The Board of Directors ofHockey Club Lugano, CEO Marco Werder and GM Hnat Domenichelli have taken an in-depth look at the sporting situation of the HCL first team in recent hours.
The analysis considered the disappointing sports results of last season and the first part of the 2022/23 championship, the management of the group by the coaching staff, the system of play and training methods, and the lack of excitement on the track denoted by the team.
After exposing the conclusions of this analysis to head coach Chris McSorley, the HCL club and the 60-year-old Canadian coach mutually agreed to terminate their partnership.
The HCL would like to thank Chris McSorley for the past year and a half under the club's banner and wishes the professional and the man the best of satisfaction in the future.
In order to give the new coaching staff a chance to start again without conditioning, the club also decided to relieve Patrice Bosch and Paul di Pietro from their positions as assistant coaches of the first team, whose positions will be discussed in the coming days.
Starting tonight against Davos, the position of head coach of the first team is given to Luca Gianinazzi, current head coach of the U20 Elit.
The HCL's sports strategy would have included a three-year cycle with McSorley to give Gianinazzi time to develop and tackle a career in the pros.
The opportunity for the 29-year-old coach, however, presents itself now, and trains famously have to be caught running.
For the first time in its history,Hockey Club Lugano thus relies on a young technician trained in its youth sector both as a player and a coach.
Luca Gianinazzi has served as head coach of the U20 Elit for the past five years, and during that time he has won a third and a second place with his boys as well as a playoff semifinal interrupted only by the pandemic.
The HCL is confident that Luke will have all the support of the HCL family and that the management, staff, Youth Section and all the fans, partners and sponsor will do everything possible to make this new adventure unique and exciting.
Luca Gianinazzi will be assisted this evening on the bench by Krister Cantoni, current coach of the U17 Elit team.
