CowboyinAmerica 2,925 Posted January 6 Share Posted January 6 Davos, Switzerland -- Over her first couple of seasons, HC Davos Dynamo forward Antonia Bucatini had a reputation as a passive player. Her first year in the VHL, she led the entire league in hits taken, with many opposing defensive players lining up to take their shot at the rookie. Even over the past couple of years, Bucatini's hit total has slowly risen, but very few would call her a two-way player. But now, apparently, a switch has flipped. Maybe it's that she was tired of getting pushed around. Maybe it's the arrival of Gianfranco del Rocco, which has brought out more of her, let's call it physical, side. But whatever the case, Dynamo fans have noted a harder hitting Bucatini this year: Her 74 hits through 18 games is tied for the fifth-most in the entire VHL and third-most among forwards. "What can I say? Hockey's a physical game. I've got no problem roughing a few people up out there," Bucatini said after a recent win against Prague. She added with a smile, "They probably don't expect it when they see me coming, but that makes it more fun." One of the major influences on this playstyle may be teammate Grimgor Ironhide. In Ironhide's three years in Davos, he's ranked in the top 10 in hits every season - and this year, is one of the two forwards ahead of Bucatini in the hit rankings (Chicago's Toby Kadachi being the other). Bucatini said she's learned a thing or two from playing alongside Ironhide about how to get hits in, but not let it affect point totals. The ogre and the lithe Italian youngster may seem like an odd 1-2 punch for basher teammates. "Oh, you're afraid of him and would rather play near me? I'll show you that you should be afraid of me too," Bucatini added. "Maybe you'll come out of Davos with a win, but I'll tell you: You're going to be hurting for days after regardless." Link to comment https://vhlforum.com/topic/154048-a-hit-a-day/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOOM 8,861 Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 Link to comment https://vhlforum.com/topic/154048-a-hit-a-day/#findComment-1049534 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Janser 2,229 Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 That picture features in the Album of 'Scott Stevens' greatest Hits'... Link to comment https://vhlforum.com/topic/154048-a-hit-a-day/#findComment-1049550 Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOOM 8,861 Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 On 1/7/2025 at 7:32 PM, Daniel Janser said: That picture features in the Album of 'Scott Stevens' greatest Hits'... The best 3 minutes I've spent in Photoshop Link to comment https://vhlforum.com/topic/154048-a-hit-a-day/#findComment-1049659 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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