Giulio Scandella awaiting the KHL dream

Scandella has been one of key players for the Italian national team in recent years and he confirms this status even this year in Scandinavia. "For me it's still a surprise I played Elitserien here one season. Everything is so professional. It's like being the NHL over here," he praises the Swedish hockey.

Belissimo is trying to attract Swedish spectators because he will stay in Sweden next season to play for Timrå. For Scandella it's not the first time in the north. "Sweden is a hockey country and they know how to run a big tournament. I haven't played in Globen because the year in Sweden I broke my leg and missed almost the whole season. I only played ten games. It's definitely lot of fun to play in this arena!"

Italy can be satisfied with the goalie performance, too. Daniel Belissimo is the goalie with most saves in the whole tournament. But in the game against Latvia, he was pulled out after conceding five goals. "The only reason he was pulled out was at that point, the game was over. And we needed him to be hundred percent rested for the other day. But he's our guy! We believe in him!" says Scandella. "Latvia got the first lucky goal. We seemed like we had put our heads down. We stopped playing, we stopped skating and we started to get a lot of penalties. Latvia has a great powerplay. They are very skilled offensively and they capitalized on their opportunities."

Norway, Denmark and Italy are the three teams considered to be fighting for staying in the top division. "For us, every game at this level is a tough game. So we have to be ready. We're definitely not counting on beating Denmark in overtime being enough because they have a good team too and they can beat any team of this tournament in any given game."

Ice hockey in Italy has been improving. And if rumours come true, it will get a bigger chance to improve even more! "We don't know many details, I haven't spoken to anyone about that. But it would be a really great opportunity for Milan and some of the players on the national team to play at the better level and develop if the KHL is played in the city. So it would be fantastic!" Scandella is understandably dreaming about playing on the Milan KHL team, if there's any. "If I would like to play there? Of course! The NHL is the top league everyone  wants to play but leagues like the KHL, Swedish elite league, these are the best leagues in the world and every hockey player wants to play at the best level he possibly can."

 

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