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With Vancouver (5th place), Calgary (7th) and Toronto (8th), three Canadian metropolises are in the top 10 most livable cities in the world. However, Winnipeg does not make the rankings of the British ‘Economist’ group. That the capital Manitoba is not a paradise destination is also suggested by the songs of local musician Venetian Snares. The hardcore techno producer composed a song called “Winnipeg Is a Frozen Shithole.”
In the wrong movie
Nino Niederreiter has been one of the approximately 780,000 residents of this city on the Red River for nine months. The Chur native makes no secret of the fact that after moving from the Nashville Predators to the Winnipeg Jets, he initially felt like he was in the wrong movie. “In the Hollywood classic ‘Cool Runnings’ there is the legendary scene in which the bobsled team from Jamaica goes into shock after landing at the Calgary airport due to the icy cold. I had a similar experience when I arrived here when it was around minus 30 degrees!»
Because minus 50 degrees are occasionally measured, Winnipeg ranks fourth on the list of the coldest places in the world behind Oymyakon (Siberia), Astana (Kazakhstan) and Ulan Bator (Mongolia). When SonntagsBlick landed in the middle of the Canadian prairie in the second half of November, the thermometer unexpectedly read plus six degrees. In this sunny moment, Niederreiter suspects “climate change is also affecting Winnipeg.”
Death is omnipresent here
But only for a short time. 24 hours later the usual minus temperatures prevail. Niederreiter rides with us along Waterfront Street. His company car is well heated. Nevertheless, the reporters from Switzerland feel a chill running down their spines during their first sightseeing tour.
Here, countless homeless people seek shelter from the brutal cold in rudimentary tents on the riverbank. Others have used tarps to convert a bus stop shelter into a living room. No wonder death is ubiquitous in this environment. “Last winter in this area, my fitness trainer Michi Bont saw from a distance a man lying on the side of the road who had almost certainly frozen to death,” says Niederreiter.
In a park across the street, marginalized people drink a lot of alcohol and hard drugs. The big-hearted ice hockey star from Graubünden is very upset by this scenario. “When I drive through this, I feel powerless. I actually want to help these people, who often come from an Indian reservation in the north. But I don’t know how. If I give one of these homeless people $100, they are unlikely to spend the money on a warm blanket or food. He is more likely to buy drugs and alcohol. That certainly doesn’t solve the problem.”
Del Curto’s surprise visit was the turning point
The fact that Winnipeg also has an impeccable facet is evident from the 24th floor of a skyscraper on Carlton Street. Here the Swiss NHL record scorer lives in a beautiful apartment with a spectacular view of the city, less than a five-minute walk from the ice hockey arena. On the walls are photos by Paul Peterson, an artist Nino met during his time with the Minnesota Wild (2013-2018). “Art has fascinated me from an early age. Originally I wanted to become an art locksmith. Today I invest in young artists in the hope that one day they will become the next Van Goghs or Picassos.”
Unpretentious, with a robust playing style, Niederreiter earns a lot on the ice. He currently makes $4 million as a left winger for the Winnipeg Jets. Because his contract expires in the spring, the 31-year-old is especially under pressure this season. In 19 games he made good advertising for a contract extension with 14 points.
After a mediocre start to the season, Nino’s knot broke thanks to an unexpected meeting. «For our ninth game of the season in Montreal I only had one goal. Then I ran into my former coach Arno Del Curto at the breakfast buffet before the game against the Canadiens. He was in Canada at the invitation of Bibi Torriani’s grandson, who runs a luxury hotel in Montreal. I had a long, wonderful conversation with Arno. That felt incredibly good to me. Especially because Arno assured me an extra bonus of 100 euros if I scored a goal and an assist in this match.
Because Niederreiter scored a beautiful backhand goal and an assist, Del Curto actually had to take out his money bag. Three matchdays later, the two-time World Cup silver medalist even scored the third hat trick of his NHL career against Arizona.
Homely feeling in the wardrobe
The fact that the former HCD junior is feeling increasingly comfortable in Winnipeg is partly due to the Danish national player Nikolaj Ehlers (27). The son of coaching legend Heinz Ehlers (57) sits right next to Nino in the Jets locker room. «Nikolaj is a gifted hockey player and a very nice person. With his nine years of experience in Winnipeg, he made my start here a lot easier. And because he spent a large part of his childhood in Switzerland, I can even talk to him in Swiss German.”
6 million people Ehlers also enjoys this: “Nino makes me feel at home here. And he is worth gold to the team with his combative playing style. The formation with Nino, Masson Appleton and Adam Lowry is, in my opinion, one of the most compact lines in the NHL. That’s why more and more fans in this hockey-crazed region believe in the first Stanley Cup victory in Jets history.
Niederreiter also thinks that something very special can arise here and praises the club management: “The club’s managers know that Winnipeg does not have the best reputation as a city. That’s why they put a lot of effort into making sure the players feel comfortable here. In my case they succeeded. Also because I have never had such a good meal with another NHL team. Our fans are also among the best in the league. The passion for ice hockey here is enormous.”
The big shock
But rightly so: passion and the capacity to suffer are particularly closely linked in this region. Niederreiter experienced this most intensely during a hunting trip a few weeks ago. «Due to a lack of leisure alternatives, I was once again looking for a large deer. But after a relatively short time I left the high chair again. The freezing temperatures meant my frozen fingers could no longer fire a flat shot…”
Away from the rink, Niederreiter often lives in Winnipeg as if he’s in a golden cage. Especially in the evening. “There are some areas in this city that you should avoid after dark.” The ice companion experienced last spring how dangerous Winnipeg by Night can be. «I celebrated the end of the season with my teammates in a restaurant in the city center. Everything was great. But shortly after I left the party, things turned dramatic.”
Niederreiter had gone home on foot when the remaining representatives of the “Jets” were locked in the nightclub for security reasons. Reason: An obviously mentally ill man was seen waving a gun around the bar. “I didn’t know anything about it until a teammate called me. He shouted into his mobile phone, ‘Now run very fast, Nino! There’s some idiot walking through town with his gun!’ Luckily I only had to sprint a few hundred meters until I got home.”
Nino’s great love
Despite this limited experience, Niederreiter won’t hesitate to sign if Winnipeg’s general manager offers him a well-paid four-year contract next spring: “The Jets’ organization is great, the city, despite some serious problems, is much better than its reputation. That is why I would like to stay here, especially because I have come to appreciate many people here.”
Nino’s true love returns to Winnipeg at the end of November. «My dear Cecilia works mainly in Zurich. Fortunately, she can perform various professional tasks in her home office. That’s why she keeps coming to me for a few weeks. Cecilia has mastered everything very well, I am very proud of her.” Conclusion: With the enchanting Cecilia Schuler at his side, Niederreiter feels right at home even on the toughest pitches in the NHL.
Source : Blick
I’m Emma Jack, a news website author at 24 News Reporters. I have been in the industry for over five years and it has been an incredible journey so far. I specialize in sports reporting and am highly knowledgeable about the latest trends and developments in this field.
