hockeywords.com Nov. 9, 2021
(press release Fisg) – A dream called Beijing 2022 . The women’s ice hockey team is in Füssen , Germany, where the Olympic qualification tournament will take place from Thursday to Sunday.
The debut of the blue, in the group 4 that will promote only one team at the Winter Games, is scheduled for Thursday 11 November at 8.45 pm against Denmark .“
We have nothing to lose – comments coach Max Fedrizzi – and therefore, unlike last month’s Torre Pellice tournament, we will face this commitment without any kind of pressure. From a mental point of view it is the best situation “.
Of course, then we will have to deal with the opponents, all a step above Italy , which currently occupies the 16th place in the IIHF world ranking against the 14th of Austria , the 11th of Denmark and the eighth of Germany .
The Germans, as announced by their federation in the past few hours, will however have to give up the door holder Jennifer Harss, who tested positive in a Covid-19 test . “Despite this absence, Germany is undoubtedly the favorite because it is permanently in Top Division – continues Fedrizzi – but they too are facing a generational change and have some weaknesses.
The team most within our reach is Austria , but I believe that Denmark , our first opponent in Füssen, is also not that far off. Certainly we should play a completely different hockey than in Torre Pellice, where we faced teams of a much lower level ”.
Compared to the initial calls, the Italian technical staff had to give up Greta Niccolai , replaced by Lea Mair, due to physical problems.
For the Olympic qualification tournament it will be possible to have two more players available than in the quadrangular of Torre Pellice, and the extra positions will be occupied by Valentina Ricca and Elena Perathoner.
No other waivers or changes whatsoever in the list of 23 blue, which once again will be a mix of very young expert players on the launching pad. The average age of the team is just 22 years old, and there are 13 girls born after 2000. Even the role of the goalkeeper will be a question between very young people, with Elisa Biondi (born in 1999) and Martina Fedel (born in 2002) to compete for the place from starting goalie. The back department, which will be under a lot of pressure in the Füssen tournament, will be able to count on the solidity of Valentina Bettarini , Franziska Stocker , Amie Varano and Nadia Mattivi (the latter plays in the NCAA with Boston University), while a further forward is expected to leap in quality from the very young like Anna Caumo (top scorer in Torre Pellice with 4 goals and 2 assists), Aurora Abatangelo and Marta Mazzocchi , in addition to the usual fundamental contribution of the more experienced Chelsea Furlani and Carola Saletta .
The Denmark , promoted in 2019 in Top Division , has returned from the World Cup last August in Canada, finished in tenth and last place. The roster of the team coached by Jan Peter Elander can count on a solid base of players who play in the Swedish top league (10, including 6 in Malmö), while 3 girls come from the NCAA university league. Italy and Denmark met for the last time in April 2019 in the First Division World Cup group A in Budapest . On that occasion the Danes won 6-1, with the only blue goal scored by Rebecca Roccella.
The national team’s Olympic qualifying tournament will continue on Saturday 13 November at 12 noon against Germany and will end on Sunday 14 November at 15.30 against Austria . Dreaming costs nothing.
Goalkeeper : Elisa Biondi (Ambri Piotta Girls – SUI), Martina Fedel (Brinkens U18 – SWE), Ilaria Girardi (Lakers Egna).
Defender : Valentina Bettarini (Eagles Bolzano), Mara Da Rech (Eagles Bolzano), Laura Lobis (Eagles Bolzano), Nadia Mattivi (Boston University – NCAA), Valentina Ricca (Girls Project Aosta), Franziska Stocker (Eagles Bolzano), Amie Varano (Eagles Bolzano).
Forwards : Aurora Abatangelo (Lugano Ladies – SUI), Eleonora Bonafini (Eagles Bolzano), Anna Callovini (Eagles Bolzano), Mia Campo Bagatin (Ice Bears Dobbiaco), Anna Caumo (Ice Bears Dobbiaco), Chelsea Furlani (Eagles Bolzano), Samantha Gius (Eagles Bolzano), Sara Kaneppele (Eagles Bolzano), Lea Mair (Eagles Bolzano), Marta Mazzocchi (Girls Project Aosta), Elena Perathoner (Lakers Egna), Rebecca Roccella (Ambri Piotta Girls – SUI), Carola Saletta (Lausanne – SUI)