Nino Niederreiter about his life in the freezer in Canada

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As expected, Nino Niederreiter has to dress very warmly for his new employer in Winnipeg, even off the ice. “It is currently minus 20 degrees outside,” the Churer reveals in a telephone conversation with a look. Although he lived in much more pleasant temperatures in Nashville ten days ago, the 30-year-old winger already feels quite at home in the Canadian province of Manitoba. “Because the city doesn’t have the best reputation, the management of the club does everything they can to make sure that the players feel comfortable here right away. In my case, they succeeded. Also because I haven’t played with any other NHL team ate so well – the Jets cuisine is really great! And in general, as a player, practically every wish is fulfilled here.”

Relocation due to head coach

The organization of the jets also helped the Swiss to find a small but tidy apartment in a very short time. “I live not far from the ice stadium in one of the skyscrapers in the city center on the 23rd floor in a one-room apartment.” Originally, Niederreiter wanted to move into a penthouse on the 24th floor. “I really liked the apartment there. But then I got the information that our coach lives on this floor. But since the idea of ​​hierarchy is very pronounced in the NHL, I came to the conclusion that it would be better if I lived one floor below the boss… »

Ice hockey is much more important here than in the US

The ice times in the last two games against Edmonton (nearly 21 minutes) and San Jose (19:08) show that head coach Rick Bowness is very appreciative of his new «Swiss Winger». Niederreiter justified his 68-year-old coach’s confidence with an assist against the Oilers and a brilliant goal against the Sharks. “San Jose goalkeeper James Reimer is apparently very good. I’ve scored against him six times this season.”

Niederreiter has scored a total of 19 goals this season. Exactly 200 in his NHL career. And at the latest after his first Jets goal, the Grisons resident knows that ice hockey is experienced much more passionately by the people in Canada than in the US. “In Nashville, as a hockey player you walk through the city almost unnoticed. In Winnipeg it is very different, you are constantly approached. Almost everyone believes they have the potential to become general manager themselves and tries to explain to you what we should change in the power game. Ice hockey is like a religion here!”

Nino misses this man in Winnipeg

Niederreiter enjoys the unique atmosphere that the hot-blooded Jets fans ignite in the coldest city in North America. But he misses a teammate from Nashville very much: “Roman Josi is irreplaceable as a person and as a player.” The following Saturday, Niederreiter and Josi see each other again for the first time since the unexpected trade – the Jets then play an away game at the “Preds”.

Source : Blick