Hogeboom heading across the pond for 2011-12 season

Former Brahmas center signs with HC Alleghe in Italy

Greg Hogeboom has signed with HC Alleghe in Alleghe, Italy for the 2011-12 season according to a press release by the team issued today.

The team plays in Serie A, a 10-team league that is the top tier of professional ice hockey in Italy.

HC Alleghe plays at the Stadio Alvise De Toni, a 2500-seat venue situated near the shore of Lago de Alleghe. The facility first opened in 1970.

Alleghe, a ski/snowboard resort town with a population of about 1,350 inhabitants, is set in the province of Belluno in Veneto (Northern Italy), the most visited region of Italy. Do a Google image search on Alleghe, Italy - the place is really beautiful.

The league's playing format is set up in three parts:

• First part: "Regular season" - Every team plays four matches against each other.
• Second Part: After the regular season the teams will be divided into 2 groups to determine access to play off and play out (round robin).
• Third part: "Play Off" - Quarterfinals: 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6, 4 vs 5. Quarterfinals, semifinals and finals will be played at the best of 7. "Play Out" - 9 vs 10.

Other players signed to the team for the coming season thus far include goalie Adam Dennis (played in the AHL for his first three pro seasons (2006-08) and has played in Europe since), defenseman Michael Schutte (played his first five pro (2002-07) seasons in the AHL and has played in Europe since except for 18 games with the Odessa Jackalopes last season) and center Kenny Corupe (entering his 12th pro season with four seasons split between the ECHL and AHL and two seasons with the Odessa Jackalopes (2001-02 and 2010-11).

Hogeboom, 28, was the second leading scorer for the Brahmas last season (tied with Chad Woollard with 92 points) and was first in power play goals (15), assists (55) and +/- (tied with Jason Krischuk at +16). He was also one of two players (Krischuk) to play all 66 regular season games.

Hogeboom's 92 points (37 G, 55 A, +16) and 22 penalty minutes constituted his best output in seven pro seasons and placed him sixth among all Central Hockey League players in points (92), fifth in goals (37), sixth in assists (55) and second in power play goals (15).

During the post-season, Hogeboom added three points (1 G, 2 A, -3) and four PIM in four games played.

This is a huge loss for the Brahmas, but a nice move for Hogeboom and his wife, who will get to live in a beautiful community over the next season. The money's not bad either!

Photo Credit: Robert Keith