League, where he impressed with good performances. The 30-year-old moved to HCB a year ago and immediately played his way into the hearts of his new fans: in 14 games, he had a .934 save percentage, recorded three shutouts and posted a record of 11-1-0. These figures put him at the top of the league's goaltender rankings.

"For a Bolzano native, it's an honour and a responsibility to play in this jersey. Last season was certainly positive from a personal point of view. It will be a pleasure to guard the goal again together with Sam Harvey. I'll do everything I can to be ready when I'm needed, both for my team-mates and for the fans, who have shown me a truly indescribable affection from the very beginning."

Home-grown player Obersteiner continues in red and white
Daniel Obersteiner has been playing for the EC-KAC since he was a child, going through all stages of the youth programme and making his debut with the first team in November 2015 at the age of 17. In the second half of the 2018/19 season, which was ultimately crowned with the championship title, he earned a regular spot on the team, which he also held on the way to the 2020/21 championship, when he played all games of the season. After the 2021/22 campaign - which was the best in terms of points in his career to date - the forward has been slowed down by two serious injuries in the two years since. The now 26-year-old's long road back into the red-and-white lineup ended in early February, and he has played in every game for the EC-KAC since then. Daniel Obersteiner currently has 269 appearances in competitive games for his home club, scoring 63 points (23 goals, 40 assists).

Daniel Obersteiner: "I'm delighted to be able to continue playing for my home club in the coming season. I want to hit the ground running and attack in the new season, so I'm particularly keen to start again in September. At the beginning from the stands and later in the season from the ice, I was able to experience how positive the atmosphere is in Klagenfurt in 2023/24, we were surfing on a red and white wave of euphoria until the last game and we want to continue riding this wave from autumn."