Sports

One Quebecer will suit up in men’s hockey at the Olympics - to play for Italy

By
Daniel J. Rowe

Published: 

St. Eustache, Que. native Phil Pietroniro of Italy's, left, talks with Brandon McNally (from Massachusetts) after scoring the opening goal during the group A Hockey World Championship match between Italy and Canada in Helsinki, Finland, Sunday May 15, 2022. (Martin Meissner/The Associated Press)

Those looking for a Quebec talent and former Montreal Canadiens draft pick to lace up in men’s hockey at the Olympics in Milan-Cortina can tune in Wednesday when Sweden faces off against...

Italy.

Italy unveiled its hockey roster for the Milan-Cortina Olympics, which includes players who were born elsewhere and either gained Italian citizenship or have Italian heritage.

Defenceman Phil Pietroniro was born in Saint-Eustache, Que. and played in the QMJHL between 2012 and 2015. He then played semi-pro in the ECHL for the Utah Grizzlies before heading overseas to play with Asiago HC in the Alps Hockey League.

He currently plays in the Czech League.

Skating alongside Pietroniro will be the Montreal Canadiens fifth-round draft pick from 2015: centre Matt Bradley.

Bradley was born in Vancouver, B.C. and played in the AHL before moving to Italy in 2021, playing for Bolzano HC, where he gained citizenship.

His grandparents are from Udine, Italy and immigrated to Canada in the 1960s.

Not unusual

International sports teams in hockey, soccer, basketball and others are replete with players not born in the country they are competing for.

The Canadian men’s soccer team that will play in the World Cup this year, for example, includes some foreign-born stars, including Alphonso Davies (Liberia), Jonathan David (New York) and Marius Aiyenero (Wisconsin).

The Italian Olympic team is no different.

Dustin Gazley and Nick Saracino were both born in the U.S. and played alongside Bradley on HC Bolzano in Italy and will play in Milan-Cortina.

Ottawa native defenceman Jason Seed played for the Gatineau Olympiques in the QMJHL, and also plays on Bolzano and will wear the Italian tri-colour jersey.

Alex Petan, brother of former NHLer Nic Petan, is from Delta, B.C. and played in Italy from 2023 to 2025.

Thomas Larkin was born in London, England to an American father and Italian mother.

This is the first time Italy has participated in the Olympic tournament since hosting the Winter Games in Turin 20 years ago.