Buffalo 2015: Italy preview

17.04.2015

Reigning European champions Italy have an impressive mix of youth and experience heading into Buffalo 2015.

A picture of two men in sledges fighting the puck during a ice sledge hockey match

Italy's Gregory Leperdi aims to qualify directly for the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games. © • Getty Images

Related Images

Greg Leperdi scoots to the puck at the IPC Ice Sledge Hockey Qualification Tournament in Torino, Italy. © • Greg Leperdi

Ice Sledge Hockey Team Italy at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Paralympics © • Getty Images

Santino Stillitano has been Italy's star goalie in its rise on the Ice Sledge Hockey scene in the last decade. © • Getty Images

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Many of their players have been playing since the 2010-11 season, but they can also rely on even more experienced hands such as triple Paralympian forward Greg Leperdi.

Players such as 23-year-old Andrea Macri and 19-year-old Christoph Depaoli form part of a young attack, that coach Massimo Da Rin believes will trouble their fellow Group B teams, Germany, Russia and the USA.

Italy finished sixth at both the 2013 World Championships A-Pool and Sochi 2014. In 2014-15 they have beaten Germany, but lost games against Paralympic silver medallists Russia, and will face a tough challenge in the preliminary rounds with match-ups scheduled with Paralympic champions the USA as well.

But if anyone has the determination to do it, it is the Italians.

Key players

Gianluigi Rosa (defence); Florian Planker (forward)

Head coach

Massimo Da Rin

World Championship A-Pool medals

None

Paralympic medals

None

Team roster

Stillitano, Santino (G)

Rosa, Gianluigi (D)