Release from 12.02.2026

Italy’s goal scorer Luca Frigo after Olympic opener: “I’ll never forget this”

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The Italian men’s national ice hockey team delivered an impressive performance on Wednesday evening in their Olympic opener in Milan against Sweden. The Blue Team, featuring 15 players from the win2day ICE Hockey League, ultimately fell 5–2 to the heavy favorites in the Santa Giulia Arena. One of the game’s emotional highlights came when Luca Frigo gave the hosts a lead in the first period.

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In the fifth minute, Swedish goaltender Gustavsson failed to control the puck after an Italian clearance, and Frigo was quick to pounce, making it 1–0 for the underdogs. “I still need some time to really take in what happened last night. Scoring the first goal of these Olympic Games – in front of my family and friends – is something I’ll never forget,” Frigo shared.

Sweden managed to turn the game around before the first intermission, but shortly after play resumed, Italy struck again. Following a setup from Gazley, HCB teammate Matt Bradley netted the equalizer, sparking another eruption in the arena. Goalie Damian Clara – once a youth player with HC Falkensteiner Pustertal – impressed with several outstanding saves to keep Italy in the game. In the end, however, the favorite regained control in the second period and secured a 5–2 win.

“We gave absolutely everything we had out there. It was important to show from the start that we didn’t come here just to watch. From the second period on, we played with even more confidence. This first game was valuable for getting a sense of the level we’re up against, and we’ll be ready for what’s next,” Frigo said.

On Friday, the Blue Team will face Slovakia at 12:10. The Slovaks opened their tournament with a win over Finland.

Photo: Vanna Antonello