Bolzano Continues To Load Up As Part Of Italy's Olympic Plan

Italy has one team that competes internationally, EV Bolzano Eagles, who play in the European Women's Hockey League (EWHL). As Italy's strongest team, who also plays domestically against other Italian clubs, Bolzano is playing a significant role in the nation's plans to ice a women's hockey team as hosts of the 2026 Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo.

Part of the plan includes recruiting North American players with Italian heritage to move to Italy in preparation for gaining citizenship and representing the nation. Last season EV Bolzano signed former Canadian national team member Laura Fortino with the intent of her becoming qualified to represent Italy at the Olympics.

This week, the Bolzano Eagles stuck again signing former PHWL Ottawa forward and Harvard captain Kristin Della Rovere who hopes to use her Italian roots to play for Italy.

The other part of the plan looks to be supporting the development of players on Bolzano with other experienced players. Bolzano also signed Justine Reyes this offseason. Reyes, who scored 17 games in 24 games in 2022-2023 with the PHF's Connecticut Whale followed it up with 35 points in only 25 games last season with Linkoping in the SDHL. She's a seasoned professional who will likely be one of the top scorers in the EWHL this season. The team also signed defender Kristen Guerriero, a veteran of two European seasons, one in Hungary and one in Switzerland, following her four year NCAA career with St. Lawrence.

Last year nine members of Bolzano's team also represented Team Italy.

Italy currently ranks 19th in the IIHF World Rankings just behind South Korea and the Netherlands.

Filling a roster with a handful of dual citizenship players has been a tactic used by other nations recently to field competitive teams when hosting World Championship and Olympic rosters. For Italy to not get blown out at the 2026 Olympics, they'll need to utilize this pathway as well.

The country does have a handful of homegrown talents capable of competing on the world stage including defender Nadiam Mattivi who captained Boston University the past two seasons and has been an integral part of Italy's national team for several years. Mattivi is headed to the SDHL this season to play with Lulea. Also from Italy is forward Anna Caumo who had 20 points in 34 games last season in the NCAA with Franklin Pierce. In net, Martini Fedel was named an All-Canadian for her performance in U Sports hockey with the University of Guelph, a nationally ranked program, and on the blueline, youngster Laura Lobis is an up and comer to watch.