Asiago Hockey won the Italian championship for the fifth time. It’s the fourth Serie A title in six years for the team from the Vicenza region.

It was also the fourth title for John Parco, who led the team to two titles as the head coach and was also on championship teams as an assistant coach and team captain.

For only the second time in history an Italian championship had to be decided in seven games. Ritten Sport gave Asiago a tough battle in its title defence campaign but Asiago won the deciding game 4-2.

The game-winning goal was scored by Italian-Canadian team captain Dave Borrelli, who same as coach Parco hails from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, and came to Asiago in 2007.

For Michele Strazzabosco it was even the fifth championship with his hometown team. He is the only player who has been part of all winning teams in 2001, 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2015. After 22 years in the Serie A including 18 with Asiago, he ended his career with another championship party.

The 39-year-old represented Italy in 13 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship tournaments including nine in the top division. He also played for the national team at the 2006 Olympics on home ice in Turin.

Hoisting the “scudetto” was also a special moment for Asiago’s scoring leader Sean Bentivoglio, who before Game 6 flew to Canada for the birth of his daughter but was back in time for Game 7.

After ending the regular season in first place for the first time in 13 years, Asiago had a tough start winning the quarter-final series against the Eppan Pirates in seven games but then swept Milano Rossoblu 4-0 in the semis while Ritten Sport won the other series against Pustertal Bruneck 4-2.

The teams offered each other a tight battle in the final series. First Ritten and Asiago earned wins on the road, then Asiago and Ritten won their games on home ice for a 2-2 tie after four matches.

Asiago beat Ritten 5-1 on home ice but when the game went to Ritten the host fought back. In front of 2,010 fans at the sold out rink Christian Borgatello scored a third-period goal to win the game 2-1 and force a seventh game.

In a tight game before 3,000 fans at the sold-out Odegar rink Asiago went up 2-0 but Ritten tied the game before the end of the first period. Borrelli scored the game-winning goal at 8:24 of the third period and Kevin Devergilio added the 4-2 goal into the empty net to secure the “scudetto”.

MARTIN MERK