HC Bern has signed Matt Cairns. © Social Media

Bolzano signs a replacement for injured defensive leader Barberio.

HCB Südtirol Alperia has signed a new defenseman. With Mark Barberio sidelined for an extended period, club owner Dieter Knoll has brought in a new player who already has experience in the ICE Hockey League.

06 January 2026

From: cst

Matt Cairns is a new player for HC Bozen. As the Foxes announced on Tuesday morning, the Canadian will be joining the team in the South Tyrolean capital with immediate effect. The Canadian-Slovenian dual citizen has been playing for IF Björklöven, the current league leaders in the Swedish Allsvenskan (second division), this season.

Cairns is no stranger to the ICE Hockey League. Last year, the 27-year-old played for Asiago before moving to Sweden after their elimination. The left-handed shooter tallied 19 points (3 goals, 16 assists) in 46 games for the Stellati. Prior to his stint in Asiago, Cairns played in the ECHL and AHL.

“I’m joining a great club and a top team in this league,” Cairns explained in his initial statement to the club. “Bolzano shows every year that it can compete for the title, and in recent weeks the club has shown great interest in me – an interest that is mutual. I’m sure I can help the team, and I can’t wait to take to the ice for these colors.”

Replacement for injured Barberio

Cairns is slated to replace the injured Mark Barberio in Bolzano. The defensive stalwart suffered a muscle injury in the fall, which flared up again in December. The injury proved to be serious, meaning the Canadian will likely not return to the ice until after the Olympic Games – at the end of February.

“Given Barberio’s protracted injury, we wanted to react in the transfer market to broaden the roster and give the defense more breathing room,” explains HCB Managing Director Dieter Knoll. “Matt is a solid defender,” he adds, “who can help us a lot and is ready to play immediately thanks to his Slovenian passport.”