(Brian Liesse / Seattle Thunderbirds)
Spaghetti… pizza… soc-… I, I mean football.
These are probably some of the most common things that come to mind when one thinks about the far off land known as Italy. Hockey though?.. You think it would be a sin for them to talk about such a sport over there. Although, some manage to slip through the cultural grates, one of those guys being Alessandro Segafredo.
Segafredo was born in Asiago, Italy, a small township northwest of Venice along the border of the Swiss Alps. To further his development within the sport of hockey, Segafredo had to take his craft to neighbouring Switzerland, where he would play within Zurich’s youth programs in their Jr. B and Jr. A leagues.
Following a breakout season in 2020/21, Segafredo was selected in the 2021 CHL Import Draft with the 41st selection to the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League.
GM @Forgee13 on the selection of Alessandro Segafredo: “Alessandro shoots the puck really well and has an offensive mindset. I like the fact he has scored goals wherever he has played.” pic.twitter.com/wGPbzUjesO
— Seattle Thunderbirds (@SeattleTbirds) June 30, 2021
This was shocking to say the least. The WHL had not seen an Italian-born player in the league since 1992, when Roland Ramoser suited up for two games with the Kamloops Blazers. Segafredo would be only the fourth ever Italian-born player to ever lace up the skates in the WHL.
Thunderbirds’ general manager, Bill LaForge, was nothing but ecstatic after selecting Segafredo, in fact he was so pumped, they got him signed to the club in less than a week!
“It is very rewarding to have Alessandro signed… We are excited that the best fans in the WHL will have the opportunity to watch and cheer on both players (Segafredo and Okonkwo Prada) this coming season. We look forward to seeing them come in and join what we feel is a very exciting roster.”
- Bill LaForge / Seattle Thunderbirds GM
In some cases, import players are set to become vital pieces to a team’s roster, others just fill in the voids in the bottom pairings. Segafredo was not a huge name coming over so he was gifted limited minutes, especially being a young forward in a fast, hard-hitting league like the WHL.
Contrary to that, in only his second-career WHL game versus the Spokane Chiefs, Segafredo would snag the puck along the right boards, and with a slick power-move to the slot and a laser release… Segafredo would find twine for his first career WHL goal.
🇮🇹 BUONGIORNO! 🇮🇹
Alessandro Segafredo with a beauty for his first in the WHL!@SeattleTbirds | #WHLOpeningWeek pic.twitter.com/59D7oixOlu
— The WHL (@TheWHL) October 9, 2021
Put that on your pizza and eat it, delicious! Segafredo would put home another two-assists that night too giving him three points on the evening.
As of now, the Asiago Assassin has himself five-points through six-contests in the WHL and is one of Seattle’s more potent wingers.
Being born in 2004, Segafredo is also eligible for the 2022 NHL Entry Draft as one of the youngest eligible players, being born in late September.
You read the titile… Alessandro is here on a mission, he’s not on a nifty vacation where he gets to play hockey in North America for one-year, and he is just getting prepped up.