PHOTO: Dave Reginek/Getty Images
PENTICTON, B.C. – The Penticton Vees are pleased to announce forward Stefano Bottini (’02) has committed to the team for the 2020/21 season.
Bottini, 17, comes to the Vees with a vast amount of experience playing in his native country of Switzerland. The 6’0”, 176-pound forward is coming off of his first full season with the HC Lugano under-20 team in the U20-Elit league, the highest level of junior-aged hockey in the country. Bottini was the second leading scorer on his team, scoring 12 goals and 28 assists for 40 points in 43 games played.
The Lugano, Switzerland native has played all of his hockey with the HC Lugano club at differing levels, beginning with the U15 squad and working through the U17 ranks, where he captained his team a year ago and completing the 2019/20 season with the U20 team.
Bottini, a dual citizen of each Canada and Switzerland, has represented the Swiss on a national stage many times, including this past season at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, playing in the Czech Republic and Slovakia while getting into 33 career games of International play in representing his home country. Bottini’s ties to Canada include his mother being born in the country.
“I can’t wait to start my new journey in Penticton,” mentioned Bottini, “I will give everything I’ve got to help the team.”
The Vees would like to welcome Stefano and his family to the organization as well as the City of Penticton and South Okanagan.
