Danièle Sauvageau, Team Canada And Team Italy: Conflicting Reports About Her Role

Ever since Danièle Sauvageau was appointed general manager of Team Canada on July 29, nothing has been said or announced by Team Italy, where Sauvageau had served as GM and in other capacities since 2024.

But in the days that followed Sauvageau's hiring by Team Canada, I began hearing that Sauvageau might remain involved with both programs. That possibility surprised me, so I started asking questions.

On August 5, I spoke with Daniele Sauvageau, and she confirmed that she no longer had an official role with Team Italy, but was helping the program through the transition.

Shortly after, as part of that transition, Stacey Colarossi was named Team Italy’s head coach for the IIHF Women’s European Cup of Nations, currently being held in Bardejov, Slovakia. Guillaume Poirier, a Pee Wee AAA head coach with CCL on Montreal’s South Shore, was also named to the staff as an assistant coach.

Earlier this week, on Thursday, I also spoke with Stefan Zisser, director of the Italian national hockey teams.

He confirmed that Sauvageau’s contract ended on June 30, but that around mid-July, she was asked to help with the transition.

“I learned a lot from Danièle,” Zisser said in a phone interview. “I considered her a mentor, and I turned to her as a friend. It was a one-time thing, and it ended on Sunday (August 16).”

“Somehow, I wish we could still collaborate,” he added. “But I think it’s going to be very difficult. Perhaps impossible. Maybe the new president of the federation could talk to Hockey Canada and see if she could still help us. But I don’t even know if that makes sense.”

When Zisser refers to the new president, it’s because the Italian hockey federation is currently in the midst of an election. Outgoing president Andreas Gios received 63.95% of the vote on July 25, falling just short of the 66.67% required to be re-elected, by a little more than 50 votes. His closest opponent, Tommaso Teofoli, received 21.01%. Another election will be held on October 24.

In the meantime, Gios remains in power.

“The next competition for the women’s program is in February. It’s five months with no activity. So right now, there’s no urgency to name a replacement for Danièle,” Zisser said, adding that Colarossi could eventually be asked to take on a bigger role.

That lack of urgency is consistent with what I’ve been hearing about the level of commitment the federation puts into the women’s program compared with the men’s program.

That being said, I’m told that staff and players in Slovakia are hearing a different story.

Some have been told that Sauvageau would continue in both roles. Others have heard that Sauvageau remains within reach, with the understanding — right or wrong — that she is still working with the federation, but behind closed doors.

And I have also heard that Stefan Zisser himself told people that Sauvageau would continue working with the team at least until the next World Championship, which isn’t until November 2027, and that those comments were made even after she was appointed general manager of Team Canada.

“This is not true,” Zisser denied. “I said that I hope she could continue to help us.” He added, however, that he could envision calling her in the future to seek her advice or discuss ideas.

Can Sauvageau juggle both roles?

Technically speaking, sure. Being permitted to hold both roles however, is different.

Sauvageau did not attend the most recent World Championship in Budapest, where Team Italy won its only medal to date. So, if the top division and Division IA were held at the same time, she could easily be with Team Canada while managing what’s happening with Team Italy from a distance.

Would that be a problem for Hockey Canada?

Most likely.

Hockey Canada would have to sign off on such an arrangement. And perhaps they would. But perhaps they wouldn’t — and that’s why there remains conflicting reports about Sauvageau’s actual involvement with Team Italy.