Fabrizi playing at ‘MVP level’ for Hurricanes since returning from mental health break

By Lethbridge Herald on February 21, 2026.

Nathan Reiter

Lethbridge Herald

For more than a month, the Lethbridge Hurricanes were without the services of overage defenceman Matteo Fabrizi.

Following the Christmas break, Fabrizi took a personal leave from the team for mental health reasons. He returned to the lineup for Lethbridge on Jan. 21.

In an interview with the Herald, Fabrizi says his mental health was something he needed to take some time for.

“I just needed a couple extra weeks just to make sure that everything was right mentally. With everything going on, just sometimes need a little extra time yourself just to make sure things are right. You’re a person a long time before you’re a hockey player or an athlete. After you’re an athlete, you got to be a person for a long time so you have to make sure that’s all squared away.”

Mental health has become more of a talking point in recent years. In 2010, Bell began the Let’s Talk campaign to help raise more awareness about the issue of mental health. Several organizations have also taken steps to encourage the discussion of mental wellbeing. 

Hurricane assistant coach Ryan Aasman says it was a strong move by Fabrizi to recognize his state of mental health and to be able to take some action.

“It was impressive. I think right from the get go, you knew something was lingering with Matteo and he was just trying to fight through it. I think the hockey culture is that your training camp starts at a certain time, you don’t take days off, you work at it, and you try to work through it. I think it just hit a point where it was too much for him.”

“I thought it was pretty outstanding that he told us that he would come back and that he held to it. He came back in an incredible state of mind. His play is honestly at an MVP level for us. The team that we are since he’s returned is crazy better than where it was before. We are a way better team with just having him as a presence in our dressing room and what he’s done for a room. He’s taking control of the dressing room, his play on the ice speaks for itself, he makes plays with the puck, defends incredibly hard, doesn’t need to be a yell or scream kind of guy, he just manages people and gets the most out of them and people want to play for him.”

Fabrizi has skated in 10 games for the Hurricanes since returning to the lineup. He’s recorded two goals along with three assists in that time frame while providing a solid presence for Lethbridge defensively. 

“Coming back, I feel way better, I feel back to myself again.” Fabrizi explained. “All the things that are surrounding (mental health) encourage that or promote that it’s healthy and that it’s okay. I think it’s really really positive for athletes and men in general. Those kind of things are awesome.”

Fabrizi has skated in 269 games in his WHL career over parts of five seasons with the Hurricanes, Prince Albert Raiders and Red Deer Rebels. He’s played in the second round of the playoffs each of the last three seasons with both the Rebels and Raiders.

Aasman says there were times earlier in the season where the lack of team success for the Hurricanes was taking a toll on Fabrizi. 

“I think there’s a lot of days there in the first half where obviously we’re grinding and trying to stay in the playoff picture. I think he wore some of those moments hard. I think there’s a lot of days where you could tell he just wasn’t into it in terms of living in the moment, enjoying the game, his mind was somewhere else and it was hard for him to snap out of it. I think he has life perspective. I think he’s a 21 year old that’s really going on 30 with his maturity. I think that’s been the biggest change. I think he’s learning to be more selfish and taking care of himself, and making himself happy. I think that’s him getting mentally stronger as he goes. Just to watch the whole evolution of it all, it’s been very impressive. I give the kid a lot of credit for bearing down on himself, and making himself better.”

Lethbridge returns to action tonight when they travel to Co-op Place for a matchup with the Medicine Hat Tigers. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.