Mark Barberio is the new shining light in the Bolzano Sparkasse Arena. © fop

With Andreas Seppi's recommendation: This man conquers Bolzano

"I've never seen a guy like him," says HCB captain Daniel Frank. He's not alone in this impression. If you ask around in Bolzano, it quickly becomes clear: Mark Barberio impresses and fascinates. But who is this man who wins hearts, yet has also earned millions of euros from ice hockey? He himself answers the question and lets our readers delve deep into his personal world.

September 17, 2025

We had already arranged the interview with Mark Barberio the day before, but he still SportNews Waiting longer than planned. Barberio is still on the ice at the agreed time. Alone. He hammers the puck into the empty net, again and again. At some point, he, too, finishes his training session, scrapes the pucks with his stick, and clears the rink – a job usually done by the youngest players on the team. With beads of sweat on his forehead, he strides into the interview. "Sorry guys," says the Canadian, taking off his helmet.

These are scenes so emblematic of Mark Barberio, who, in his first weeks in Bolzano, impressed everyone with his work ethic. "A consummate professional, absolutely," Frank enthuses. "You can tell he's been in the business for a long time, has played with the best in the world. The man has charisma and leadership." Bolzano's media manager Luca Tommasini agrees: "When he showed up for the start of training, his first question was, 'Where can I store all my equipment?' His car was loaded with sticks and skates. He said he didn't need anything from the club, just a jersey. We've rarely seen anything like that here in Bolzano."

The “difficult time” in Switzerland

When asked about this in an interview, the newcomer said with a wink: "Don't worry, I didn't drive all the way from North America. I had all the stuff stored at my wife's in Switzerland." His wife was also one of the reasons why the 281-time NHL player and Canadian Olympian ended up in South Tyrol. "She accompanied me for three years on my assignments across Russia. It was important to us to get closer to her homeland again," he revealed. His wife can now travel to Lausanne more often for short visits to her parents.

Mark Barberio with his wife Charlotte. She is from Switzerland. © Instagram

Speaking of Lausanne: It was Barberio's last stop before moving to the Russian KHL. And also his first European adventure. It was a time that left its mark on him. He committed some nasty fouls back then. The consequences? Injured opponents, long suspensions, and a tabloid press that targeted him. View even dubbed him "Lausanne's amok captain." "I hate losing, yes, that's true, but I'm not a bad boy," the defender insists.

"I've made mistakes. But I never wanted to intentionally hurt anyone." Mark Barberio

Barberio feels misunderstood when he recalls his time in Switzerland. "An incredible amount of criticism was thrown at me; I suddenly had this bad reputation." He was going through a difficult phase at the time, mentally irritated, out of shape, and repeatedly injured. "I made mistakes, of course. But I never wanted to intentionally hurt anyone – and I've learned from those moments. I now know how to handle certain situations better."

He rents chalets in Canada's wilderness

Today, Barberio primarily wants to play ice hockey for fun. "And to win titles! I want nothing more right now," he says with determination. That's why he chose HCB. "I'm 35 years old, who knows how many more chances I'll have." He doesn't yet know when his career will end, says Barberio. However, he has already made provisions for his time after his career: Together with former teammates, he has built a wildlife resort in Canada. "It's located in the forests north of Quebec. Guests can experience Canadian nature there, enjoy a break. The area isn't even that different from what I've seen so far in my new home."

“Andreas Seppi welcomed me to his homeland” Mark Barberio

This summer, Barberio already had a premonition of what awaited him in South Tyrol. And he has former tennis star Andreas Seppi to thank for that. The two met years ago in Colorado. The Caldaro native moved there after retiring, while Barberio was playing for the Colorado Avalanche in the NHL. "He congratulated me on my move via Instagram in July and welcomed me to his hometown. He told me a bit about South Tyrol and Bolzano. I would be happy if we could meet again here sometime."


Mark Barberio's career in pictures:


In Colorado, Seppi's adopted hometown, Barberio was at the peak of his career. There, he signed a two-year contract worth around three million US dollars in 2018, playing alongside superstars like Nathan McKinnon, Cale Makar, and Mikko Rantanen. Today, Barberio is considered a superstar in Bolzano, even though he says: "I may have played in the NHL or for the national team, but that doesn't put me above my teammates. I've never seen myself as a star. I have the advantage of being able to learn a thing or two from the greats of the sport, but that doesn't make me a better player. At most, it helps me to lead the way in certain situations and leverage my experience. Maybe that's why some people see me as a leader."

Reunion with Pustertal goalie

Barberio's leadership skills will be especially in demand in the derby against Pustertal. "I've been told a lot about this match. But hey, I'm from Montreal, where every kid knows what it's like to play ice hockey rivalries. These are exactly the games I love, the games every ice hockey player loves." The South Tyrolean derby holds another special feature for him: he'll be facing an old acquaintance in HCP goalie Eddie Pasquale. They both played together for Canada at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing. "We haven't had any contact recently. But I've played against him many times, whether in North America or Europe. He's an excellent goalie."

Mark Barberio (l.) has quickly become a leading player for the Foxes. © HCB

Barberio still has time to settle in at HC Bozen and in Bozen before the first derby on October 10th. "So far, I've only known my commute from my home in Girlan down to the stadium," he laughs mischievously, "but even that amazes me every time. The many vineyards, the view of the Sciliar – it's quite something." Barberio and his wife both have southern Italian roots; they have traveled to the country several times to trace their ancestors.

In Bolzano, they've spent the past few weeks exploring Piazza Walther and the surrounding streets – and discovered some delicious restaurants along the way. "I love South Tyrolean cuisine, whether it's pizza, pasta, or dumplings," he says at the end of the interview, then follows up shyly: "Knodel or Knödel? Can you cross that out?" Barberio has to laugh himself – also because some of his teammates are just coming out of the locker room, freshly showered. He, the team's star, who doesn't even want to be a star himself, is still standing at the exit of the ice rink in his skates and soaking wet training gear.