Italy played hard, aggressive hockey to earn a surprising 4-1 win over France on Day One at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.
photo: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / ANDRE RINGUETTE
Advantage, Italy! The Italian women were full value for a surprising 4-1 victory over neighbouring France in the first official Olympic game played at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Thursday.
Rebecca Roccella scored the go-ahead goal late in the second period, and ex-PWHLer Kristin Della Rovere had a two-point outing in Italy's first Olympic win ever. It was an exciting, fast-paced and physical affair that will undoubtedly ramp up the appetite for women's hockey in the host nation. Call it the perfect first impression.
"Today was very emotional in every single way possible, from the start to the finish," said Italian defender Laura Fortino, a former Canadian Olympic gold medalist. "Even at the end there, shedding a few tears, skating around the rink. For me, it just hits you in the heart. It's very special."
Italy outshot France 46-15. The score could have been more lopsided if French goalie Alice Philbert hadn't been active and dialed in early on. Italy's Martina Fedel was sharp when called upon.
This was France's first appearance ever in the Olympic women’s hockey tournament. Ranked 14th in the IIHF Women's World Ranking, Les Bleus last competed at the top-level IIHF Women’s World Championship in 2023 in Brampton, Ontario.
About losing to the 17th-ranked Italians, France's Elina Zilliox said: "I think it took time to get into the game. For everyone, it's new, and I think we're gonna work on that and be back stronger."
The Italian women came out with energy and dominance and had their fans oohing and aahing in between chants of “Italia!” They outshot France 22-4 in the first period.
The hosts faced some early adversity. At 9:42, the French drew first blood on their opening power play with defender Franziska Stocker off for tripping. Blueliner Gabrielle de Serres fired a shot from the top of the right faceoff circle that deflected past Fedel.
Italy struck right back one minute later. Captain Nadia Mattivi skated behind the net and fed a neat short pass out front to Kayla Tutino, who banged it in and fist-pumped as the home crowd roared. Mattivi, a former Boston University captain, has 21 points in 20 SDHL games with Lulea this season.
A mid-game power play saw Matilde Fantin almost restore the Italian lead as she dangled in to ring one off Fedel's left post. The 19-year-old forward, who paced Italy with 10 points in Division I, Group B action last year, seemed to just grow stronger as the game wore on.
"Italy is not a big hockey country," Fantin said. "Starting well and showing the world that we can play at this level, that we belong here, is just amazing."
Roccella put Italy back up 2-1 at 15:17, roofing a juicy rebound off the rush from Della Rovere's shot. Della Rovere is part of a cohort of dual-passport Italian-Canadian players that includes Fortino, who set up Marie-Philip Poulin's golden goal versus the U.S. at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
Fantin scored just 15 seconds into the third period with a magnificent display of power-forward prowess. Rushing down right wing, she cut past the French defence and elevated a backhander short side past Philbert.
At 4:59, Della Rovere put the game out of reach at 4-1 with a wrister from the right faceoff circle that beat Philbert high to the short side again.
The Italians, who are coached by Montreal native Eric Bouchard (an assistant coach with the QMJHL's Shawinigan Cataractes), battled defensively to deny France quality chances down the stretch.
Fantin hailed Bouchard's influence: "We've been working really hard in the last month with him. He wants us to always keep our feet moving and shoot from everywhere. I think he's a great, great coach, and I'm really proud having him here with us."
In the days ahead, France will need more out of the likes of captain Lore Baudrit, a 34-year-old former SDHLer who now plays for ERC Ingolstadt in Germany, and Estelle Duvin, who has won the last two PostFinance Women’s League MVP Awards with SC Bern Frauen.
Hockey historians in attendance couldn't help but think: "What a difference 20 years makes!" When Italy hosted the 2006 Olympics in Turin, its women dropped five straight games by an aggregate of 48-3. That included a 16-0 opening loss to defending champion Canada. This is a tangible improvement.
"We all deserve it," Fortino said. "We've worked so hard. No one believes in us but this group."
France will try to bounce back versus Japan on Friday. Italy gets a day off before taking on Sweden on Saturday.
