How will Italy do?

How do you think that the Italians will fare in the tournament? We will have trouble against Canada, (though we have tied them before), and I am sure the Finns and the Czechs will be very tough, but I think we can beat the Swiss, and the Germans arent invincible. We only need to be 4th to make the medal round. What do you say?

You guys will have trouble against the big "6". And throw in Slovakia too as a team who should beat you. But the others are totally beatable.

I am worried for Italy because they will need one of the goalies to outplay Gerber/Aebischer or Kolzig. With a home crown behind them they will do well to tie a game. They will play with great passion however so the games should still be decent.

I am worried for Italy because they will need one of the goalies to outplay Gerber/Aebischer or Kolzig. With a home crown behind them they will do well to tie a game. They will play with great passion however so the games should still be decent.

I think that Muzzatti can outplay Kolzig head to head, and I think that the Swiss can be beatable if they have a bad day.

We just need a couple lucky breaks, and we are in the medal round.

One victory would be nice, two would be quite an achievement. Italy will do fine. The players will play hard and the fans will cheer raucously, as will I. Viva Italia!

I reckon Italy will have a respectable showing, whether they win a match or not. Japan managed to win the 13-14th place match against Austria back in 98 at home in the Nagano Olympics.

To be honest. I know that Italy hasn't so many chances. Probably with determination and the enthusiasm they could resist for 2 periods. But take into consideration that Italians aren't used to play three period as the same intensity there's in NHL, SM-Liiga or Extraliga. Against Canada they could play a great match due to some facts. First one themseves pride (I mean the Italo/Canadian like Jason Muzzatti) and probably the fact that Canada arrived in Turin only 48 hours before the first match (Italy - Canada) and probably they could suffer jetlag (just a little :) ). Against Finland and Czech Rep. Italy has no chance at all, they could try to play very defensively with fast breakway .... I repaet no chance at all. Against Switzerland there could ba also an old rivarly, but also in this case no chance for the Blue team. The only one fleeting chance will be against Germany. But Italy need to play very defensively and very very disciplinated and last but not least counting in an outstanding match performed by Muzzatti. Another chapter related to Italy is the goalies. And the same problem will be also in Latvia for the World Championship next May. You couldn't play in this events with only one goalie. Günther Hell is overestimated .. :shakehead but there's no other one. René Baur has pure talent, he spent last 2 summers in Buffalo with Jim Corsi and Bill Ranford, but he's too young and with no great experience. I hope Muzzatti will play against Canada, Germany and Switzerland or Czech Rep. Than for 1 or 2 match I hope to see Baur ... but I don't believe the coach agree with me. :(

I don't see them winning any games. Thy will play hard that's for sure and it will be a great experience for them but they will go 0-5 with goal diferential not better than -25.

You guys will have trouble against the big "6". And throw in Slovakia too as a team who should beat you. But the others are totally beatable.
You really underestimate us.

Who's on the team? Let's see a roster.

Who's on the team? Let's see a roster.

Go look in the top thread of the olympic hockey section.

How will italy do? In hockey?

Sorry to break this to you....but badly.

They'll finish behind Germany, which will be probably 8th to 10 th tops.

If you think that is underestimating them , then you are probably underestimating Canada, Russia, Sweden, Czech Republic, Slovakia, USA and Finland.

Italy has a hockey team?

Italy has a hockey team?

they once had a goalie called David Delfino.

Did Dino Ciccarelli play for them back in the day?

No way Italy wins vs. Switerland, Reto von Arx is not at the olympics, so no hangover hockey this time like in salt lake city.. :biglaugh:

Seriously, on paper Switzerland should win vs. Italy, but you never know, it's the olympics. Good luck to you, I will cheer for Italy when they win vs. Switzerland because I'm half Italian... :D

I'm cheering for Italy as my second team this year!!!!....(I'm an Italien born in Canada)

You guys will have trouble against the big "6". And throw in Slovakia too as a team who should beat you. But the others are totally beatable.

Slovakia are arguably a top 5 team, they can beat anyone on their day so too say they arent a big team is stupid.
Italy will struggle alot, i dont see why people are suggesting they have a good chance of beating the Swiss and Germans. The Germans are considered the best outside of the top 7, and Swiss are in a similar position. Italy would have to play HUGE to get any kinda result.

You guys will have trouble against the big "6". And throw in Slovakia too as a team who should beat you. But the others are totally beatable.
It's "big 7" now with Slovakia. They can compete with anyone else in the world.

