Gangneung 2017: Italy team preview
03.04.2017The Italians will be hoping to improve on their best ever finish from 2015, at the World Para Ice Hockey Championships A-Pool.
Thirteen players from the Italian side that reached their best ever finish of fifth at a World Para Ice Hockey Championships in 2015 return to the ice for the 2017 edition in Gangneung, South Korea.
Coach Massimo Da Rin is clearly relying on a tested formula that he hopes will allow his team to move up the order once again between 11-20 April.
Their defence remains almost untouched with only one addition – Gianluca Cavaliere – who could not compete in 2015 due to a last minute injury. Andrea Macri, Roberto Radice, Gianluigi Radice and Bruno Balossetti all return to the back line.
On the attack Florian Planker and Nils Larch have been amongst those in good form this season. In a home tournament against Canada, Norway and South Korea, Italy finished third with goals from Larch, Planker, Gianluigi Rosa and Cavaliere across their five games.
Italy also played Norway at a pair of friendly games in November, leaving with two wins each both on penalties.
They are the 2016 European silver medallists.
Roster
Forwards
No. 27 – Alessandro Andreoni
No. 26 – Eusebiu Antochi
No. 68 – Valerio Corvino
No. 62 – Christoph Depaoli
No. 33 – Stephan Kafmann
No. 9 – Sandro Kalegaris
No. 11 - Nils Larch
No. 73 – Gregory Leperdi
No. 5 – Florian Planker
No. 7 – Werner Winkler
Defenders
No.14 – Bruno Balossetti
No. 6 – Gianluca Cavaliere
No. 18 – Andrea Macri
No. 8 – Roberto Radice
No. 3 – Gianluigi Rosa
Goaltenders
No.15 - Gabriele Araudo
No.1 – Santino Stillitano
Live coverage and the game schedule of the 2017 World Para Ice Hockey Championships is available at Gangneung2017.com.
Gangneung 2017 also doubles as the Test Event for the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games. All games will be played at the Gangneung Hockey Centre.
