Michele Strazzabosco

{{short description|Italian former ice hockey defenseman (born 1976)}}

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| caption =

| alt =

| image = 1strazzabosco2015.jpg

| image_size = 230px

| played_for = Asiago HC
Sportivi Ghiaccio Cortina
HC Milano

| position = Defence

| shoots = Left

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 4

| weight_lb = 223

| ntl_team = ITA

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1976|2|6|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Asiago, Italy

| career_start = 1993

| career_end = 2015

}}

Michele Strazzabosco (born February 6, 1976) is an Italian former ice hockey defenseman. He played for two decades in the top Italian ice hockey league (Serie A) and was a member of the Italian national ice hockey team for a dozen years, including at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. Strazzabosco is considered one of the top native players in Italian ice hockey history.{{cite news | last =Laurissa | first =Margann | title =Top 20 Native-Born Italian Hockey Players | newspaper = TheHockeyWriters.com | date =November 2, 2012 | url =https://thehockeywriters.com/top-20-native-born-italian-hockey-players/ | accessdate = September 23, 2017}}

Serie A

Strazzabosco debuted in Italy's Serie A at the age of 17 in the 1993–94 season, playing for his hometown Asiago HC. He played there for 12 seasons before joining the H.C.J. Milano Vipers in 2005–06.{{cite news | title =HCJ Milano: la conferma dell'acquisto di Michele Strazzabosco | newspaper = HockeyTime.net | date =July 25, 2005 | url =http://www.hockeytime.net/2005/07/25/hcj-milano-conferma-dellacquisto-di-michele-strazzabosco/ | accessdate = September 23, 2017|language=it}}

In the 2008–09 season, Strazzabosco joined Sportivi Ghiaccio Cortina.{{cite news | title =Strazzabosco a Cortina | newspaper = HockeyTime.net | date =September 4, 2008 | url =http://www.hockeytime.net/2008/09/04/strazzabosco-cortina/ | accessdate = September 23, 2017|language=it}} He went back to Asiago HC the following season,{{cite news | title =Michele Strazzabosco primo rinforzo dell'Asiago | newspaper = HockeyTime.net | date =August 27, 2009 | url =http://www.hockeytime.net/2009/08/27/michele-strazzabosco-primo-rinforzo-dellasiago/ | accessdate = September 23, 2017|language=it}} where he played until retiring at the end of the 2014–15 season.{{cite news | last =Bradelj | first =Lucas | title =Asiago is the new Italian champion | newspaper = EuroHockey.com | date =April 10, 2015 | url =http://www.eurohockey.com/article/3874-asiago-is-the-new-italian-champion.html | accessdate = September 23, 2017}}{{cite news | last1 =Poli | first1 =Giuseppe | last2 =Strazzabosco |first2 =Roberta | title =Michele Strazzabosco: una vita hockeystica piena di soddisfazioni | newspaper = HockeyTime.net | date =May 26, 2015 | url =http://www.hockeytime.net/2015/05/26/michele-strazzaboso-una-vita-hockeystica-piena-di-soddisfazioni/ | accessdate = September 24, 2017}}

He played in 793 games in Italy's top league during his career, tallying 68 goals and adding 211 assists. He also played in 89 playoff games, scoring 9 goals and 23 assists.{{cite news | title =Michele Strazzabosco hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com | newspaper = HockeyDB.com | url = http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=44707 | accessdate = September 24, 2017}}

During his career, Strazzabosco was part of five Italian league championships for his hometown team, in addition to a championship with Milano. He also participated in three IIHF Continental Cup tournaments with Asiago HC, including a third-place finish in 2013–14.

National Hockey League

At the age of 30, Strazzabosco was offered a tryout from the National Hockey League's Buffalo Sabres prior to the 2006–07 NHL season.{{cite web |url=http://buffalonews.com/2006/09/18/preseason-arrives-at-last/ |title=Preseason arrives at last |publisher=The Buffalo News |author=Tim Graham |date=September 18, 2006 |accessdate=September 24, 2017}} On September 19, he became the first Italian-trained player to appear in an NHL preseason game.{{cite news | title =Michele Strazzabosco entra nella storia | newspaper = HockeyTime.net | date =September 20, 2006 | url =http://www.hockeytime.net/2006/09/20/michele-strazzabosco-entra-nella-storia/ | accessdate = September 23, 2017|language=it}}Nelson Debenedet and Victor Posa were both born in Italy, but grew up in Canada Wearing No. 24 and paired with Sabres defenseman Michael Funk, Strazzabosco played just over 13 minutes in the game, a 4–1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. He spent two minutes in the penalty box for a hooking call.{{cite news | last =Buongiovanni | first =Andrea | title =Strazzabosco Un italiano ha giocato in Nhl | newspaper = La Gazzetta dello Sport | date =September 21, 2006 | url =https://www.pressreader.com/italy/la-gazzetta-dello-sport/20060921/282179351568462 | accessdate = September 24, 2017|language=it}}

Strazzabosco and Italian goaltender Thomas Tragust, who participated in the Sabres' developmental camp, had been recommended to Buffalo by goalie coach Jim Corsi and scout Jon Christiano. Corsi had been an assistant coach for the Italian national team during the 2006 Olympics, while Christiano was an assistant for Italy at that year's World Championships. According to Corsi, Strazzabosco had also attracted interest from the Detroit Red Wings and Vancouver Canucks.

