Release from 11.06.2018
Sportivi Ghiaccio Cortina Hafro, EC „Die Adler“ Stadtwerke Kitzbühel, Red Bull Hockey Juniors, Rittner Buam and Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan have presented new players. Contract extensions in Asiago, Jesenice and Sterzing.
Captain stays in Jesenice
Captain Andrej Tavzelj continues playing for HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice in the upcoming season as well. The 34-year old Slovene has been the Pointbest defenseman in the team last season, he had 37 points (7G/30A, Plus-Minus: +27!) out of 47 Alps Hockey League-games. Andrej Tavzelj has already collected much experience from playing in different nations as well.
First new player for Cortina
Sportivi Ghiaccio Cortina Hafro has presented Canadian Nick Trecapelli as their first new player for the upcoming-season. The big and strong defenseman earned the title with HC 05 Banska Bystrica in Slovakia 2017/18. The 26-year old Canadian joined the club late in the season, he had three points (1G/2A) out of 12 games. Prior, he defended two seasons in the East Cost Hockey League. For Trecapelli, Cortina is the second station in Europe.
Mader went from Sweden back to Austria
After five years playing for different clubs in Sweden, Thomas Mader returns to Austria and joins EC „Die Adler“ Stadtwerke Kitzbühel. The power-forward went for goals and points for Osby IK in Division II past year, the 23-year old Austrian had twelve points (2G/10A, PIM: 113) out of 41 games. Prior switching to Sweden, the youngster played in Graz three years: Mader has even made three Erste Bank Eishockey Liga games for the Moser Medical Graz99ers at the age of 18 2012/13.
Youngsters join Red Bull Hockey Juniors
Justin Schütz (GER) and Paul Huber (AUT) want to make the next step and will go for goals and points for the Red Bull Hockey Juniors next season. Each forward has successfully played for the Red Bull Hockey Akademie in the Czech U18 Championship 2017/18, earning a silver medal. 17-year old Schütz and 18-year old Huber have been key-players in the team: German U18 Nationalteam Captain Schütz had 66 points (25G/41A) out of 45 games, Austrian U18 National team player Huber had 43 points (24G/19A) out of 49 matches.
Borgatello went from Ritten to Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan, Hackhofer and Oberdörfer stay
The Italians Hannes Oberdörfer (D), Fabian Hackhofer (F) and Christian Borgatello (D) will be key-players in Sterzing next season. Defenseman Christian Borgatello is the first new signing of the club for the 2018/19-season. The 36-year old Italian went from Vice-Champion Ritten to Wipptal. Borgatello has been a key-player in Ritten during the last four years. He has earned the Alps Hockey League title with the Rittner Buam 2017 and he played in the finals with the club 2018 as well. Besides, Borgatello has been the Captain of the team since 2015. Last season, Borgatello had 35 points (2G/33A) out of 55 Alps Hockey League-games.
Besides, forward Fabian Hackhofer and Hannes Oberdörfer continue to play for the Broncos: Hackhofer has been the Captain last season, he had 27 points (8G/19A) out of 38 games. 29-year old Oberdörfer scored 24 points out of 33 Alps Hockey League-games in his first year with the Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan.
First new defenseman in Ritten
Rittner Buam have presented Fin Kai Lehtinen as their first new defenseman for the upcoming season. The 27-year old Fin has played in his home-country so far, most games in Mestis-League. Lehtinen defended for Espoo United last season, he had 28 points (11G/17A, Plus-Minus: +8) out of 50 matches. Besides, defenseman Roland Hofer leaves the Rittner Buam.
Stevan, Tessari and Benetti stay in Asiago
The Italian forwards Michele Stevan, Matteo Tessari and Captain Federico Benetti will go for goals and points for Champion Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey 1935 in the upcoming season as well. All three forwards have spent their whole career in Asiago so far and have been key-players as well: Stevan had 22 points (10G/12A) out of 54 Alps Hockey League-games last season, Tessari had 17 points (10G/7A) out of 45 matches and Benetti had 19 points (4G/15A) out of 52 games.
Picture: David S. Wassagruba