Goalie Ewan Huet, the son of 2023 IIHF Hall of Fame inductee Cristobal Huet, is excited to represent Switzerland on home ice at this year’s U18 Worlds.
photo: © Swiss Ice Hockey / Jonathan Vallat
You might think that Ewan Huet – the son of legendary French goalie and 2023 IIHF Hall of Fame inductee Cristobal Huet – would only care about hockey. You’d be wrong. The 18-year-old Swiss netminder has a passion for sports at large.
Huet grew up loving the Colorado Avalanche and owns a signed Nathan MacKinnon jersey and poster. Yet the Lausanne HC prospect also loves playing basketball and soccer and has idolized the likes of Stephen Curry and Bastian Schweinsteiger. And when he plays video games, his EA Sports faves include not only the NHL series, but also FIFA and Madden NFL.
Right now, though, Huet’s focus is squarely on the 2023 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship in Basel and Porrentruy. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for him to make his IIHF debut on home ice.
“We’re getting into the zone and we’re pumped,” the affable Huet said in a pre-tournament interview with IIHF.com. “It’s going to be unbelievable. In Switzerland, when we’re playing home games, it always gets emotional real quick. People are always crazy. It’s packed and that adds a little more fun to it. We can’t wait!”
Team chemistry is vital for coach Marcel Jenni’s group, which hopes to build on last year’s sixth-place finish in Germany. Huet cherishes his friendships with forwards like Leo Braillard (Shawinigan Cataractes), Lenn Zehnder (GCK/ZSC Lions), and twin brothers Rafael and Simeon Meier (EHC Kloten). He also relishes the challenge of trying to stop the wicked release of Matteo Wagner (KalPa Kuopio) in practice.
Huet spent most of 2022-23 with Lausanne’s U20 team, posting a 2.73 GAA in 31 games as the starter. How would he describe his goaltending style?
“I’d say I’m a hybrid goalie. I can adjust to the speed of the game, depending on which level I’m playing. I try to be as calm as possible to bring confidence to my team. I try to be fast and stay as long as I can on my feet. The game is faster and faster, so I feel like my skating can always be improved.”
The calmness is something he’s modelled from his father. The 183-cm, 76-kg prospect says he always marveled at Cristobal’s “internal peace” in the heat of the action.
It’s impressive to have a father who played in two Olympics (1998, 2002) and 13 top-level IIHF World Championships, let alone becoming the first Frenchman to win the Stanley Cup. Huet certainly treasures his dad’s accomplishments and personal influence.
That said, Ewan was just five years old when Cristobal triumphed with the 2010 Chicago Blackhawks. His fondest memory of Cristobal’s playing days was actually in 2013, when the veteran backstopped Lausanne HC’s successful bid for promotion from the Swiss B league to the A league in an atmosphere of wild joy.
And stylistically, his favourite goalies to watch are mostly active NHLers.
“I don’t base my style on just one goalie. I watch a lot of goalies. I love the NHL and watch almost every game I can. I’m not that tall, and I’d say Juuse Saros is one of the greatest goalies out there. He’s just so impressive, and he’s only 5-10 or 5-11 [178 or 180 cm]. I admire Igor Shesterkin and Marc-Andre Fleury as well. And Carey Price, especially growing up, was an inspiration.”
Huet grew up loving the Colorado Avalanche and owns a signed Nathan MacKinnon jersey and poster. Yet the Lausanne HC prospect also loves playing basketball and soccer and has idolized the likes of Stephen Curry and Bastian Schweinsteiger. And when he plays video games, his EA Sports faves include not only the NHL series, but also FIFA and Madden NFL.
Right now, though, Huet’s focus is squarely on the 2023 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship in Basel and Porrentruy. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for him to make his IIHF debut on home ice.
“We’re getting into the zone and we’re pumped,” the affable Huet said in a pre-tournament interview with IIHF.com. “It’s going to be unbelievable. In Switzerland, when we’re playing home games, it always gets emotional real quick. People are always crazy. It’s packed and that adds a little more fun to it. We can’t wait!”
Team chemistry is vital for coach Marcel Jenni’s group, which hopes to build on last year’s sixth-place finish in Germany. Huet cherishes his friendships with forwards like Leo Braillard (Shawinigan Cataractes), Lenn Zehnder (GCK/ZSC Lions), and twin brothers Rafael and Simeon Meier (EHC Kloten). He also relishes the challenge of trying to stop the wicked release of Matteo Wagner (KalPa Kuopio) in practice.
Huet spent most of 2022-23 with Lausanne’s U20 team, posting a 2.73 GAA in 31 games as the starter. How would he describe his goaltending style?
“I’d say I’m a hybrid goalie. I can adjust to the speed of the game, depending on which level I’m playing. I try to be as calm as possible to bring confidence to my team. I try to be fast and stay as long as I can on my feet. The game is faster and faster, so I feel like my skating can always be improved.”
The calmness is something he’s modelled from his father. The 183-cm, 76-kg prospect says he always marveled at Cristobal’s “internal peace” in the heat of the action.
It’s impressive to have a father who played in two Olympics (1998, 2002) and 13 top-level IIHF World Championships, let alone becoming the first Frenchman to win the Stanley Cup. Huet certainly treasures his dad’s accomplishments and personal influence.
