He only had luggage for one day
Nati goalie Hughes breaks his silence after Canada debut
It was a drama in three acts. But after his surprising assignment with Team Canada at the Spengler Cup, goalkeeper Connor Hughes (26) says: “My focus is on the Swiss national team. I want to make it into the World Cup team.”
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Connor Hughes in the Davos catacombs shortly before his first appearance with Team Canada at the Spengler Cup.
Nicole VandenbrouckIce hockey reporter
Finally he can talk. After the 2-1 defeat in the Spengler Cup hit against HC Davos, Connor Hughes is standing in front of the cloakroom entrance. radiant. Because the goalkeeper has just made his debut for Team Canada. “I just enjoyed it,” he says. But before it got to that point, a drama in three acts unfolded.
After the championship game against Servette on December 23, Shane Doan, Team Canada’s general manager, called Friborg and asked if Hughes could fill in as practice goalie. The reason: Michael DiPietro’s (23) equipment was lost on the flight to Switzerland. “I thought I was only going to be there for one training session and only had luggage for one day,” says Hughes with a smile. On Sunday, the dual citizen was also present at the Canadian Family Day.
Then on Monday the report that DiPietro’s equipment still hadn’t arrived in Davos. Suddenly it was said that Hughes was entered by Team Canada for the tournament – and that evening in the game against Prague he was on the match sheet as a substitute. Swiss Ice Hockey is therefore forced to assure in a statement that according to Lars Weibel, Director Sport, this is okay. “We’re happy to lend a hand.”
Asked Tuesday if Hughes was still with Team Canada, Hockey Canada provided the answer 68 minutes before the first faceoff in a tweet that Hughes was playing Davos and had given permission to Swiss Ice Hockey. Unbelievable: Friborg coach Christian Dubé knew nothing about it.
So it happens that the Gottéron goalie plays for two different national teams within ten days. He made his debut for Switzerland at the home tournament in Friborg on December 17th and for Team Canada at the Spengler Cup on December 27th.
“It’s really weird and just crazy. But I’m really grateful to Patrick Fischer (Nati coach, ed.) and Lars Weibel for letting me play. It was just cool.” But Hughes assures in the next breath: “My focus is on the Swiss national team. I want to make it into the World Cup team.”
Will Hughes miss the start of Friborg training?
What’s next for the 26-year-old? A few minutes after the final siren, he still has no idea. And at Fribourg? “Training starts on December 29th. But I don’t know if I’ll be there.”
Hughes is aware that it is also a difficult situation for Gottéron because nobody knows exactly at this point. Although word is circulating in the catacombs that the lost equipment is due to arrive in Davos soon.
Spengler Cup 2022 – Group Cattini
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Spengler Cup 2022 – Torriani Group
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