Paolo Della Bella

Paolo Gerolamo Della Bella (b. September 12th 1977 in Sorengo, Canton of Ticino, Switzerland) is a professional goaltender who plays in the Serie A for HC Milano.

Della Bella was member of the Swiss National Team for four European Junior Championships (1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997); for the first two of those tournaments, he was named best player of his team.

His formation with HC Ambri-Piotta completed, Della Bella left for North America to study. He attended the University of Ottawa and wore the University team's colours; he was named MVP in 1998-99 CIAU season.

The Swiss goaltender became the first West European to play in the Russian Superleague in 2000 when he signed with Metallurg Magnitogorsk. He won the league title with Magnitogorsk, as well as the IIHF European Champions Cup in 2001. He then returned to play in Switzerland for HC Lugano of the Nationalliga A and HC La-Chaux-de-Fonds of the Nationalliga B. In 2002, Della Bella signed with the Knoxville Ice Bears of the Atlantic Coast Hockey League; he soon was back home however, signing with HC Ajoie of the NLB after 15 games abroad.

In 2003, the native of the Svizzera Italiana left for Italy, signing with Serie A's AS Varese. After two seasons with Varese, he joined HC Milano in 2005; he won the Italian championship the next year in Milan.