Yannick Rizzi ages out of the USPHL with the Columbus Mavericks, after a junior career that spans three countries.

The right wing from Lugano, Switzerland joined the Mavs from the Muskoka Shield of the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League in November 2022, following a phone call from his agent. Prior to the Shield, Rizzi began his junior career with Chiasso in Switzerland from 2019 until his move to Ontario in 2021.

As a Maverick, Rizzi appeared in 27 games and totaled 2 goals and 2 assists. His first assist came within his first month on the team – he assisted Piercen Garcia to the Mavs’ fourth goal of the 5-2 win over the Dells Ducks at the Detroit Showcase on November 19. On January 14, he scored his first goal for the Mavericks, an insurance goal in the 3-1 win at Cincinnati.

After the season’s end, Rizzi will return to Switzerland to complete his military service and play junior as an over-age, before coming back to the United States for his university studies.

“[My favorite part of being a Maverick] is definitely [playing] with my teammates. There’s a lot of sense of group and there are players who always motivate the team,” Rizzi said. “I’m going to miss them.”