Man of the Week: Giovanni Fiore

KHL.ru’s weekly column returns with Giovanni Fiore. Last week, Avangard’s forward netted his second KHL hat-trick in a home win over Torpedo (4:1). The Canadian is having a strong season, being now at 25 (10+15) points in 60 regular-season games for the Hawks.

Last week, Avangard’s forward Giovanni Fiore was instrumental for the Hawks. Moreover, on Wednesday, in a dominant 4:1 victory over Torpedo, the Canadian winger netted his second KHL hat trick and added an assist, directly contributing to four goals in the win that meant a return to celebration for Avangard after two consecutive losses. He then added a tally in the Hawks’ 6:1 win over the Shanghai Dragons two days later, completing a five-point week, with a plus-6 rating. Avangard is currently the second seed in the Eastern Conference, and will start the elimination stage on a positive note also thanks to the Canadian’s performance.

Early years

Giovanni Fiore was born in Laval, Quebec, from Tony Fiore, a former professional hockey player who spent more than a decade in Italy, also lining up for the country’s national team across the 80s and the 90s. The forward started playing hockey at home in Laval, a suburb of Montreal which also produced other high-level players as Dinamo Minsk’s goalie Zach Fucale, former Metallurg’s forward Jean-Sebastien Dea and other KHL and NHL notable players.

His junior career unfolded in the QMJHL, where he played for several teams—including the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, Drummondville Voltigeurs, Shawinigan Cataractes, and ultimately the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. Those early seasons saw steady offensive growth. In 2014-2015 with Shawinigan, he recorded 23 goals and 44 points in 65 games. Everything came together in the 2016-2017 season with Cape Breton. That year Fiore exploded offensively, scoring 52 goals and adding 38 assists for 90 points in just 61 games. His 52 goals led the entire QMJHL and placed him fourth in league scoring overall, while also earning him a spot on the QMJHL First All-Star Team. Over the course of his junior career, Fiore totaled 114 goals and 224 points in 281 QMJHL games, establishing himself as one of the most dangerous overage scorers in the league during his final season.

Ranking up

That breakout with Cape Breto earned him an NHL contract with the Anaheim Ducks. Fiore made his NHL debut during the 2017-2018 season, appearing in one game for the Ducks, but most of his time was spent developing in the American Hockey League with the San Diego Gulls. As a rookie in the AHL, he scored 18 goals and added 12 assists for a respectable 30 points in 65 games.

The following seasons were more turbulent. In 2018-2019 he split time between San Diego and the Tucson Roadrunners, recording 11 points in 23 games with the Gulls and another seven in 30 games with Tucson. The 2019-2020 campaign turned into a true journeyman year, with Fiore moving between several teams. In the AHL he played for both the Toronto Marlies and the Ontario Reign, combining for four points in 16 games, while also finding offensive rhythm in the ECHL with the Rapid City Rush, where he produced 29 points in 24 games.

Move to Europe

A move to Europe in 2020 proved to be a turning point for the Canadian forward. Fiore signed with Eisbaren Berlin in the German DEL, and quickly became an important contributor. In the pandemic-shortened 2020-2021 season he posted eight goals and 12 assists for 20 points in 33 games while helping the club capture the league title. The following season saw his production rise to 17 goals and 30 points in 45 games, and Berlin repeated as DEL champions, giving Fiore back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022. By 2022-2023 he had become one of the club’s key offensive players, finishing with 21 goals and 36 points in 55 games, his most productive campaign in Germany.

From Germany to the KHL

That success in Berlin opened the door to the KHL. In 2023-2024 Fiore signed with Admiral and adjusted quickly to the league’s demanding style. He finished his first KHL season with 15 goals and 11 assists for 26 points in 63 games for the Sailors, while averaging nearly sixteen minutes of ice time. The following year began with Admiral as well, where he recorded 17 points in 32 games before being traded midseason to Avangard.

The move to Omsk proved beneficial. In the second half of the 2024-2025 season, Fiore immediately found chemistry with his new teammates, producing 11 goals and seven assists for 18 points in just 30 games. He found even more rhythm in the current season, and as his recent hat-trick is showing, this campaign is shaping up as his most impactful KHL season so far.