Gianluca Da Poian / BELLUNO
The final that will award the women’s hockey championship is a question of friendship.
Because from a Belluno point of view, the series at the best of 3 races (played on Saturday 21st, Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th in the event of a “beautiful”) is not just the cross between the multiple champions Eagles Alto Adige and the surprising Dobbiaco Icebears.
In fact, we are also facing the challenge between Mara Da Rech and Emma Cossalter, great friends and still current Italian champions. On the other hand we are talking about two of the absolute protagonists of the surprise title won by the Alleghe in 2019, after having defeated the Eagles. So, after the stop due to Covid of the 2019-2020 edition, in a week and a half only one of them will continue to wear the tricolor cockade.
Dobbiaco then speaks Belluno: in addition to Feltre Cossalter, there are Mia Campo Bagatin, Ilary Larese De Pasqua, Fiamma Da Ponte Becher, Ilaria Dall’Acqua and Angela Tartaglione, as well as coach Luciano Larese De Pasqua. In addition, Silvia Toffano also played a game, while she was registered, but Linda De Rocco, pregnant, did not come down on the ice.
Emma and Mara: this time only one of you will win the championship.
Emma – Dobbiaco: «I think that for Mara and me the saying goes: opponents on the pitch, friends in life».
Mara – Eagles: «I agree, enemies on the ice and friends off the ice. It will be hard for both to see the other lose, but you know, there can only be one winner ».
What championship was it?
Emma: «Marked by Covid. But the level was not particularly affected by defections and so on. There were six teams in total: us and Bolzano, the Lakers semi-finalists Egna and Valdifiemme and also Aosta and Pinerolo ».
Mara: «The anxiety about possible positivity never fails and this made the year quite difficult. The generational change is visible in the championship. Several girls are making their debut and this is also fundamental from a national perspective ».
Did you expect to reach the final?
Emma: «More than anything else, the semifinal series against the Egna Lakers saw us as underdogs, having lost both regular season games. However, the team had recently given encouraging signs of improvement, confirmed by victories 4-0 and 3-1 ».
Mara: «It was our goal, while I didn’t imagine facing Dobbiaco. The Lakers were favorites, but the playoffs confirm that they are history in themselves ».
And what about the last opponent between you and the Italian flag?
Emma: «They are a solid, well-established team, with leading players who have different international experience. To beat them it will take determination, concentration and, why not, a bit of luck ».
Mara: «The Icebears count on a very young roster, with little experience but a great desire to bring new and innovative things to the ice».
I don’t think we need to ask you for the best memory shared in Alleghe.
Emma. «The Scudetto, of course. Won by line mates in defense moreover. The decisive success at Palaonda in race 3 today represents the culmination of many years of sacrifices: something priceless ».
Mara: «An enormous satisfaction, which came after only touching the title in various circumstances. This made that party even more beautiful ». –
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