It’s been a short summer for Maxim Noreau of the ZSC Lions Zurich. The late finish of the previous season combined with the impending start of the Champions Hockey League season means a few less weeks of preparation. However, there is an overwhelming excitement to get back on the ice, he said.
For the 34-year-old defender, this will be his ninth year in Switzerland.
“I was going into the unknown as a scared kid,” he recalls, on his initial move to Europe. “I wanted opportunities and when Ambrí-Piotta came up, I took it.”
Fresh out of the AHL, his impact was immediate, he wasn’t just an offensive defenceman, he was the team's leading scorer that year. By his third season, he was a lettered player, and his team had gone from the cusp of relegation, to fighting their way into playoffs.
Noreau returned to North America for two more AHL seasons before deciding to head back to Switzerland, this time with SC Bern.
“I went back for a couple of years, but I wanted to come back to Europe, it was rowdy, and I loved it.” That decision yielded two playoff appearances, including one championship.
In 2018/19, he joined the ZSC Lions, but it was a challenging year and the team narrowly avoided relegation.
In a complete turnaround, the Lions led the NL table during their 2019/20 campaign, however the unfortunate reality of a global pandemic prematurely ended the most anticipated part of their season, the playoffs.
“It kind of left a bitter taste in the mouth for us this summer,” said Noreau recalling the frustration.
“We got used to the disruption, and it was tough to adjust mentally, but we were playing despite everything.”Maxim Noreau describes his gratitude to be able to play.
This past season ZSC have struggled to repeat their previous season’s dominance, instead bowing out in the semi-finals.
“We’ve had some really good seasons, but we couldn’t close the championship, now it’s about looking in the mirror and building on what we have done," he said.
As perennial contenders in the top Swiss league the ZSC Lions are a respected and feared club.
This season marks their sixth CHL appearance, and sitting in Group B, they'll face some of the toughest opponents including four time CHL Champions Frölunda Gothenburg.
To date the Swiss side have fared well against Frölunda, qualifying twice in the three times they have squared-up. Noreau is familiar with the playing style of his opponents, however, for now ZSC have some introspective work to do, they’ll be preparing themselves with an upcoming team trip to bond and meet with new players joining the team.
“Pre-season training has gone well, I’ve been excited to get back into the gym, I feel good and motivated. We have a lot to do!”Maxim Noreau is focused and looking forward to the season.
“We have a great support system here and we’re training efficiently,” explains Noreau.
Fitness protocols are one part of the preparation, but what about the tactical side?
“Our coach (legendary Rikard Grönborg), we really like him, he’s big on self-awareness, self-assessment and pushing us to play as well as we can,” he goes on to say “we want these other teams to be adjusting to us, and I like that philosophy because we don’t have to change so much of the tactics and intricacies of the game.”
Described as a player who “excels with the man-advantage with his playmaking abilities,” Noreau credits his creativity to having had exceptional guidance throughout his career.
“I had coaches that instilled confidence in me, I wasn’t just playing defence, I was more of a quarterback," he said.
According to Noreau, that role has seen him focus on facilitation, where he talks with the forwards on how they want to move the puck.
“When I can, and on the power play I’ll chip in offensively, while 5-on-5 I try to be creative, and think outside of the box.”
He goes on to explain “every team is so structured, everyone is so good and so fast, if you go out there and try to play this robotic style of hockey, it makes it really easy for the other team.”
“It's also about good decisions, it's a calculated risk, but I know when to put the foot on the gas.”Maxim Noreau on clutch moments on the ice and keeping opponents on their toes.
"The fans mean so much to the game, they bring emotion and atmosphere. It's going to be really nice to pay in front of them again."Maxim Noreau
And what of the rest of the team? The seasoned defender has nothing but praise for his team mates who will be critical in the Lions’ hunt for CHL silverware, in particular, the team's star goaltender.
“Ludovic (Waeber) won us a lot of big games last year, so we expect that again, no pressure!” he jests, while on the player side, 22-year-old forward Justin Sigrist is one to look out for:
“He’s flying under the radar right now, but he’s ready to break out, he’s got offensive skills, doesn’t make a lot of errors defensively, and offensively brings a lot to the game.”
When asked about his thoughts on the upcoming season and his future with the Lions?
“I see myself playing for a few more years. Being with the team and the guys is great, we are fortunate to be back, and we are looking forward to playing in the Champions Hockey League.”
ZSC will pit their talents against Europe’s premier hockey teams once more, starting with Finnish side IFK Helsinki.
Be sure to follow all the action as ZSC Zurich Lions take on IFK at 19:45 CEST on Thursday!