Italian ice hockey mourns the death of Gino Pasqualotto, who unexpectedly passed away on Thursday morning at the age of 63.

Pasqualotto spent almost his entire hockey life in his hometown of Bolzano where his jersey number 33 was retired in a touching ceremony in February. He was the captain in the last years of his career and won no less than 10 Italian championships in Bolzano.

He was admired in the city also long after his career but was as popular and respected anywhere else in Italian ice hockey.

This photo was posted yesterday by one of his fierce rivals in the Italian league but friend on the national team and off the ice, Richard “Bibi” Torriani Award winner Lucio Topatigh:

During 11 seasons the defenceman, whose nickname was “Crazy Horse”, was part of the Italian national team.

Between 1975 and 1985 Pasqualotto was on the ice when the team managed to move up from the C-Pool to the top-division IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in 1982. He also played for the Azzurri at the 1984 Olympic Winter Games in Sarajevo.

A public ceremony will be held at the ice rink on Saturday. The funeral will be held on Tuesday at the Gries-San Quirino district.