Published
The captain of Lausanne HC is preparing to embark this Friday evening for Beijing and the Olympic Games. The defender was not initially selected by Patrick Fischer.
Lukas Frick will experience his first Olympic adventure in Beijing.
Eric Lafargue
For two weeks, Lukas Frick has gone through all the emotions. On January 18, the captain of Lausanne HC experienced great disappointment by not appearing in the Swiss selection chosen by Patrick Fischer to compete in the Olympic tournament. A fortnight later, the 27-year-old defender, then a reserve, received a call from the national coach telling him to pack his bags for Beijing. Intense joy.
“I’m super excited,” comments LHC number 38. I don’t know what to say except that I’m happy. I got the call from Patrick Fischer on Wednesday. I then had to perform two PCR tests and then wait for the results to find out if I was indeed negative. This is the case: so I can take the plane this Friday evening. However, I want to say that I am really sad and sorry for Christian Marti.
Hasty departure
The positive test of the Zurich player, revealed on Tuesday, precipitated his withdrawal as well as the cancellation of the test match scheduled for the evening once morest Canada. The misfortune of a Leo is therefore the happiness of another. “I don’t know if I was the number one substitute in the event of an unforeseen event, but I guess so, continues the Saint-Gallois rear. The staff simply told me that I was replacing Christian Marti.
Since Wednesday, things have been linked for the Lausanne player, under contract until 2025 at the Vaudoise arena. In addition to the screenings, Lukas Frick had to settle several administrative points to go to Beijing. “I met with representatives of Swiss Olympic on Thursday to sort out everything I need for China. There was a lot of paperwork to fill out.”
The former defender of Kloten also had to restart the machine. “Being on the picket, I had to stay ready, he slips. Since the last league match with Lausanne, I have therefore tried to minimize the risk of infection by giving up unnecessary things. I also tried to take a break from hockey, relax and enjoy being with my family. I finally resumed training on Wednesday following the call from Patrick Fischer.
“I was a little dejected not to have been announced in the first selection. However, I knew that anything might happen with the Covid.”
It must be said that the Vaudois by adoption, 71 selections on the clock, first had to digest the disappointment of not being part of the trip to China. “Initially, I was actually a bit dejected not to have been announced in the first selection. However, I knew that anything might happen with the Covid. So I kept hope and hoped to receive a call from the coach. I’m super happy that was the case.”
Olympic baptism
Whoever has participated in three World Championships, including the 2018 epic punctuated by the silver medal, will live his Olympic baptism in Beijing. Which does not leave him insensitive. “The Olympic Games are just huge, enthuses Lukas Frick. And this, even if the NHL players will not be present. Every time I can take part in a new tournament of this magnitude, whether it’s the Olympics or the World Championships, it’s a new dream come true.
The Lausannois, at the club since the 2017/2018 season, does not go to China for tourism. On the contrary. A competitor at heart, the native of Züberwangen is convinced that the Swiss team can make history on Asian ice.
“My first objective remains to arrive in China without any problem, he laughs. More seriously, I think we can achieve something very big with this team. We have a very good team, a very good coaching staff. Something very, very beautiful might happen in Beijing for us.”
The captain of the LHC, who will find his teammate Christoph Bertschy, says he is ready to bring his stone to the building, even if he does not yet know what role Patrick Fischer will assign him. “I don’t know what is planned, if I will be on the ice or in the stands. I obviously hope to play. I will do everything to show my best face, show the staff what I am really capable of. I want to play at my best level. I have no personal goal, except to help the team as much as possible.
Quick adaptation
One thing is certain, Lukas Frick will have to be able to adapt very quickly to Chinese conditions, the first match of the Nati being scheduled for next Wednesday already. “It will definitely be a challenge to be ready for the game once morest Russia. But maybe it’s not so bad for me to have little time to realize that I’m at the Olympics. The other players have been together since Sunday. So I’m behind the rest of the team, but I’ll try to fit in as quickly as possible.”
In order to experience the same success as in May 2018 in Denmark?