From TMU Bold to Team Italy: Grad’s Olympic hockey dream comes true
When TMU grad Gregory DiTomaso skates onto the ice for Team Italy at the 2026 Olympics, it’s thanks to sacrifice that spans far beyond the ice.
The 29-year-old from Etobicoke, Ont., will make his Olympic debut on Feb. 11 when Italy faces Sweden. It’s a moment built on years of training, unwavering support from his family and the foundation he built at TMU.
“It’s a pinch-me moment,” said DiTomaso. “I can’t believe it, it doesn’t feel real yet.”
Four-year journey
DiTomaso earned his Bachelor of Commerce degree at TMU in 2021 and his MBA at Ted Rogers School of Management in 2022. During both programs, he played defence for the TMU Bold.
His road to the Games has been anything but linear: A four-year journey to get his Italian citizenship, a transatlantic move and a full-on family effort to help him reach his Olympic dream.
It all started when, in 2022, agents from the Italian hockey program began reaching out to players around the world with Italian heritage.
DiTomaso was one of them.
Eligibility, however, came with a catch.
Anything is possible
Players were not only required to have an Italian passport, but under International Ice Hockey Federation rules, they also needed to compete in Italy for 18 consecutive months to qualify for international competition.
DiTomaso had neither.
But, he says, if his nonno (Italian for “grandfather”) – who immigrated from Italy to Canada when he was 16 – had taught him anything, it was that with hard work and sacrifice, anything is possible.
So, with some research, and talking it through with his family – it was game on.
Gregory DiTomaso receives his medal after winning the Scudetto (Italian Cup) with Cortina D’Ampezzo. (Photo: Vito De Romeo)
Family makes it happen
As DiTomaso packed his bags for Italy, his parents embarked on an Olympic-like journey of their own – getting the paperwork for his citizenship in order.
“It was crazy,” DiTomaso said. “Thank God for my dad, because I was over here playing hockey, and he was calling the government, getting document after document and having to apostolize it, translate it and send it back over here by mail.”
After a painstaking process, made even more challenging by a complex family history and outdated laws, his passport arrived in November 2024.
“The support my family’s given me – it's incredible,” DiTomaso said.
TMU turning point
When he moved to Italy in 2022 – his first time in Europe – it was a big step, he said, and he credits TMU for preparing him to take it on.
“TMU gave me stability,” he said. “I really grew as a person.”
“Every year before that, I was jumping from team to team, city to city, trying to prove myself,” he said, referring to his years in Triple A hockey and the OHL.
For the first time, he had a long-term plan — on the ice, in the classroom and beyond.
“It was the first time I could really plant my feet and work toward something,” he said.
Gregory DiTomaso above, third from left, with his wife, Sabrina, and his family – far left, his brother, Dylan and his mom, Susan. Beside his wife is his dad, Michael, and at far right, Tony, his nonno (grandfather). (Photo courtesy of Gregory DiTomaso).
Set up for success
Head coach Johnny Duco, along with coaches Kori Cheverie (now assistant coach with the Canadian women’s hockey team) and Nathaniel Brooks, emphasized the importance of academics alongside athletics — a philosophy that reshaped how he approached both.
“They made it clear that hockey wasn’t everything,” DiTomaso said, noting that having teammates in the same program created friendly competition in the classroom, too.
He also praised the study spaces in the MAC.
“It was a one-stop shop,” he said. “You could train, practise and get your work done all in the same place.”
During his time with TMU, DiTomaso earned OUA Rookie of the Year honours, was named an OUA Defenceman of the Year and became a U SPORTS All-Canadian.
“Every year I wanted to grow and get better — not just on the ice, it was off the ice too.”
Gregory DiTomaso celebrates a goal while playing for Saginaw Spirit of the OHL. (Photo courtesy of Gregory DiTomaso)
Away from family
DiTomaso now lives in Brunico, Italy, where he plays for HC Pustertal Wölfe in the ICE Hockey League (ICEHL).
“It's not just playing because of the Olympics – I also want to be someone that's making an impact every time I'm on the ice,” he said.
Living abroad has meant sacrifice. DiTomaso and his wife, Sabrina, have spent long stretches apart while dealing with visas and residency rules.
“My grandpa’s 95,” DiTomaso said. “Not being able to see him and being away from family has been one of the hardest parts.”
His grandfather built the family’s real estate business “with his bare hands,” and remains a source of inspiration. DiTomaso hopes to bring his TMU business education to the company one day.
Olympic dream realized
When DiTomaso steps onto the ice in Italy on Feb. 11, several family members will be cheering from the stands – including his parents, brother and his wife. His grandfather will watch from home in Canada.
“I couldn't have done it without their support,” he said.
Speaking about his parents, he added, “Not just the last few years – but, growing up, they sacrificed so much in so many ways… I wouldn’t be here without them.”
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