The HC Bolzano has clearly given its direction of march for the new season: more hardness, more experience and more leadership should bring the Foxes back to the top. When presenting the new additions, President Dieter Knoll emphasized that the focus was on two aspects: physical robustness and leadership.
“We tried to get players with experience in Europe. The market in North America has become more difficult for us because a lot of money flows there. We tried to physically strengthen the team. Most of the newcomers are therefore big and physically robust-so real hockey players.
In order to develop the team further, professionals who have already won titles and experienced playoff battles were specifically obliged. These include Brett Pollock and Cole Schneider, who should not only perform as a leading player, but also away from the ice. “The behavior outside the ice has become more and more important,” emphasized Knoll.
The HC-Bozen boss was particularly proud of Mark Barberio’s commitment. The 35-year-old Canadian played 281 NHL games and carried the captain’s office at the Swiss top club HC Lausanne from 2020 to 2022. “This is not an everyday transfer for Bolzano. He is a real full professional,” enthused Knoll.
Image: HCB/Vanna Antonello
