Very private with NHL record man Timo Meier: Visit to the superstar from Appenzell

Meier scored 40 goals in the National Hockey League last season – more than any other Swiss NHL player; He handed out 150 checks. “Timo is extremely ambitious and determined,” says his coach. Meier wipes the sweat from his brow: “I want to go one step further, improve myself. A nice challenge!” Timo laughs mischievously. “Simple things have never been my thing!”

Highest earning Swiss hockey player

Since 2016, the Appenzell region has been playing in the NHL, the best ice hockey league in the world. First with the San Jose Sharks on the American west coast, since February with the Jersey Devils on the east coast. At the end of June, the powerful winger signed a new contract in Newark, home of the New Jersey Devils: he will earn $70.4 million over the next eight years with the Devils, an average of $8.8 million per year – as much as any other Swiss ice hockey striker ever .

After signing the contract, he treated himself to a nice dinner with his parents Charly, 64, and Claudia, 60. ‘And I bought a pair of new walking boots.’ His mother Claudia also helps him invest his money.

Like every year, Timo Meier will be in Eastern Switzerland after the NHL season ends at the end of May. “That’s my home! I wouldn’t want to enjoy summer anywhere else.” Afterwards he lived alone in Rorschacherberg SG in his apartment overlooking Lake Constance. His parents also moved here from Herisau six years ago.

The family meets on Sundays

Every Sunday the parents come to eat with their two children Timo and Larissa, 30. Then something savory often comes off the grill. Timo laughs. “What’s better than a St. Gallen bratwurst?” It’s hard work again during the week! After training in the gym, Timo goes to ice training. This takes place on the ice rink of the Herisau sports center or on an ice rink in the Bodensee Arena in Kreuzlingen TG. Timo also practices there with two other Swiss ice hockey players: Philipp Kurashev, 23 (Chicago Blackhawks) and Rodwin Dionicio, 17 (Anaheim Ducks). Under the strict guidance of Meier’s youth coach Christian Rüegg, all three sharpen their shooting technique, skating, stick handling and tactics.

As always during Timo’s summer holidays, the junior camp at his SC Herisau is a fixed point. For a week the champion prepared young players for the coming season; track and field athlete Simon Ehammer came by for a question and autograph session. Until he was 14, Timo learned ice hockey at his ‘heart club’. “This way I can give something back.”

“I am happy when my colleagues come to visit me”

And that’s why he organized the first Timo Meier charity golf tournament this year. 100 golfers, including Peter Forsberg and Arno Del Curto, came to the golf course in Gonten AI and 20,000 francs were donated to the young people. His parents are sitting in front of the clubhouse; they are both his biggest fans.

They are happy that the flight is now a few hours shorter so they can enjoy Timo’s home games on site. “We definitely go out four to five times a season,” says father Charly. Then, as usual, the parents bring chocolate, doubt chips and Appenzeller fondue for their son – Timo has a caquelon in his rented apartment in Newark. Timo laughs. “If I played badly, I would treat myself to a bar of chocolate. Then I feel better again.”

His father watches Timo’s games at home on his iPad on NHL TV – even though he has to get up at three o’clock. “We call once or twice a week,” says mother Claudia. She is proud of her son. Timo is not only an excellent athlete, “he is also a great person”.

Roman Popp nods – the 35-year-old captain of the first team of SC Herisau has spoken to Timo’s parents; he has been a close friend of the current NHL star since childhood. He says: “Timo remained modest and down-to-earth, warm and honest.” Roman belongs to the group of colleagues with whom Timo spends a lot of time every summer: chilling on a friend’s boat on Lake Constance, having a beer in the Open Air St. Gallen at the Macklemore concert (in walking shoes), Two-Touch, a trip to the Schäumalp-Schwinget – and of course every now and then to a home match of Timo’s favorite football club, FC St. Gallen. He will occasionally watch the games via streaming in Newark. “I am happy when my colleagues come to visit me.”

Meier still has a lot to do before he leaves for his workplace. He has his hair cut again by his sister Larissa in her hair salon. He picks up the custom-made team suit from a tailor in St. Gallen, which he wears when he enters the stadium before Devils games. “And buy Appenzeller!” Not the cheese, but the herb schnapps – “just in case anyone needs target water”.

They play ‘Uno’ on the plane

Timo is looking forward to seeing his Swiss teammates Nico Hischier, Jonas Siegenthaler and Akira Schmid again after the off-season. When Timo invites her to his only household, “first there are rösti with fried eggs and bacon, then biberli”. The four of them often play ‘Uno’ when traveling on the club plane.

Thanks to the training in his home country, Meier is in top form. Everyone will now take measures against the exceptional Appenzell talent. After a training camp with the Devils, Timo will start the new season as an experienced leader on October 12. In the US he is a superstar, with many fans, including female ones. His goal? Then the smart boy puts his modesty aside with the hammer shot: “Stanley Cup, if it’s possible next season! I’m dying for it!”