The Italians have never played in the elite division of the IIHF Women’s World Championship. However, this strong Day One outing bodes well for ending that drought in the future.
Rebecca Roccella scored the go-ahead goal late in the second period, and ex-PWHLer Kristin Della Rovere had a two-point outing in Italy's first Olympic win ever. It was an exciting, fast-paced and physical affair that will undoubtedly ramp up the appetite for women's hockey in the host nation. Call it the perfect first impression.
"Today was very emotional in every single way possible, from the start to the finish," said Italian defender Laura Fortino, a former Canadian Olympic gold medalist. "Even at the end there, shedding a few tears, skating around the rink. For me, it just hits you in the heart. It's very special."
Italy outshot France 46-15. The score could have been more lopsided if French goalie Alice Philbert hadn't been active and dialed in early on. Italy's Martina Fedel was sharp when called upon.
This was France's first appearance ever in the Olympic women’s hockey tournament. Ranked 14th in the IIHF Women's World Ranking, Les Bleus last competed at the top-level IIHF Women’s World Championship in 2023 in Brampton, Ontario.
About losing to the 17th-ranked Italians, France's Elina Zilliox said: "I think it took time to get into the game. For everyone, it's new, and I think we're gonna work on that and be back stronger."
The Italian women came out with energy and dominance and had their fans oohing and aahing in between chants of “Italia!” They outshot France 22-4 in the first period.
The hosts faced some early adversity. At 9:42, the French drew first blood on their opening power play with defender Franziska Stocker off for tripping. Blueliner Gabrielle de Serres fired a shot from the top of the right faceoff circle that deflected past Fedel.
Italy struck right back one minute later. Captain Nadia Mattivi skated behind the net and fed a neat short pass out front to Kayla Tutino, who banged it in and fist-pumped as the home crowd roared. Mattivi, a former Boston University captain, has 21 points in 20 SDHL games with Lulea this season.
A mid-game power play saw Matilde Fantin almost restore the Italian lead as she dangled in to ring one off Fedel's left post. The 19-year-old forward, who paced Italy with 10 points in Division I, Group B action last year, seemed to just grow stronger as the game wore on.
"Italy is not a big hockey country," Fantin said. "Starting well and showing the world that we can play at this level, that we belong here, is just amazing."
Roccella put Italy back up 2-1 at 15:17, roofing a juicy rebound off the rush from Della Rovere's shot. Della Rovere is part of a cohort of dual-passport Italian-Canadian players that includes Fortino, who set up Marie-Philip Poulin's golden goal versus the U.S. at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
Fantin scored just 15 seconds into the third period with a magnificent display of power-forward prowess. Rushing down right wing, she cut past the French defence and elevated a backhander short side past Philbert.
At 4:59, Della Rovere put the game out of reach at 4-1 with a wrister from the right faceoff circle that beat Philbert high to the short side again.
The Italians, who are coached by Montreal native Eric Bouchard (an assistant coach with the QMJHL's Shawinigan Cataractes), battled defensively to deny France quality chances down the stretch.
Fantin hailed Bouchard's influence: "We've been working really hard in the last month with him. He wants us to always keep our feet moving and shoot from everywhere. I think he's a great, great coach, and I'm really proud having him here with us."
In the days ahead, France will need more out of the likes of captain Lore Baudrit, a 34-year-old former SDHLer who now plays for ERC Ingolstadt in Germany, and Estelle Duvin, who has won the last two PostFinance Women’s League MVP Awards with SC Bern Frauen.
Hockey historians in attendance couldn't help but think: "What a difference 20 years makes!" When Italy hosted the 2006 Olympics in Turin, its women dropped five straight games by an aggregate of 48-3. That included a 16-0 opening loss to defending champion Canada. This is a tangible improvement.
"We all deserve it," Fortino said. "We've worked so hard. No one believes in us but this group."
France will try to bounce back versus Japan on Friday. Italy gets a day off before taking on Sweden on Saturday.
The Italians have never played in the elite division of the IIHF Women’s World Championship. However, this strong Day One outing bodes well for ending that drought in the future.
Italy vs France - 2026 Women's Olympic Games
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