Gerdina: Identifying goalkeepers for the new season

Planning for the Gherdëina Hockey Club is progressing at a rapid pace. The goalkeeper pair has been decided for the new season of the Alpine Hockey League (AlpsHL).

Last year, the Furies took a new approach and relied on local goalkeepers. The plan worked perfectly: Paul Hoover Hans Stoll’s performance was excellent. The former will continue to defend the goal in the new season, while Bolzano’s son Matias Rendon He will take Stoll’s place Leo Costner And Eric Blanquer They will primarily play for an IHL Division I team, but will always be available for the team and will train with them as well.

“We decided to keep last year’s streak because the result was very positive. Hofer had an excellent season and gained important experience. “Rendone is a young goalkeeper who wants to show his qualities,” stressed sporting director Joel Brunioli.

Hofer began his career with HCG, but then moved to Regensburg for three seasons in the summer of 2016, where he continued his development. In 2019 he returned to his local club. For four seasons he gained valuable experience as a reserve behind Jacob Smith and Colin Furlong, before showing his quality last season. Hoover excelled in the regular season with a rate of 90.9%, winning 16 matches out of 27, and in light of these performances, the club management had no choice but to extend the contract of the 23-year-old player.

Matías Rendon played in the Bolzano Academy’s youth team before moving abroad in 2018 and moving to Pori Isat in Finland. The 20-year-old stayed in Scandinavia for four years before joining HC Innsbruck, where he played in the youth sector. The Bolzano native also participated in the Under-18 and Under-20 World Championships with Italy. Now Rindone is ready for his first adventure in a senior team.

Twenty-four-year-old Leo Kostner has been the starting goalkeeper for the IHL Division I team for two seasons, where he is an irreplaceable pillar. Last year he scored well above 90% and also featured in the AlpsHL. On the other hand, Aric Blanquer is only 16 years old, but he has already shown his amazing talent. This year he will continue his development in the first section of the IHL and will gradually approach the AlpsHL level. Hoover will remain loyal to the number 96 in the new season, while Rendon carries the number 71 on his shoulders. However, Costner chose the number 31, while Blanquer became the new number 30.