On the occasion of tonight's evening at Cornèr Arena dedicated to the retirement of Raffaele Sannitz's jersey number 38 and the traditional presentation of the team ahead of the new season, President Vicky Mantegazza exalted the fans by making a surprise announcement on the Reseghina stage of three significant contract renewals.
Three long-term deals that demonstrate the club's strong desire to be competitive at the highest level over the next few years and that involve three players who are part of the backbone of the team, the group and the locker room.
Captain Mark Arcobello will play with the bianconera jersey at least until the end of the 2024/25 season. Having landed in Lugano after winning two national titles with Bern, the 34-year-old U.S. center is set to begin his third season at Cornèr Arena. His leadership, intelligence and ability to read the game both offensively and defensively are a step beyond everyone, and his offensive production is always of the highest standard. In fact, in 115 games with Lugano he has totaled 109 points (38 goals and 71 assists, 109 points).
Giovanni Morini has renewed his link with the HCL until the end of the 2026/27 season. Raised in the club's youth sector, the 27-year-old center-winger with an Italian passport but a Swiss license is a sure value and a reference point for his teammates and the technical staff. At times held back by some serious injuries, Giovanni has reached the 295-game mark with the HCL (51 goals, 42 assists, 93 points) and is ready to sweat the bianconera jersey as usual for the eighth consecutive championship.
The third signing is that of Calvin Thürkauf. The 25-year-old center-winger, born in Zug, has decided to fully espouse the HCL's sports strategy, extending his contract as of now until 2028/29. Described by many as the Swiss National League forward who has grown the most in the last league, he has assumed a central role in the team's mechanisms since his first season, sublimating energy, physical strength, will to win and flair for goal (56 games, 17 goals, 22 assists, 39 points).