THURGAU – Foreign and National League reinforcements

HC Thurgau announces the commitment of its two new imported attackers for next season. Hunter Garlentthe top scorer last season in DEL 2, joins Leuen. Sebastian Bengtsson has already made a name for himself in the Swiss League as a regular scorer for HC La Chaux-de-Fonds. In addition, the defense is supplemented by Ramon Schnetzer And Alessandro Villa.

Hunter Garlent

With 28-year-old Canadian Hunter Garlent, the HCT has achieved the transfer of its dreams. The center not only has excellent passing skills, but also an eye for goal that has seen him score 60 goals over the past two seasons for the Lausitzer Füchse in DEL 2.

Garlent was not only voted the best forward, but also MVP of the entire championship. The 175cm forward grew up in Ontario, Canada and later made his mark for the East Coast Hockey League through the prestigious Ontario Hockey League and a few years at Saint Mary’s University. Garlent played there two years in Florida before landing on Weisswasser’s DEL 2 team thanks to his excellent scores.

Patrick Brandli, sports director of the HCT: “In recent years, Garlent has demonstrated his qualities as a scorer in all teams. He has a sophisticated technique and also brings the necessary speed for the Swiss League. With him, we managed the transfer we wanted for the coming season. Garlent will join the Thurgovians in August during on-ice training and has signed a one-year contract.

Sebastian Bengtsson

With Hunter Garlent, Sebastian Bengtsson (28) will form the HCT’s foreign duo next season. The Swede, already well known in Switzerland, collected 41 points in 24 games last season for HC La Chaux-de-Fonds in qualifying. He also scored 4 points in the league qualifier against HC Ajoie.

The Swede brings his Swiss League experience and has already made a name for himself as a regular scorer in Sweden’s second league, HockeyAllsvenskan. Bengtsson is 173cm tall and stands out mainly for his speed and slender hands.

Patrick Brändli: “With Sebastian Bengtsson, we bring to the team the energy and composure that we partially lacked last season. Bengtsson has proven he can score consistently in the Swiss League and that’s exactly what we expect from him in the coming season. »

Ramon Schnetzer

To strengthen the defense of the HCT, the Austrian Ramon Schnetzer joined the Leuens. The 26-year-old Vorarlbergois has, thanks to his junior years with the Pikes Oberthurgau, the Swiss license and therefore does not affect the foreign contingent. In recent years, Schnetzer has already played 30 international matches for Austria and thus brings his international experience to Eastern Switzerland.

For the past two years he has played with Black Wings Linz and distinguished himself with solid defensive work. Schnetzer has signed a one-year contract and will already do part of the summer training with the Thurgovians.

Alessandro Villa

The Ticino Alessandro Villa22, joins the Thurgovians on loan for a season from HC Lugano with an A license. Villa has gone through all the levels of the Luganese training and has been called up from the U16s for all the national youth teams.

Over the past two seasons, the tall defender has made 38 appearances for HC Lugano in the National League and 67 appearances for HCB Ticino Rockets in the Swiss League. Villa is seen as a defender capable of cleaning up his own goal and thus bringing more stability to the HCT.

Patrick Brändli, sporting director of HC Thurgau, is satisfied with the transfers made: “With the transfers made, two important objectives have been achieved. On the one hand, the defense could be strengthened after the departures of experienced players like Forrer, Rundqvist and Parati. On the other hand, two imported strikers have been hired, Garlent and Bengtsson, who fit into the team structure and who have already proven their ability to score goals in different leagues”.