That said, Ewan was just five years old when Cristobal triumphed with the 2010 Chicago Blackhawks. His fondest memory of Cristobal’s playing days was actually in 2013, when the veteran backstopped Lausanne HC’s successful bid for promotion from the Swiss B league to the A league in an atmosphere of wild joy.
And stylistically, his favourite goalies to watch are mostly active NHLers.
“I don’t base my style on just one goalie. I watch a lot of goalies. I love the NHL and watch almost every game I can. I’m not that tall, and I’d say Juuse Saros is one of the greatest goalies out there. He’s just so impressive, and he’s only 5-10 or 5-11 [178 or 180 cm]. I admire Igor Shesterkin and Marc-Andre Fleury as well. And Carey Price, especially growing up, was an inspiration.”
Ewan Huet (centre) appeared in goal against Canada at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Red Deer, Alberta.
photo: Swiss Ice Hockey / Andreas Robanser
He got some extra personal motivation when he made his Swiss National League debut on 4 January at Zug’s Bossard Arena. With Lausanne trailing 6-0, starting goalie Ivars Punnenovs was pulled with less than 10 minutes left. Huet replaced the Latvian and didn’t concede a goal.
“It was a special moment,” Huet recalled. “It happened really quick, so I didn’t have any time to stress about it. I was just thrown in there. After the game, I was kind of like, ‘Oh my God, did that just happen?’ It was crazy after growing up in Lausanne and watching my father play with them. So being able to play for them was a dream.”
He’s happy with the choices he’s made while chasing his hockey dreams. Up to the age of 13, he enjoyed playing both forward and goalie, but then his parents encouraged him to pick a position, and now he’s heading into his first IIHF tournament. Similarly, he’s never regretted opting to represent Switzerland even though his father starred for France.
“I grew up watching Swiss players, and Switzerland is in my heart,” Huet said. “So is France, but I’d say Switzerland was a bigger part of my life growing up, even training with some national team players. It’s always a special feeling putting on this Swiss jersey.”
Despite major progress, including silver medals at the 2013 and 2018 men’s Worlds, Switzerland still can’t take anything for granted in international hockey. That message hit home for Huet when he appeared at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Red Deer, Alberta. The U18 Swiss experienced a baptism of fire, losing 14-0 to host Canada, and life didn’t get much easier, although they did top Germany 4-1 in the seventh-place game.
“It was a tough tournament for us,” Huet said. “I’ve learned that you always have a bigger fish! Like playing against Canada and Sweden. Losing 14-0 speaks for itself. But you can still have fun even though you’re getting beat up pretty bad. Enjoying the moments...you don’t play every day against Canada or Sweden.”
Now, Huet and his Swiss teammates hope to forge better memories at Basel’s St. Jakob Arena, starting with a stiff challenge against Finland on 20 April. How far can they go? Huet is optimistic with his goal-setting.
“I’d say the semi-final. We’re feeling confident. We had two exhibition games against Germany, which gave us some momentum, and we’re we’re feeling quite comfortable. I think it’s an achievable goal considering the group we’re in.”
Given the positive attitude Ewan Huet brings to everything he does, you’d have to think Switzerland has at least a sporting good chance.
“It was a special moment,” Huet recalled. “It happened really quick, so I didn’t have any time to stress about it. I was just thrown in there. After the game, I was kind of like, ‘Oh my God, did that just happen?’ It was crazy after growing up in Lausanne and watching my father play with them. So being able to play for them was a dream.”
He’s happy with the choices he’s made while chasing his hockey dreams. Up to the age of 13, he enjoyed playing both forward and goalie, but then his parents encouraged him to pick a position, and now he’s heading into his first IIHF tournament. Similarly, he’s never regretted opting to represent Switzerland even though his father starred for France.
“I grew up watching Swiss players, and Switzerland is in my heart,” Huet said. “So is France, but I’d say Switzerland was a bigger part of my life growing up, even training with some national team players. It’s always a special feeling putting on this Swiss jersey.”
Despite major progress, including silver medals at the 2013 and 2018 men’s Worlds, Switzerland still can’t take anything for granted in international hockey. That message hit home for Huet when he appeared at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Red Deer, Alberta. The U18 Swiss experienced a baptism of fire, losing 14-0 to host Canada, and life didn’t get much easier, although they did top Germany 4-1 in the seventh-place game.
“It was a tough tournament for us,” Huet said. “I’ve learned that you always have a bigger fish! Like playing against Canada and Sweden. Losing 14-0 speaks for itself. But you can still have fun even though you’re getting beat up pretty bad. Enjoying the moments...you don’t play every day against Canada or Sweden.”
Now, Huet and his Swiss teammates hope to forge better memories at Basel’s St. Jakob Arena, starting with a stiff challenge against Finland on 20 April. How far can they go? Huet is optimistic with his goal-setting.
“I’d say the semi-final. We’re feeling confident. We had two exhibition games against Germany, which gave us some momentum, and we’re we’re feeling quite comfortable. I think it’s an achievable goal considering the group we’re in.”
Given the positive attitude Ewan Huet brings to everything he does, you’d have to think Switzerland has at least a sporting good chance.