Buffalo Sabres general manager Darcy Regier, however, opted not to sign Strazzabosco to a contract for either Buffalo or their American Hockey League affiliate, the Rochester Americans.{{cite news | last =Graham | first =Tim | title =Hip flexor keeping Briere on sidelines | newspaper = The Buffalo News | date =September 27, 2006 | url =http://buffalonews.com/2006/09/27/hip-flexor-keeping-briere-on-sidelines/ | quote =A report out of Italy claimed defenseman Michele Strazzabosco, invited to camp on a tryout basis, will spend the season with Rochester and not return to his team in Milan. Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier, however, said Strazzabosco hasn't been signed. | accessdate = September 24, 2017}} During his time with the Sabres organization, Strazzabosco said team co-captain Chris Drury was one of his biggest influences.{{cite news | title =Michele Strazzabosco – Fuoriclasse dell’Hockey | newspaper = EthicSport.it | date =May 20, 2009 | url =https://www.ethicsport.it/michele_strazzabosco_-_fuoriclasse_dellhockey-80.html | accessdate = September 24, 2017|language=it}}

International

Stazzabosco represented Italy at the highest level internationally in 170 games from 1998 to 2010, including 12 World Championships and the 2006 Winter Olympics, which the nation hosted.{{cite news | title =Michele Strazzabosco | newspaper = EuroHockey.com | url =http://www.eurohockey.com/player/8017-strazzabosco-michele.html | accessdate = September 23, 2017}} He also played in two European Junior Championships and three World Junior Championships.

In the 2006 IIHF World Championship, he scored a game-tying goal in Italy's final match, against Slovenia, that saved the team from being relegated.{{cite news | title =Small ice could suit Italy | newspaper = IIHF.com | date =May 3, 2008 | url =http://www.iihf.com/sv/home-of-hockey/news/news-singleview/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1045&cHash=818cfb5e4697b8c26c8495db613b71a2 | accessdate = September 24, 2017}} Another memorable goal came when he scored against the Canadian team in the 2010 IIHF World Championship.{{cite news | last =Poli | first =Giuseppe | title =Michele Strazzabosco dice basta e appende i pattini al chiodo | newspaper = HockeyTime.net | date =April 18, 2015 | url =http://www.hockeytime.net/2015/04/18/michele-strazzabosco-dice-basta-e-appende-i-pattini-al-chiodo/ | accessdate = September 24, 2017|language=it}}

Strazzabosco was expected to be part of Italy's team at the 2011 IIHF World Championship; however, he was removed from the team's roster along with two Asiago teammates (Enrico Miglioranzi and Federico Benetti) after they missed a training session following a late-night party celebrating Asiago's league championship.{{cite news | title =Strazzabosco: Non c'è riconoscenza | newspaper = Gazzetta Hockey | date =April 12, 2011 | url =http://www.gazzettahockey.it/it/info-hockey/strazzabosco-non-c-%C3%A8-riconoscenza/29-10328.html | accessdate = September 24, 2017|language=it}}

Personal

Following his playing career, Strazzabosco became a commentator for Asiago HC's streaming platform, Asiago.TV.{{cite news | title =AHL: cinque domande a Michele Strazzabosco, Former Player dell’Asiago | newspaper = HockeyWords.com | date =April 8, 2017 | url =http://hockeywords.com/ahl-cinque-domande-a-michele-strazzabosco-former-player-dellasiago/ | accessdate = September 24, 2017|language=it}}

Career statistics

=Regular season and playoffs=

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em"
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" \| ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" \| ! colspan="5" \| Regular season ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" \| ! colspan="5" \| Playoffs
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Season ! Team ! League ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM
1993–94 \| HC Asiago \| ITA \| 9	0	1	1	8 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 1994–95 \| HC Asiago \| ITA \| 33	2	7	9	62 \| —	—	—	—	—
1995–96 \| Rayside–Balfour Sabrecats \| NOJHL \| 26	6	21	27	43 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 1996–97 \| HC Asiago \| ITA.2 \| 16	1	3	4	14 \| —	—	—	—	—
1997–98 \| HC Asiago \| ITA \| 43	4	7	11	112 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 1998–99 \| HC Asiago \| ITA \| 29	4	4	8	87 \| —	—	—	—	—
1999–2000 \| HC Asiago \| ITA \| 46	11	22	33	60 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2000–01 \| HC Asiago \| ITA \| 37	1	13	14	71 \| 10	2	4	6	24
2001–02 \| HC Asiago \| ITA \| 38	2	5	7	87 \| 4	0	0	0	2
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2002–03 \| HC Asiago \| ITA \| 38	3	8	11	108 \| 11	1	0	1	14
2003–04 \| HC Asiago \| ITA \| 42	2	9	11	46 \| 11	1	2	3	49
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2004–05 \| HC Asiago \| ITA \| 33	1	7	8	62 \| 9	2	4	6	26
2005–06 \| Milano Vipers \| ITA \| 47	5	10	15	80 \| 7	1	3	4	12
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2006–07 \| Milano Vipers \| ITA \| 32	6	13	19	77 \| 9	2	2	4	20
2007–08 \| Milano Vipers \| ITA \| 38	2	11	13	58 \| 9	1	0	1	18
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2008–09 \| SG Cortina \| ITA \| 42	4	17	21	52 \| 4	0	2	2	4
2009–10 \| HC Asiago \| ITA \| 40	4	12	16	92 \| 15	2	3	5	30
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2010–11 \| HC Asiago \| ITA \| 40	2	10	12	62 \| 17	1	3	4	16
2011–12 \| HC Asiago \| ITA \| 44	2	8	10	88 \| 4	0	0	0	6
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2012–13 \| HC Asiago \| ITA \| 36	4	15	19	26 \| 15	1	5	6	14
2013–14 \| HC Asiago \| ITA \| 40	3	9	12	38 \| 11	0	3	3	8
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2014–15 \| HC Asiago \| ITA \| 17	0	5	5	10 \| 18	0	2	2	12
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" \| ITA totals ! 724 ! 62 ! 193 ! 255 ! 1286 ! 154 ! 14 ! 33 ! 47 ! 255