| InternationalWon the silver medal at the Italian under-16 ski jumping championships in 1978, but decided to make an early-career switch to hockey ... For two years during the summer (when he was 16 and 17), Topatigh saved up all of his money and paid his own way to hockey camps in Prague, Czechoslovakia ... In 1986, he became a member of the Italian National Team ... Has participated in three Olympics and 10 World and European Championships ... Saw action at 1998 Olympics in Nagano.
Career Named best rookie player in the Italian League when he played for HC Asiago in 1986 ... He was transferred to the HC Bolzano club, where he met a crucial figure in his career, Bolzano teammate Mark Pavelich, a star of the gold medal-winning 1980 United States Olympic hockey team from Lake Placid ... Topatigh also credits the influence of Kent Nilsson and Mark Napier, who were teammates of his at various points of his career in Italy ... He returned to HC Asiago in 1991 ... Joined AC Milan Hockey prior to the start of 1993-94 season ... Came back to play for HC Bolzano. |