I think Italy will lose all his games.

You really underestimate us.

Unfortunately, a lot of Canadians seem to do it (way less so on this site than in the general public though). Remember during the World Cup, before the Canada-Slovakia quarterfinal, all the Canadian reporters were saying Canada should beware of Slovakia, because Belarus beat Sweden in 2002. They asked a lot of the Slovak players whether they could pull off a Belarus type upset, and you could tell a bunch of the players were uncomfortable with the lack of respect (Richard Zednik and Jan Lasak I remember were quite displeased, saying they were not like Belarus).

It doesn't really surprise me. A lot of people (in the general public) still think Czechoslovakia is a united country (ie: Don Cherry) and Slovakia is often forgotten.

Unfortunately, a lot of Canadians seem to do it (way less so on this site than in the general public though). Remember during the World Cup, before the Canada-Slovakia quarterfinal, all the Canadian reporters were saying Canada should beware of Slovakia, because Belarus beat Sweden in 2002. They asked a lot of the Slovak players whether they could pull off a Belarus type upset, and you could tell a bunch of the players were uncomfortable with the lack of respect (Richard Zednik and Jan Lasak I remember were quite displeased, saying they were not like Belarus).

It doesn't really surprise me. A lot of people (in the general public) still think Czechoslovakia is a united country (ie: Don Cherry) and Slovakia is often forgotten.
I tend to think Slovakia is given too much credit in some parts. They talk of a super 7 but in true best on best Slovakia has done nothing but dissappoint. The World Cup was so bad it was hard to believe. At least Germany gave the Finns a tough QF, Slovakia was never in their game with Canada and in fact were never really in any game. Even in previous Olympics with less than their best they still had enough on paper to defeat Kazakhstan and Germany but they failed to get it done. I respect many Slovakian players individually but as a team they have really failed to deliver in the Olympics and World Cup. ( Their World Championship notwithstanding- great effort there.)

Italy will be spanked by anyone, but I will cheer for them anyway.

Even in previous Olympics with less than their best they still had enough on paper to defeat Kazakhstan and GermanyYou can't beat Germany playing with only two lines.

Italy's sucess rides on the performance of the one and only Fernando Pisani....... (cue Song Fernando by Abba)

As the host team I think it's only fair that Italy get's to add the following players.

On Offense: Bertuzzi, Gionta, Spezza, Pandolfo, Recchi, Peca, Pisani, DiMio, Amonte, Cammalleri and Parise is an Italian name, but no sure about Zach's bloodline.

On Defense: Mara, Poti, Tanabe, Colaiacovo, Scuderi, Chris Campoli and Joe Di Penta.

In Goal: Roberto Luongo.

If I left someone out, please let me know.

viva Italia! :handclap:

As the host team I think it's only fair that Italy get's to add the following players.

On Offense: Bertuzzi, Gionta, Spezza, Pandolfo, Recchi, Peca, Pisani, DiMio, Amonte, Cammalleri and Parise is an Italian name, but no sure about Zach's bloodline.

On Defense: Mara, Poti, Tanabe, Colaiacovo, Scuderi, Chris Campoli and Joe Di Penta.

In Goal: Roberto Luongo.

If I left someone out, please let me know.

viva Italia! :handclap:

Tanabe is a Japanese name.

Colaiacovo is a Portugese name.

Tanabe is a Japanese name.

Colaiacovo is a Portugese name.

o.K. that's two guys who can't play for Italy.

o.K. that's two guys who can't play for Italy.

Still a very good team though.
I think Dipietro, Rucchin and Ricci and maybe Staios would alse be Italian.

Bertuzzi - Spezza - Recchi
Amonte - Peca - Gionta
Pandolfo - Rucchi - Camallerri
Pisani - Ricci - DiMaio

Mara - Staios
Poti - Campoli
Scuderi - DiPenta

Luongo
DiPietro

Colaiacovo's background is Italian.

Staios is Greek.

I watched Italy play Michigan Tech a few years ago in Houghton, can't remember if was Italy's full national squad or what. Italy played a tie game against a really bad college hockey team (Tech) and I believe were beaten pretty easily by the other WCHA schools.

Colaiacovo's background is Italian.

Staios is Greek.
Staios is Macedonian. Cola qualified for the Italian team until he hit the World Juniors with Canada.

luongo is puerto rican.

luongo is puerto rican.

I think not. And forgot all about Di Pietro.

