Release from 17.06.2018

Italian teams with new signings

Short text 371 CharactersPlain text

Defender Roland Hofer leaves Rittner Buam to return to his home club WSV Sterzing Broncos. The Italian champion from Klobenstein signed two Latvian players with Olegs Sislannikovs, one of the best scorers of last Alps Hockey League season, coming from Kitzbühel. While Canadian Colin Furlong is HC Pustertal's new goalie, Finn Tuomas Vänttinen joins Hafro Cortina Hockey.

Press release 2782 CharactersPlain text

Hofer back in Sterzing, Maffia and Bernard stay
Roland Hofer returns to Sterzing. The 27 year-old made his debut on senior level at the age of 16 with the Broncos and made it to Finland later. The defender played in the under 20 league for IFK Helsinki, Vaasan Sport and Pelicans Lahti, before playing some years in Mestis (Finnish second tier). Then Hofer came back to Alto Adige, joining HCB Südtirol Alperia in Erste Bank Eishockey Liga. After two seasons and 92 games he transferred to Rittner Buam, with whom he won one AHL and two Italian championship titles. In April's last final series, Hofer suffered a cruciate ligament rupture but is on his way back right now. In addition, the club extended the contracts of Daniel Maffia and Dominik Bernard.
 
New goalie tandem in Brunico
HC Pustertal has found the new goalie tandem for the upcoming season. The wolves signed 25 year-old Colin Furlong who comes overseas for the first time. In the past for years the Canadian kept the goal of Wilfried Laurier university in USports league (former CIS). Home-grown Hannes Stoll will be his backup after signing a two-year contract. The 18 years-old passed his tests last season when playing 47 games (U20 championship for Italy, Serie C and U19 for HCP Junior). 
 
Two Latvians for Ritten
With forward Olegs Sislannikovs and defender Imants Lescovs Rittner Buam added two Latvian players to their roster. After Henrik Eriksson the 21 years-old winger Sislannikovs is the second new player who comes from Kitzbühel. Last campaign the forward earned 50 points out of 40 AHL games, becoming the best scorer of his team (11th overall in the league). With defender Lescovs the club has also found a defensive boost. The 23 year-old gained experience in the Latvian league early. After a short stint in France, he returned to his home club Daugavpils in 2015 and won the title in the second Latvian league with them. It was a bit his breakthrough season as he also played for the national team and had five appearances for Dinamo Riga in KHL. Last season he switched to Zemgale and finished the season - with 16 points out of 35 games - as runners-up.
 
Experienced player for Cortina
Hafro Cortina Hockey signed Finn Tuomas Vänttinen. The forward started his career with SaPKo and hit the ice for some Liiga teams later. After 726 top flight games and one championship title with JYP Jyväskylä, the 34 years-old missed last season due to injury. Now he opens a new chapter in Alps Hockey League.
 
Contract extensions in Kitzbühel and Klagenfurt
EC-KAC has extended the contracts of last season's captain Philipp Cirtek and home-grown Daniel Obersteiner for another season. In addition, Mario Ebner signed a contract extension with EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel.