Italian captain Nadia Mattivi (#93) skates in the 4-1 opening victory over France at the 2026 Olympic women's hockey tournament in Milan, Italy.
photo: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / ANDRE RINGUETTE
The jersey number 93 means different things to different hockey fans. For example, Swedish fans might think of Mika Zibanejad, who also sports that number with the New York Rangers. Mitch Marner now wears #93 with both the Vegas Golden Knights and Team Canada.
However, in women’s hockey, Nadia Mattivi – the captain of the Italian Olympic team – is putting her own stamp on #93 as an unexpected quarter-final matchup with the U.S. looms on Friday (21:10 local time, Rho Ice Hockey Arena).
Many pundits thought Italy would lose all its games here in Milan. But instead, the Azzuri have written their own Cinderella story with upsets over France (4-1) and Japan (3-2). And Mattivi, 25, has played a big role. The 177-cm, 80-kg star ranks fourth in average ice time (25:35) among all tournament skaters, playing in every situation for head coach Eric Bouchard. She notched an assist in each win.
Italy was thoroughly outclassed when it participated in the 2006 Turin Olympics. It has never competed in the top division of the IIHF Women’s World Championship. So the 2026 Olympics offer an exciting change of pace.
Mattivi, 25, spoke with IIHF.com after Italy’s hard-fought 2-1 loss to Germany on Laura Kluge’s late goal: “We came into the tournament with the belief that we could beat most teams in our group. But you don’t know what it’s like to face that opposition until you face it. And obviously after the first three games, we knew that we were up there with them. So that’s why [losing to Germany] is sour, because I know we’re a good team, I know we can beat them, and it was a 1-1 game until the very end. It always sucks when you lose like this. But I’m extremely proud of the girls and how we fought till the very, very end.”
However, in women’s hockey, Nadia Mattivi – the captain of the Italian Olympic team – is putting her own stamp on #93 as an unexpected quarter-final matchup with the U.S. looms on Friday (21:10 local time, Rho Ice Hockey Arena).
Many pundits thought Italy would lose all its games here in Milan. But instead, the Azzuri have written their own Cinderella story with upsets over France (4-1) and Japan (3-2). And Mattivi, 25, has played a big role. The 177-cm, 80-kg star ranks fourth in average ice time (25:35) among all tournament skaters, playing in every situation for head coach Eric Bouchard. She notched an assist in each win.
Italy was thoroughly outclassed when it participated in the 2006 Turin Olympics. It has never competed in the top division of the IIHF Women’s World Championship. So the 2026 Olympics offer an exciting change of pace.
Mattivi, 25, spoke with IIHF.com after Italy’s hard-fought 2-1 loss to Germany on Laura Kluge’s late goal: “We came into the tournament with the belief that we could beat most teams in our group. But you don’t know what it’s like to face that opposition until you face it. And obviously after the first three games, we knew that we were up there with them. So that’s why [losing to Germany] is sour, because I know we’re a good team, I know we can beat them, and it was a 1-1 game until the very end. It always sucks when you lose like this. But I’m extremely proud of the girls and how we fought till the very, very end.”
That fighting spirit has also caught the eye of the Italian men’s team, which battled hard in a 5-2 tournament-opening loss to NHL-loaded Sweden.
“They’re having a great tournament,” said Italian forward Diego Kostner of his female counterparts. “They’re in the quarter-finals, which nobody expected. We’re playing at home and we just want to show the people of Italy that we can play good hockey.”
Mattivi did not yet know whether Italy would be up against Canada or the United States in the playoffs when IIHF.com interviewed her. (It will, in fact, be an ultra-tough quarter-final as the U.S. is unbeaten in Group A and coming off a 5-0 rout of Canada.) But either way, eagerness for the coming challenge was her theme.
“I don’t think we’re going to play with fear,” Mattivi said. “I think the girls are excited. You always see Canada and the United States getting to that gold medal game, and you always wonder what it’s like to play against them. So I’m just super-excited to play against either of those teams. We’re realistic. We know that they’re incredible opponents. So we’ll adjust, do whatever we have to do to try to compete with them. But I think it’s a great experience for the girls and for myself and for our country. I don’t know what to expect, because obviously we’ve never faced them. I’m sure it will be a whole other level, but we’ll try our best, like we’ve always done.”
“They’re having a great tournament,” said Italian forward Diego Kostner of his female counterparts. “They’re in the quarter-finals, which nobody expected. We’re playing at home and we just want to show the people of Italy that we can play good hockey.”
Mattivi did not yet know whether Italy would be up against Canada or the United States in the playoffs when IIHF.com interviewed her. (It will, in fact, be an ultra-tough quarter-final as the U.S. is unbeaten in Group A and coming off a 5-0 rout of Canada.) But either way, eagerness for the coming challenge was her theme.
“I don’t think we’re going to play with fear,” Mattivi said. “I think the girls are excited. You always see Canada and the United States getting to that gold medal game, and you always wonder what it’s like to play against them. So I’m just super-excited to play against either of those teams. We’re realistic. We know that they’re incredible opponents. So we’ll adjust, do whatever we have to do to try to compete with them. But I think it’s a great experience for the girls and for myself and for our country. I don’t know what to expect, because obviously we’ve never faced them. I’m sure it will be a whole other level, but we’ll try our best, like we’ve always done.”
Mattivi has taken her game to new heights by going abroad. The Trento native spent five years playing for Boston University, including captaining that team in 2022-23 and 2023-24. She has suited up for Swedish powerhouse Lulea for the last two seasons. In 2024-25, she recorded a league-leading 27 points in 34 games and was honoured as the SDHL Defender of the Year. She’s set a torrid pace again this year with 21 points in 20 games.
One of her main incentives to come to Lulea was getting to play with Finnish legend Jenni Hiirikoski, the most decorated blueliner in IIHF women’s hockey history.
“She’s a skilled, offensive defender,” Hiirikoski said of Mattivi. “It’s been a pleasure to be part of her journey and see Italy play well even here. I know they’ve been together quite a bit before the tournament. Of course, playing in an Olympic tournament in your home country is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. So she’s been excited about this the whole season.”
“I’ve been training with Olympians every day,” said Mattivi, alluding not only to Hiirikoski but also other Lulea teammates like Petra Nieminen and Japan’s Akane Shiga. “You just see their work ethic and what it takes to actually be the best in the world. You ask them about their experiences, about their Olympic journeys, about the way they’re still playing. For example, Jenni Hiirikoski is still playing at age 38, It’s only added more professionalism to my game, taking care of my body, taking care of every single aspect of the game. It’s also helped me probably manage my emotions a lot more than I used to in college. I’ve really matured as a player from being in the SDHL”
Laura Fortino is another role model for Mattivi within the Italian national team. The Italian-Canadian great, now 35, made her IIHF debut at the inaugural IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship in 2008 and represented Canada internationally through the 2019 Women’s Worlds. Fortino famously set up Marie-Philip Poulin for the 2014 Olympic golden goal versus the Americans. Mattivi appreciates the veteran’s decision to play domestically in Italy and acquire a new passport ahead of these Games.
“She’s a player with insane experience,” Mattivi said. “She’s won two gold medals [at the 2012 Women’s Worlds and 2014 Olympics]. Having her on the team, she’s shown great mentorship, great leadership from the very beginning. You can just tell how much she cares about this team, about her Italian heritage and representing her family. She’s helping us – the veterans, the whole team and the country – to leave a legacy. When we started this process, we said we want to showcase hockey in Italy. Hopefully girls and boys will put the skates on, and hopefully Italy can become a top-10 ranked team on both the men’s and women’s sides. So she’s helped us with that project and obviously on the ice as well. Her being here through my first Olympics has been so helpful! If I have any doubts, any questions, she’s always there for me.”
One of her main incentives to come to Lulea was getting to play with Finnish legend Jenni Hiirikoski, the most decorated blueliner in IIHF women’s hockey history.
“She’s a skilled, offensive defender,” Hiirikoski said of Mattivi. “It’s been a pleasure to be part of her journey and see Italy play well even here. I know they’ve been together quite a bit before the tournament. Of course, playing in an Olympic tournament in your home country is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. So she’s been excited about this the whole season.”
“I’ve been training with Olympians every day,” said Mattivi, alluding not only to Hiirikoski but also other Lulea teammates like Petra Nieminen and Japan’s Akane Shiga. “You just see their work ethic and what it takes to actually be the best in the world. You ask them about their experiences, about their Olympic journeys, about the way they’re still playing. For example, Jenni Hiirikoski is still playing at age 38, It’s only added more professionalism to my game, taking care of my body, taking care of every single aspect of the game. It’s also helped me probably manage my emotions a lot more than I used to in college. I’ve really matured as a player from being in the SDHL”
Laura Fortino is another role model for Mattivi within the Italian national team. The Italian-Canadian great, now 35, made her IIHF debut at the inaugural IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship in 2008 and represented Canada internationally through the 2019 Women’s Worlds. Fortino famously set up Marie-Philip Poulin for the 2014 Olympic golden goal versus the Americans. Mattivi appreciates the veteran’s decision to play domestically in Italy and acquire a new passport ahead of these Games.
“She’s a player with insane experience,” Mattivi said. “She’s won two gold medals [at the 2012 Women’s Worlds and 2014 Olympics]. Having her on the team, she’s shown great mentorship, great leadership from the very beginning. You can just tell how much she cares about this team, about her Italian heritage and representing her family. She’s helping us – the veterans, the whole team and the country – to leave a legacy. When we started this process, we said we want to showcase hockey in Italy. Hopefully girls and boys will put the skates on, and hopefully Italy can become a top-10 ranked team on both the men’s and women’s sides. So she’s helped us with that project and obviously on the ice as well. Her being here through my first Olympics has been so helpful! If I have any doubts, any questions, she’s always there for me.”
Italy also has up-and-coming stars like Matilde Fantin – who has scored three goals so far – and 18-year-old Manuela Heidenberger in the mix. It amplifies Mattivi’s hopes that something real and tangible will come out of these Olympics for Italian women’s hockey. Not just a blip in February, but a foundation for future success in international competition.
To grow a sport like women’s hockey, exposure is vitally important. More than 27,000 passionate fans have attended Italy’s games so far, including a peak of 10,727 for she showdown with Sweden.
“It’s been amazing,” Mattivi said. “It’s like having a seventh player on the ice. You feel the crowd, and we have so many family members and so many friends. Not only that, but I think after the first game against France, we really drew a lot more attention. It was definitely the start we wanted, and it’s only helped us. I really hope that hockey is going to grow in Italy. That’s the ultimate goal. We have the potential. I think we have the infrastructure. I know a lot of people are watching us on TV as well, but it’s an incredible experience live at Rho and at Santagiulia. You see all the flags, all the people screaming and the passion. They’re on the edge of their seats!”
To grow a sport like women’s hockey, exposure is vitally important. More than 27,000 passionate fans have attended Italy’s games so far, including a peak of 10,727 for she showdown with Sweden.
“It’s been amazing,” Mattivi said. “It’s like having a seventh player on the ice. You feel the crowd, and we have so many family members and so many friends. Not only that, but I think after the first game against France, we really drew a lot more attention. It was definitely the start we wanted, and it’s only helped us. I really hope that hockey is going to grow in Italy. That’s the ultimate goal. We have the potential. I think we have the infrastructure. I know a lot of people are watching us on TV as well, but it’s an incredible experience live at Rho and at Santagiulia. You see all the flags, all the people screaming and the passion. They’re on the edge of their seats!”