Giampiero Branduardi has passed away. He played for HC Milaninter and in the historic team of the 50s and 60s, winning four championships. With Agazzi and Crotti he formed the legendary “Piranesi Line”. He also participated in two Olympics (Cortina 1956 and Innsbruck 1964). He was 89 years old
He waited for the highest moment that ice hockey in his city, Milan, has ever experienced: the Olympics. Perhaps he also learned that the capital could soon have a team again. Then Giampiero Branduardi definitively lowered the flag of the legendary “Piranesi Line”. It was composed, together with him, by Giancarlo Agazzi and Ernesto Crotti. Giampiero, of the trio, at 89 years old – he was born on 28 August 1936 – was the last one alive. It was the ABC attack line, made up of kids who grew up near the ice rink in via Piranesi. Branduardi put on skates very early, thanks to his mother who worked at Frigografici Milanesi, adjacent to the facility, one of the most beautiful in Europe. At 14 he made his debut in Serie B with HC Bocconi. In 1952-1953, at 16, he was signed up by Milan Inter, bitter opponents of the Rossoneri Devils, and soon made his debut in Serie A. At 17 he made his “first” national team, in Bolzano (in the Palazzo in via Roma), on the occasion of a success against Austria. It is precisely in blue, after a week, in Milan against Germany, that the Piranesi Line can be admired for the first time. A goal from Branduardi sealed the final 6-5. The three play together for Milan Inter. In 1953-1954 and 1954-1955 they won the Scudetto and the Spengler Cup. Only at the 1956 Cortina Games (with club activity stopped for an entire season) was the Line divided. But Italy achieved what remains the best result ever in its five-circle history: a 7th place. Milaninter HC was born and Giampiero won his third personal championship in 1957-1958. The Diavoli Milano era begins: for Branduardi – who his teammates call Brandina and not Brando, given the popularity achieved by the actor Marlon – there was the fourth title in 1960. Despite his commitments as a turner, he never holds back, not even in the national team where, in fact, he often makes the difference. It will be like this until 1968, including the 1964 Innsbruck Olympics, his second, with a barrage of goals and a superior vision of the game. It would have been double without Coni’s renunciation of those of Squaw Valley 1960 and Grenoble 1968. That year’s championship was awarded with a play-off at the PalaFiera in Bolzano: against the Devils was Cortina, rulers of those years. The Milanese complain about many absences, but lead 3-2. After a charge against the balustrade, they also lost Branduardi to a shoulder injury. The Ampezzo team prevailed 7-5. And for Giampiero, 17 years after his debut with HC Bocconi, that became the last match played at a high level. He will play again with Foppolo, with Turbine. Then he will be the coach, the advisor, the best friend of ice hockey and its players, always in the stands where a match is being played. Until the Milan Cortina 2026 Games. He was there too, ideally and morally, in the futuristic stands of Santagiulia. Someone at his side claims to have also seen Giancarlo Agazzi and Ernesto Crotti.
