Ice Hockey: Pat Cortina Is Italy’s New Head Coach

Pat Cortina is the new head coach of the Italian men’s national ice hockey team. The 62-year-old Italian-Canadian coach returns to the Azzurri bench 23 years after his last stint, joined by Giorgio De Bettin, who has been confirmed as associate coach. The Italian Ice Sports Federation has officially announced the appointments ahead of the 2026–2027 season, thus kicking off a new era that is already looking toward the 2030 Olympics in the French Alps.

The new coaching staff will take charge of the team on Tuesday, November 3, during the scheduled practice at the Palaonda. The first official competition will take place a few days later, from November 5 to 7, when the Azzurri will compete in the European Cup of Nations in Sosnowiec, Poland. Italy will face Great Britain, Poland, and Ukraine, in that order.

The selection of Cortina represents one of the first measures taken by the new federation leadership, headed by President Thomas Rottensteiner, who was elected on October 24. The goal is to launch a four-year project involving the entire Italian hockey community—from the senior men’s and women’s national teams down to the youth teams—ensuring continuity in planning and resources.

For Cortina, this marks a particularly significant return. Born in Montreal, he began his involvement with Italian hockey in 1990, arriving in Italy as an assistant coach. From 2000 to 2003, he led the senior national team, participating in two Top Division World Championships. He subsequently worked for many years in Hungary and Germany, achieving significant results with both clubs and national teams. In 2009, he led the Hungarian men’s national team back to the world’s top division after a 70-year absence, and in 2024, he achieved the same milestone with the women’s team—for the first time in its history.

His international career culminated in the spring of 2026 with his induction into the IIHF Hall of Fame and the presentation of the Paul Loicq Award, an honor reserved for individuals who have made significant contributions to the growth of hockey.

“First and foremost, my heart,” Cortina explained regarding his decision to accept the Federation’s offer. “This country welcomed me when I was young and still had little experience, offering me the opportunity to grow professionally and gain a wealth of experience. I wasn’t born in Italy, but it’s a country I feel is deeply my own.”

The new coach also emphasized the importance of building something that goes beyond immediate results: “Giorgio De Bettin and I will be tasked with instilling the values, mindset, and expectations that come with wearing the blue jersey. It will be essential, however, not to limit ourselves to looking only at the week ahead, but to work with a broader vision.”

At his side will be Giorgio De Bettin, 54, who is in his ninth season out of the last ten on the national team’s coaching staff. The former forward made his debut with the national team in 2001 under Cortina’s guidance and has served as an associate coach since 2023. His retention represents an element of continuity for a team entering this new cycle with several new faces.

““Drawing on the wealth of experience gained in recent years, thanks in part to participation in major events such as the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games and last spring’s Top Division World Championships,” De Bettin stated, outlining the starting point for the new project.

The coach from Cadore then highlighted the value of his renewed professional relationship with Cortina: “Being able to work with Pat Cortina is a great source of satisfaction for me: 25 years ago, he gave me the opportunity to make my debut on the national team and to grow, both as a person and as a player. Together, I believe we can provide the team with the right foundation on which to build its path, both on and off the ice.”

For the new era of the Italian national team, therefore, the first test will come in the next few days in Poland, with three games that will offer Cortina and De Bettin the opportunity to evaluate the squad and begin laying the foundation for the national team of the future.