‘94 WINTER OLYMPICS / LILLEHAMMER : Boston’s Delfino Is Hoping to Give Italy a Chance

Everyone back on Elm Street in Medford, Mass., will be watching closely Monday if favorite son David Delfino starts in goal for the Italian Olympic hockey team against the U.S.

Delfino, who left the Boston suburbs six years ago to play in Italy, hopes it won’t become a nightmare on Elm Street.

“Goaltending is a beautiful position if you win, and it’s very tough when things don’t go your way,” said Delfino, who has seen many pucks come his way--and get past him--in four games with the Italians, who upset France for their first victory Saturday, 7-3. “I just want us to compete well and come in fourth (in their group). It would be great to play against the Americans, and to play well.”

After graduating from the University of Lowell in Massachusetts in 1988, Delfino passed up a tryout with the Vancouver Canucks to play in Fassa, Italy. He spent four years there before being sold to a team in Alleghe, a mountain town. “Italy has treated me very well. It has great food and great people.”

Delfino is eligible to play for Italy because his paternal grandfather was born in Italy.

Delfino started in Italy’s 6-3 loss to the U.S. at Albertville in 1992, a nerve-racking experience.

“It was tough for me because we drew them in the summer and I had six, seven months to think about the game,” he said. “We played pretty well for two periods, but the Americans ran over us in the third. This time, I’ll be happy as long as Italy shows some class on the ice. We’re not in the same league as the Americans.”

At 28, he still has time--and the desire--to catch on with a professional team in the United States.

“I probably have some teams looking at me now, but it’s hard to show you’re a top goaltender when you’re playing against the best teams in the world,” he said. “I’d love to get a shot at playing at home, but if I don’t make it, I can take that. I can just go to work.”