LA STORIA DEL BASSANO HOCKEY 54

As you can deduct from the name, our society was established in 1954 by a group of roller-skating amateurs, a passion born during the “roller-skating boom” of 1954 and transformed into Hockey just a year after when the first team enrolled in the Italian championship. In 1956 they were in category C, moving on in 1959 to category B and in 1962 the historical qualification in category A where they remained until 1968 with a magnificent Checco Fontana bringing Bassano to the head of the Italian classification, later substituted by the actual president Eros Merlo. In 1970 Bassano returned to the maximum category remaining for 5 years. In the eighties Bassano enters the international arena. In 1981 the first triumph arrives with a victory in Italian cup. In 1982 with the acquisition of Argentine Sturla dawned the arrival of foreign players, the decisive stroke which brought our society to the current high levels is in 1983, with the arrival of the Portuguese Victor Bruno and the following year coach Antonio Livramento together with the fellow-countrymen Fanà e Nunes Bassano reached the highest of levels disputing there first championship final in 1985 ,in which they were narrowly defeated by Novara. Legendary names on the court for that game which was held in Centro Giovanile (which still exists) Italian ace Girardelli and Nunes with over 1.500 supporters watching . Nunes later became Bassanese in all effects. In 1988 relegation in A2 , but at the same moment in time the strongest generation of “giallorossa” is born with players such as Panizza (still giallorosso) and the twins Michielon, with these Bassano moved back in A1 and to the playoffs, the highest level in 18 years. In 1992 Palabassano is built and history keeps going at maximum levels when in 1998 they reached the semifinals
In 1999 the society under the actual managing group changed name from ” Bassano Hockey” to “Bassano Hockey 54”, this same group brought Bassano back amongst the top in Italy. In 2001 the year of the turn around with the final of the Italian cup and simifinal in the league, in 2002 Bassano enters among the top in Europe (arriving second in the CERS cup against REUS) and second in Italy behind Prato. 2002 also sees the arrival in Bassano of names such as Rigo, Cunegatti, and the Bassano born twins Michielon, “heroes of the Novara saga dominators of the Italian league for a decade” 2003 signs the arrival of Orlandi from Portugal together with the Portuguese coach Dantas giving foundation to the historical season for Bassano Hockey 54. In 2004 the victory of the 2nd Italian cup (the first one in 1981) and with the biggest joy of all on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of activity wining the first league championship against Prato.
Great joy in Bassano with one week of celebrations. In the season 2004-05 as Italian champions they battle to the end with against Follonica, Bassano closed the season with a Second placing in the Italian cup and in the championship, entering also in the top 10 of the European ranking.
Victory of the “Mundialito” in Argentina. In the renovated team are the young argentine Montivero, Nicolia and the expertise fellow-countryman Videla . In 2005-06 brings another battle against Follonica in the championship, where Bassano again finished second. Bassano is amongst the first 8 in Europe and participate in the second phase of the Champion’s League for the second time (first time in 2002/03). Change of couch comes about from Dantas to Bresciani with two new foreigner players Pereira and Viana. In September 2006 Bassano Hockey54 wins the world Championship for clubs in Luanda (Angola), defeating Reus, Porto and Benfica. The season (2006/07) sees Bassano for the third time in the qualifying phase of the Champion’s League and for the first time we have reached the final Four! The team has remained that of last year.

To know everything about our history…you can read it and review our historical photos in our official website Bassano Hockey 54 www.bassanohockey54.it ---> http://www.hockey.gare.it/storia0405/index.htm