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Italian Canadians in the Sports Industry ~ by Lucia Di Pietro

August, 2020; rev. June 2024

This document was compiled for undergraduate research in Italian Canadian Studies in 2020 and links to articles and websites were revised by Dr. Teresa Russo in 2024. The authors would like to thank Konrad Eisenbichler for contributing the names of Julian-Dalmatian athletes and Carmela Colella for contributing names of athletes from the City of Thorold for this project. Please feel free to submit Italian-Canadian athletes from your community and other professionals in this industry to the authors (rteresa@uoguelph.ca). The authors will be happy to add them to this document for your local heroes to be recognized for their contributions.

Di Pietro, Lucia. “Italian Canadians in the Sports Industry.” In Archival Research of Italian-Canadian Immigration and Culture, suprv. Teresa Russo, issue 3: Oral Histories: Traditional and Poetic Forms, University of Guelph, December 2020; revised Lucia Di Pietro with Dr. Teresa Russo, 2024; (https://www.italianheritage.ca/list-of-projects/immigration-in-the-niagra-peninsula-st-catharines/). Italian-Canadian Narratives Showcase (ICNS), Sandra Parmegiani.

  • Anyone with resources in addition to stats profiles currently has five or less references available.
  • Other athletes with no references (or just a stats profile) have more than five resources and can be easily found online. (updates in progress for a stats link for all athletes)
  • N/R means need references.
  • Adam Russo (born April 12, 1983) ~ Professional goaltender
  • Mike Sanatorelli (born December 14, 1985) ~ Former NHL centre
  • Mike Rosati (born January 7, 1968) ~ Former NHL player
  • Raymond Sawada (born February 19, 1985) ~ Former professional winger
  • Giulio Scandella (born September 18, 1983) ~ Professional left winger
  • Marco Scandella (born  February 23, 1990) ~ Professional defeneman
  • Raymond Scapinello (born November 5, 1946) ~ Former NHL linesman
    •  See announcement on Hockey Hall of Fame (June 17, 2008) “Hockey Hall of Fame Announces 2008 Inductees”.
  • Enio Sclisizzi (August 1, 1925 – June 27, 2012) ~ NHL left winger
  • Jason Spezza (born June 13, 1983) ~ Professional centre
  • Zack Stortini (born September 11, 1985) ~ Former professional right winger
  • Rick Tabaracci (born January 2, 1969) ~ Former goaltender
    • Article no longer available online: “Rick Tabaracci player profile”. Hockey Hall of Fame.
  • Jeff Tambellini (born April 13, 1984) ~ Former professional winger
  • Steve Tambellini (born May 14, 1958) ~ General manager of Edmonton Oilers and former NHL player
    • Articles no longer available online:
      •  “Canucks Part Ways With General Manager”, TSN.ca, (2008)”.
      • “Oilers hire new GM; Lowe moves upstairs”, TSN.ca, (2008)”.
      • “Oilers new brass go way back”, canada.com, (2009)”
  • Mark Tinordi (born May 9, 1966) ~ Former professional defenseman
  • “Goaltending records” (PDF). QMJHL.




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Behind the Lens: The World Hockey Association 50 Years Later, Steve Babineau and Brian Codagnone (2022)

Encyclopedia of Italian-Canadian Soccer Players, a Facebook resource created by Paolo Canciani

The Canadian Club Championships, 1984-2008 – The Dick Labrom Report.

The Complete World Hockey Association, edition 11; Scott Surgent (2018).

The Greatest Comeback: How Team Canada Fought Back, Took the Summit Series, and Reinvented Hockey; John U. Bacon (2022)

The Exile Book of Canadian Sports Series; Priscila Uppal (2010)

International Canoe Federation, 75th Anniversary Medal Winners, 1936-2007, edited by

Raymond Kamber.

The Football Association, List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/03/2012 and 31/03/2012.

Official IIHF Media Guide & Record Book; Andrew Podnieks (2011)

“Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA” Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament, (2018).

The Rebel League: The Short and Unruly Life of the World Hockey Association; Ed Willes (2005).

Tommy Burns: Canada’s Unknown World Heavyweight Champion (2000).

Who’s Who in Hockey by Stan; Stan and Shirley Fischler (2003)

World Championships Medal Winners • Canoe / Kayak Flatwater Racing (since 1938), published February 2008; revised 2009.