Fabrizi to bring size, experience to Canes blueline

By Lethbridge Herald on September 25, 2025.

By Nathan Reiter

Lethbridge Herald

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter 

There’s not many defencemen across the WHL that are more battle tested then Matteo Fabrizi. 

The Lethbridge Hurricanes acquired Fabrizi in an offseason trade with the Prince Albert Raiders along with a seventh round pick in the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft in exchange for a fourth round selection in 2028. 

The 20-year-old Fabrizi has appeared in 228 regular season games along with 34 career playoff games and has experienced team success in the postseason, playing in the second round each of the last three seasons.

Speaking with the Herald on Wednesday following practice, Fabrizi says he has adapted nicely to his new surroundings in Lethbridge, where he first made his WHL debut back on Oct. 9, 2021. 

“I’ve played here lots. It was always tough coming into this barn. It’s been good. Good support from the staff, the community, everyone around the rink, obviously the fans. The home opener was buzzing, so it was nice to see that.”

Fabrizi was originally selected in the second round of the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft by the Red Deer Rebels and quickly became a full-time fixture on the backend. After parts of four seasons with Red Deer, Fabrizi was dealt to Prince Albert last December and played a key defensive role down the stretch to help the Raiders capture the East Division title. 

With teams in the WHL only allowed to carry three 20-year-old players and the Raiders having other key contributors eligible to return as overagers, Fabrizi was dealt to the Hurricanes in May.

Comparing the two trade experiences, Fabrizi says he was glad to get a full training camp experience under his belt in his new surroundings with Lethbridge.

“It’s different, just with the timing of it. During the year, you go into a room that’s been together for three or four months. Here it’s been nice to get up with the guys since camp, find your spot and build that from the beginning. When I went into PA last year, they’re talking about things that they were already doing that I just had no idea about so I was kind of lost sometimes.”

While the season is still young, Fabrizi has made a very strong first impression with the Hurricane coaching staff. Assistant coach Ryan Aasman says Fabrizi has carried himself in a very professional manner. 

“He’s a very mature human that’s been in the league a long time. He’s a leader in the sense of how his presence is, the way that he behaves off the ice and on the ice, how he goes about his business has been really good. He’s a bit of a safety net for us, it feels like. He’s a guy that calms our team down in key moments and is able to take some minutes off of some younger guys. He’s been a really good acquisition, and he’s a really good person.”

Listed at six-foot-six and 240 pounds, Fabrizi is known for his physical style of play. He made his presence felt in the Hurricanes home opener against Calgary last week, laying an open ice hit and dropping the gloves to earn an applause from the Lethbridge faithful.

Fabrizi says he knows what archetype he fits as a player and will look to play to his strengths.

“The fans, they’re paying money they work for to come watch. At the end of the day, we’re here to put on a show and entertain the fans. That’s my job. Some guys are toe dragging and sniping. I’m going to be hitting and fighting. I got to play my role and bring what I bring.”

From last season’s playoff roster, six defencemen are no longer with the Hurricanes. With Fabrizi’s steady defensive game, Aasman says he expects him to take on some big minutes throughout the season for Lethbridge. 

“He knows the division well. He knows the conference well. He was in the league at 16. He helps when he talks to those kids as well. Just the fact that he’s a mature player that can take some minutes away from guys. When things get hard in a game, he can be the guy that takes a little bit more on or finds a way to police a little bit more. I think those guys are a lost art in hockey, the guys that are able to police the game and hold people on the other team accountable and he does that for us. I’ve really enjoyed him being around the rink and how he goes about his off-ice business.”