UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Freshman forward Matilde Fantin will represent the Nittany Lions on the Olympic stage this winter, as she was named to the Italian Women’s Ice Hockey roster for the upcoming 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympic Games. She joins teammates Tessa Janecke and Nicole Hall who will be playing for USA and Sweden, respectively. She is the fourth overall Nittany Lion to be named to an Olympic roster with Jessica Adolfsson ’21 skating for the Swedes in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games.
Fantin will rejoin the host country with over 10 games of senior national team experience. In her last international competition at the 2025 IIHF Division 1 B Women’s World Championship, she led the entire tournament in points with 10 on five goals and five assists. Her efforts propelled Italy to an unbeaten finish in the event while earning the team promotion to the Division 1 A in 2026.
The Como, Italy native has made an immediate impact for the Nittany Lions in her short time in Happy Valley. She leads all PSU freshman in goals with eight while dishing 10 assists for 18 points in 21 games played. Her 64.5 percent faceoff win percentage is second in Atlantic Hockey America behind teammate Tessa Janecke.
Fantin has also won a number of awards in her short time in college hockey. She was named the AHA’s Freshman of the Month of September/October while garnering a Rookie of the Week Award on Oct. 28 and Forward of the Week Award on Oct. 14.
The women’s ice hockey tournament in the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympic Games begins February 5th with the Italians beginning their preliminary round games with a matchup against France. They are in group B with Sweden, Germany, Japan, and France. Fantin will faceoff against Nittany Lion teammate on February 7th at 8:40 EST.