Martin Pavlu

Of Czech-origin, Martin Pavlu was an ice hockey player, coach, and Italian sports commentator. He was the son of another great champion of this sport, the Czechoslovakian international Jaroslav Pavlu, who played with the Bolzano Hockey Club from 1969-80.

Martin’s entire career was spent in Bolzano. He made his début at the age of 15 in the Second League with the Latemar Hockey Club, where he played for two seasons (1976/77 and 1977/78). He then moved into the First League in 1978, when he joined Bolzano HC, where he played alongside his father for two seasons. With Bolzano, Pavlu played for a quarter of a century and was captain from the 1998/99 season. One of the top players of Italian ice hockey, his list of honours include 12 national titles, an Alpenliga, and a Six Nations Tournament, won alongside another top player, the Czech Jaromír Jágr. Pavlu ended his career in 2004 with HC Merano.

With the national team Pavlu made his début when just over 15-years-of-age, in December 1977. He participated at three Winter Olympics as well as several World Championships, including the one played on home soil in 1994, when Italy achieved their best-ever finish, sixth. In total Pavlu won 227 international caps.

After his active career, Pavlu became an ice hockey commentator for the satellite broadcaster Sky and also for RAI, the Italian public television station. In 2021 Pavlu became head coach of the women’s ice hockey team.