🎟️  TICKETS: GB v Italy at Motorpoint Arena Nottingham – secure your seats here
🎥  WEBCAST: Click here to purchase the live stream
It’s part two of the four-game series between Great Britain and Italy as the two sides meet at the Motorpoint Arena Nottingham this evening (Saturday 2nd May) at 19:00.
Italy took game one in Milton Keynes on Thursday night by a narrow 6-4 margin and the two sides will meet in Varese, Italy on the 10th and 12th May before heading out to the World Championship in Switzerland.
Over 6,000 seats have already been sold for tonight’s clash at the Motorpoint Arena – a record for a friendly in the UK – so you are urged to secure your seats asap.
It’s going to be an amazing atmosphere as the two old rivals go head-to-head in Nottingham.
Team News
Liam Kirk and Sam Lyne remain unavailable with both still being involved in playoff campaigns with their domestic teams.
The coaching staff are likely to make some changes to the 22-man roster which iced on Thursday night.
View from the Bench
Head Coach, Pete Russell, said: “We came together on Monday and we are slowly building. There were some good parts on Thursday but certainly things we need to build on.
“The support was got in Milton Keynes was fantastic. I just wish we could have given them something more to cheer.
“Everyone is looking forward to another big crowd in Nottingham and it will be a great atmosphere.”
Focus on Italy
Italy have brought a 29-player squad to the UK for the two matches as part their pre-World Championship training camp.
Their full roster is as follows…
Netminders: Davide Fadani (Kloten/Svizzera), Colin Furlong (Rittner Buam), Jacob Smith (Angers Ducs/Francia). Defence: Pietro Olmo Albis (Ambrì Piotta/Svizzera), Carmine Buono (HC Gherdeina), Dylan Di Perna (HC Bolzano), Gregorio Gios (HC Asiago), Gabriel Nitz (HC Bressanone), Phil Pietroniro (Rytiri Kladno/Repubblica Ceca), Filippo Rigoni (HC Asiago), Peter Spornberger (ERC Ingolstadt/Germania), Alex Trivellato (Schwenninger Wild Wings/Germania). Forwards: Matthew Bradley (HC Bolzano), Tommaso De Luca (Ambrì Piotta/Svizzera), Cristiano DiGiacinto (HC Bolzano), Luca Frigo (HC Bolzano), Mikael Frycklund (Val Pusteria), Niccolò Mansueto (HC Sierre/Svizzera), Daniel Mantenuto (HC Bolzano), Matthias Mantinger (Val Pusteria), Bryce Misley (HC Bolzano), Nicholas Porco (HC Asiago), Tommy Purdeller (Val Pusteria), Julius Ramoser (Wolfsburg/Germania), Filippo Rigoni (HC Asiago), Nick Saracino (Val Pusteria), Davide Schiavone (HC Gherdeina), Alessandro Segafredo (ZSC Lions/Svizzera), Marco Zanetti (HC Lugano/Svizzera.
Italy edge first game in Milton Keynes
The first match of the four-game series took place at Planet Ice Milton Keynes on Thursday with Italy securing a 6-4 success in a 10-goal thriller in front of sold-out crowd.
Logan Neilson scored twice for GB and there were also goals for Johnny Curran and Brett Perlini.
The game was only settled in the closing seconds as Italian forward Tommaso de Luca scored an empty-netter with Ben Bowns lifted for the extra skater.
Tickets, Webcast and Updates
Over 6,000 tickets have already been sold and it’s approaching a sell-out at the Motorpoint Arena this evening, so you’re urged to secure your seats asap by clicking here.
The match is available on our live stream which can be purchased by clicking here.
There’ll also be updates throughout the game on the Great Britain X account which can be followed here.
Four-Game Series results and schedule
Thursday 30th April: Great Britain 4-6 Italy
Saturday 2nd May: Great Britain vs Italy at the Motorpoint Arena Nottingham
Sunday 10th May 15:30: Italy vs Great Britain in Varese
Tuesday 12th May 18:50: Italy vs Great Britain in Varese