From East Vancouver to Olympic Ice: Matt Bradley's Italian Hockey Dream
When Italy faces Sweden in men's hockey at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympic Games on Wednesday, February 11, Vancouver hockey fans will have dual reasons to watch. While many will be tracking Canucks star Elias Pettersson's performance for Sweden, a special connection runs deeper for one east Vancouver family.
A Grandfather's Pride and a Player's Journey
In a Vancouver home, 95-year-old Guido Garzitto will be watching intently as his grandson, Matt Bradley, takes the ice for Italy. Garzitto, who immigrated to Canada from a small village near Udine in northeastern Italy, represents the family heritage that Bradley now honors through sport. "He'll be watching every game, so to be here and be representing where he's from, it's pretty special," Bradley told reporters after Team Italy's final pre-tournament practice.
Bradley's path to Olympic competition began in Vancouver Minor hockey before his family moved to White Rock, where he continued developing his skills with Semiahmoo. His talent earned him spots with the Valley West Hawks in the B.C. Major Midget League and later with the Surrey Eagles in the BCHL. The Medicine Hat Tigers recruited him for the 2014 WHL playoffs, where he played 17 games during their Western Conference final run.
From NHL Dreams to International Opportunity
The Montreal Canadiens selected Bradley in the fifth round of the 2015 NHL Draft, but his professional trajectory took an unexpected turn. During a Canadiens development camp in 2016, Bradley separated his shoulder in a scrimmage. While rehabbing, medical staff discovered a benign tumor in his nasal cavity that had been growing since he broke his nose months earlier.
"They said I was born with it, and just breaking my nose kind of triggered the growth of it," Bradley explained. "Montreal helped me get rid of it and get back to being healthy." Although the Canadiens didn't offer him a contract, Bradley credits the organization with providing first-class medical care and professional development.
Building a Career and Discovering Heritage
After passing on the 2017 NHL Draft, Bradley played as an overager with the Regina Pats, appearing in five Memorial Cup games in 2018. The Toronto Maple Leafs then signed him to a minor-league contract, leading to two seasons with the ECHL's Newfoundland Growlers and brief AHL appearances with the Toronto Marlies. Subsequent seasons with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits preceded his move to European hockey with Vienna.
It was during this European transition that Bradley realized his eligibility for Italian citizenship through his grandfather's heritage. "There's little things," he noted about connecting with Italian culture. "Just the way guys talk to each other, and the screaming matches and the talking with your hands — little things like that reminds me of home."
Olympic Reality and Competitive Spirit
Now playing for Bolzano in the Italian league and having made his national team debut this winter, Bradley experienced the Olympic moment during Friday's opening ceremony at San Siro Stadium. "Just looking up at all the people from all over the world. That was pretty special," he recalled.
Despite Italy's underdog status against hockey powerhouses, Bradley emphasizes the team's competitive mindset. "We're not just here to 'enjoy the Olympics,'" he stated. "We're here to compete and do the best we can. So we got a great group and it's been a fun week together at practice."
For the Bradley-Garzitto family and Vancouver's Italian community, Wednesday's game represents more than athletic competition—it's a celebration of heritage, perseverance, and the unexpected paths that lead athletes to Olympic glory.
