A roller coaster for Joren van Pottelberghe: on the sidelines in Biel, asked by the national team

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Joren van Pottelberghe (26) is currently going through a difficult time. So far this season he has only played a measly seven championships at EHC Biel. Even the young Lausanne goalkeeper Kevin Pasche (10), the clear HCD number 2 Gilles Senn (9) and Rappi’s occasional goalkeeper Robin Meyer (8) are more confident.

In recent weeks, the situation has become very difficult for our number 3 of the 2023 World Cup: his last appearance with Biel dates from November 17 (3:2 against Kloten). “JvP” has been without match training for almost a month – while his Finnish competitor Harri Säteri (33) is currently the most forced goalkeeper in the competition. “Of course it is a bit difficult for me at the moment, but I am still trying to make the best of the situation,” says Van Pottelberghe about his personal situation.

Isn’t the relegation a coincidence?

The timing of his demotion may not be a coincidence. On November 4, it was announced that Van Pottelberghe would move to Lugano next season. Since then he has been more or less sidelined in Biel. Like you no longer needed to keep him happy or encourage him. He himself says about this assumption: “I don’t know if this is the reason, and I don’t think about it either. All I can do is do my best and show myself in training.”

In his situation, still getting a national team selection and some match practice is an early Christmas present. At the Swiss Ice Hockey Games in Zurich he forms the goalkeeping duo with Leonardo Genoni (36) and will certainly get a match. “I was a bit surprised by the team,” he admits and is extremely grateful: “Playing in the national team is always cool. But now I’m even happier that I can be there. It’s always good to be in a different environment and see different hockey.”

“JvP” puts aside the fact that the lack of match training this week could become a problem for him in the national team kit: “Of course it is easier when you are in the rhythm. But during practice I pushed even harder so I could be ready when I could play.”

Fischer does not drop Van Pottelberghe

But why did Nati coach Patrick Fischer (48) call up a goalkeeper who no longer plays? «Joren is part of this process with the younger goalkeepers we have brought in in recent years. And he was able to put himself in a good position when we brought him against Sweden in the Karjala Cup.” Back then, in the 3-4 defeat on November 11, Sandro Aeschlimann had a terrible day and was substituted in the 24th minute after being 3-0 down. With Van Pottelberghe in goal, the national team was significantly more stable.

Source : Blick