I tend to think Slovakia is given too much credit in some parts. They talk of a super 7 but in true best on best Slovakia has done nothing but dissappoint. The World Cup was so bad it was hard to believe. At least Germany gave the Finns a tough QF, Slovakia was never in their game with Canada and in fact were never really in any game. Even in previous Olympics with less than their best they still had enough on paper to defeat Kazakhstan and Germany but they failed to get it done. I respect many Slovakian players individually but as a team they have really failed to deliver in the Olympics and World Cup. ( Their World Championship notwithstanding- great effort there.)
The World Cup was like the Czechs in 1996. Our team just didnt get together and everything went the worst possible way it could have.

It also doesnt help playing 3 games in stadiums which were pro-Canadian. We almost beat you in the 2005 WC's and almost everybody good was there so I hope we play good in these Olympics.

Staios is Macedonian. Cola qualified for the Italian team until he hit the World Juniors with Canada.
If that's what Staios wants to refer to himself as, then he is Greek. Macedonia is a Greek province.
If he refers to his background being the Former Yugoslav Republic to the north, then that's a different story.

But there is only one Macedonia, and that is Greek.

As for Colaiacovo, I'm not saying he could play for Italy, just correcting the earlier poster who speculated that he was of Portuguese descent.

I think not. And forgot all about Di Pietro.

Roberto Luongo grandfather was born very close to Naples (Italy) there was last season an interview with him in an Italian newspaper and was rumored he could play in Italy during the lockout. Other goalies with an Italian name are Di Pietro and Labarbera.

Playing to the home crowd may help, but Italy will be hard pressed to win one game. Being Italian, I'll root for them, being a Rangers fan, I'm rooting for the Chechs to win it all.

Im Italian but man are they screwed. Probably 0 for the tourni. 4 goals for 4 touchdowns against :cry:

I watched Italy play Michigan Tech a few years ago in Houghton, can't remember if was Italy's full national squad or what. Italy played a tie game against a really bad college hockey team (Tech) and I believe were beaten pretty easily by the other WCHA schools.

Yeah, I saw that same team play UW. I remember the radio announcers saying it was some second division Italian team + the national team goalie. I remember that 'cause the Badgers won like 9-0.

:confused: If their goalie stands on his head, and the team plays to it's potential...I think they could finish 15th. Assuming all their best players are healthy. Italy...hockey?....what am I missing? :badidea:

:confused: If their goalie stands on his head, and the team plays to it's potential...I think they could finish 15th. Assuming all their best players are healthy. Italy...hockey?....what am I missing? :badidea:
Great post.

Im willing to bet the holy grail that they upset Russia 7-0 in the final.

I think that Muzzatti can outplay Kolzig head to head, and I think that the Swiss can be beatable if they have a bad day.

We just need a couple lucky breaks, and we are in the medal round.

Nothing against Italy, but Germany will have a really strong team with Sturm(Boston), Hecht(Buffalo), Kölzig(Washington), Ehrhoff, Goc(San José), Schubert(Ottawa), Seidenberg(Phoenix), Ustorf(ex-nhl), Sascha Goc(ex-nhl), Lewandowski(drafted by Phoenix), Sulzer(drafted by Nashville), Schauer(drafted by Ottawa), Thomas Greiss(drafted by San José - the best goalkeeper of the DEL with 19!!), Müller(drafted by Washington).

Here is the pre-roster:


Tor: Müller (Krefeld), Greiss (Köln), Kotschnew (Iserlohn)

Verteidigung: S. Goc (Hannover), Leask (Berlin), Bazany, Sulzer (beide Düsseldorf), Schauer (Nürnberg), Renz, Kopitz (beide Köln)

Sturm: Benda (Litvinov/CZ), Ustorf, Felski, Busch (alle Berlin), Boos, Furchner, Lewandowski (alle Köln), Kathan, Kreutzer (beide Düsseldorf), A. Barta (Hamburg), Martinec, Fical (beide Nürnberg), Hackert (Frankfurt)

Dazu stoßen später T Kölzig (Washington), V Ehrhoff (San Jose), Schubert (Ottawa), D. Seidenberg (Philadelphia), S Hecht (Buffalo), Sturm (Boston), M. Goc (San Jose)

http://www.hockeyweb.de/index.php?action=ART&aNr=18683
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I would take Frank Hördler(Eisbären Berlin) over Bazany and Gogulla or Gawlik over Martinec/Boos.

By the way, are there any italian NHL-prospects in the next future??

Greetings from a Berlin-Preussenfan

Bye