Matteo Romanenghi: I hope to become a professional hockey player…

From 11 to November 13, 2011 an international hockey tournament of youth teams in Russia, USA, Switzerland and Slovakia (U17) – Four Nations Tournament) took place in Balashikha (Russia)
We managed to talk with one of the participants of this tournament the forward of national team of Switzerland U17 Matteo Romanenghi (#21)

- Hello Matteo! If you were surprised to learn that Russian sports news agency Young Hockey offered to interview you?
- No, I am happy!

Matteo Romanenghi #21

- Could you tell how did you get to the tournament roster of your national team?
- I began in the regional roster at 12 years and step to step I arrived in the main U17 national team…

- Is it your first experience of playing for U17 national team of Switzerland?
- In an official tournament yes, before I played all the main tournaments with the U16 team…

- Did you like Russia and organization of 4 nations tournament?
- Yes about the organization, but sorry we had not enough free time to appreciate the town of Moscow.

- If you are pleased with your own performance in the tournament?
- Yes I am.

- Team Switzerland took the 3rd place. Could have done better?
- Of course, but some good players were engaged with the U18 team and in this case the gap within Switzerland and the Russian or USA team was more evident!

Matteo Romanenghi #21

- Could you tell if the games of your team in Lugano gather a lot of viewers?
- Not very much. Unfortunately, the sport of youngs has not a lot of followers

- Could you tell about your club in brief…
- My Club is the Hockey Club Lugano. It was founded in the year 1941 and is one of the main sport organization in Switzerland. The main team plays in the National Hockey League A championship and was more times Swiss Champion…

- How many teams do participate in the championship in Switzerland? What are the competition rules and how many games in a season? How long does hockey season last in Switzerland?
- In the A League there are 12 participating teams. The competition rules are same as the International rules. The championship consists in 50 matches during the regular season, than the first 8 teams are admitted to the play-offs (¼ – half final and final each best of seven). The last 4 did make the play-out. The hockey season begins in September and ends in may.

- Matteo, tell our readers about the principle of ice practices…
- It requires passion, sacrifice and many many training…

- Are you already learnt by people in the street as a hockey player?
- Not yet, as I said the Swiss people does not follow the young competitions because the media does not speak about them. Consequently the players of the youth national teams (any sport) are not know by the majority

- What do you think, if hockey is a popular in Switzerland?
- Yes, in Switzerland hockey and football (soccer) are undoubtedly booth on the first level, but concerning the professional teams, not amateurs and youths…

- Some russian coaches work in Switzerland. Do you know many russian guys who plays in swiss clubs?
- Personally I know only a guy who play in my team. His name is Vladislav Zorin. The coach is also a russian. It is Dmitri Tsygourov.

Matteo Romanenghi #21

- How old were you when you started playing hockey?
- I was 5 years old…

- Tell us about your plans for the future…
- I hope to become a professional hockey player, but in the same time I’m student by a special national school for elite sport athletes…

- What does national team player of Switzerland usually do in his spare time?
- I have not many spare time. I make training 5 day plus one or two championship matches a week. And during the day I have to study. The training sessions of the national team are normally held in towns 200/300 Km away my home.

- Would you like to wish anything to Russian fans?
- Yes, to have the best satisfactions with their team of the heart and to come visit Switzerland and specially the beautiful town af Lugano…

- Thank you very much Matteo for the interview!
- Thank you a lot and see you again!