By Suisse Puck News
Today, Suisse Puck News is privileged to bring you an exclusive Q&A session with Alex Formenton, the dynamic forward playing for Ambri, as he shares his experiences in the Swiss National League.
Q: Hello Alex, you joined the Ambri team this year partway into the season. Do you feel that you are playing up to speed yet?
Alex: “I had a bit of a slow start, but I’m getting back to exactly where I left off last year. In our last five games, I have been lucky enough to be chosen four times as Player of the Game. It feels good to be contributing to the team.”
Q: That’s a very impressive start. At this stage in your career, what kind of player do you see yourself as? A scorer? A playmaker?
Alex: “I use my speed offensively and try to be a scorer, but I also try to be the hardest-working player out there. I’m above average in height and I’m trying to fill out more physically so that I can meet my goal of being a hard-working, power forward who can put the puck in the net. I also take pride in my penalty killing and work hard at it. What’s most important to me is contributing everything I have to my team.”
Q: How is Ambri doing so far?
Alex: “Ambri has been a bit up and down lately. We just had a seven-game win streak, followed by a five-game losing streak. All 14 teams in the league are pretty equal for the most part, so a goal here and there tends to make a big difference.”
Q: In general, what is it like to play in the Swiss league?
Alex: “Our fans are incredibly passionate. They get as excited after a goal as I feel scoring one. It gives me goosebumps to hear them. Our fans are super supportive and super caring. Hockey is a big part of their lives. Our arena holds 6,000 to 7,000 fans; about half of them in the standing section. They chant and sing and wave their scarves in the final seconds of a win. When our bus leaves for an away game, they come out chanting and singing to see us off.”
Q: Do you feel that you’ve become a part of your community?
Alex: “Definitely. People recognize us all the time and we have team events for the community regularly. Recently, we went to a restaurant in Lugano that supports the Ambri team for a meet-and-greet. We also had a skate at our arena with lots of Swiss minor hockey players representing different age groups. We had pictures taken and signed autographs. The arena was full of their families. It reminded me a lot of when I was in minor hockey myself. There are so many super caring people here.”
Q: Is what you’ve been describing the sort of thing you envisioned when you first came over to Switzerland?
Alex: “I was actually kind of scared when I came over because of the culture change. I had never even been to Europe. But it has been so supportive. Guys on the team treat you really well. I’ve made friends that I’ll be in contact with for the rest of my life. I’m in my second year now, and it has definitely become more comfortable for me. I play on certain lines and we are building our chemistry.”
Q: Have you had to overcome any language barriers on the team?
Alex: “Not at all. Everyone speaks English including the coaches. Our meetings are all held in English. Although teams can only play six imports in each game, we have so many nationalities on our team. There’s one other Canadian and there are guys from Sweden, Finland, Germany and Austria.”
Q: Are there a lot of overnights spent on the road?
Alex: “None, actually. The furthest place we go to play is Geneva, which is about five hours away. So we always get to sleep in our own beds at night.”
Q: Now that you’re in your second season, do you feel that you’ve become a full member of your team?
Alex: “I feel a real loyalty to Ambri. I am very aware that I’m here because they believed in me. I have a really honest, open relationship with our General Manager – Paola Duca – and the whole team has been great to me.”
Q: Do you feel that in some way you are a representative – an ambassador even – for Canada?
Alex: “Everywhere we go, people certainly know how major and how important hockey is in Canada. It’s the first thing that pops up in conversation. It’s nice for me to represent that. I get to express how we live in Canada – our food, our way of living, our family values. There are a lot of nationalities represented on our team, and it’s great to hear about the lifestyles they all have back home as well.”
Q: Being this far from Canada, do you miss your family?
Alex: “I’ve just had a long visit from my dad, which was great. My girlfriend was here for quite a while as well. We’ve been together for almost five years and she and her family are incredibly supportive. She comes whenever she is able to get enough time off work. They are all coming back – along with my Mum – for the Spengler Cup tournament that’s starting on Boxing Day. My contract ends right after that, but hopefully I’ll be re-signed and keep playing here.”
Q: Let’s turn back the clock a bit, Alex. What were your early years in Canadian hockey like?
Alex: “I played minor hockey in my hometown of Barrie (Ontario) until I was 10 or 11. I was fortunate enough to be captain of the team for four years. After that, I played in the Greater Toronto Hockey League, where my coach was Wendell Clark.”
Q: That’s amazing. You were coached by one of the most legendary Toronto Maple Leafs of all time?
Alex: “Yes, and his family really took me under their wing. Being from Barrie, I arrived in Toronto with that feeling of being a small town boy. It had been a bit of a culture shock for me to go to a big city. Wendell and his family were wonderful to me and to my family. They are great people.”
Q: What was your next step?
Alex: “Three years later, I played for the Mississauga Rebels. By this point, I was beginning to realize that this could be a career for me. Next, I was drafted by the (Ontario Hockey League) London Knights. I liked the idea of being able to get a good education at the University of Western Ontario while I was playing, so I enrolled at UWO. London was also fairly close to Toronto so I could see my family regularly. I was also honoured to be assistant captain for two years in London.”
Q: But before long, the Ottawa Senators came calling?
Alex: “It happened in my very first week of classes. I was still very young; just about to turn 18. It felt incredible to be in the NHL. My first game was against Detroit. It was surreal to be putting my jersey on and going out to play against stars like Henrik Zetterberg.”
Q. Behind many a successful pro player, there seems to be a close knit, supportive family. It sounds as if you are no exception?
Alex: “My family truly has been incredible. My brother played junior hockey too, so our parents would split up and take each of us to a different city for road games. It couldn’t have been easy for them, and I have tremendous respect for the sacrifices my parents made just to make our lives better. They loved it, but it was so time-consuming. And it isn’t cheap.”
Q: Could you talk a bit more about your family background?
Alex: “My dad’s main job was as a mechanic, but he also had two or three smaller jobs on the side. He taught me his work ethic. When he sent a car out, it wasn’t coming back, so he had to make sure everything was done correctly. As for my Mum, all she has ever wanted to do in life is help other people. She worked with seniors for a few years and then became an assistant in a doctor’s office. After hours, the doctor worked late. My Mum would look after his two adult sons, who had Down Syndrome and autism. We were there almost every day in the years before I turned 11 and we moved close to Toronto. So, Mum took care of the three of us at the doctor’s home. My older brother has embraced our family love of animals and is about to graduate as a vet.”
Q: Spending all of that time with the two brothers must have taught you quite a bit about what life is like for those with disabilities.
Alex: “Definitely. The brothers were adults, but they were basically unable to speak. Spending time around them was very humbling. It was sometimes sad for me to see the challenges they had to navigate daily.”
Q: Was it beneficial to you as a person to gain insight into the lived experiences of others?
Alex: “That’s right. When I was a bit older, I also had the experience of being billeted with a wonderful family while I was playing for the London Knights. Their daughter lived with Down Syndrome. She was our team’s biggest fan and we became very close. She went to every game with my jersey on to cheer for me. We still text and I often get “Good morning” messages or “How are you doing?” from her. She is a valued friend.”
Q: It sounds like this was a very meaningful relationship.
Alex: “My experiences with her and the brothers I mentioned have made me want to seek out some sort of cause or charity that helps people who have Down Syndrome or autism. I’d like to help out in some way – maybe through getting donations. One idea I’ve had is to hold some sort of casino night with celebrity dealers. Each table could raise funds for a different organization or cause.”
Q: Returning to hockey, Alex, you must have a strong memory of scoring your first NHL goal?
Alex: “Yes, and it was a weird goal, too. We were playing Arizona. I was tied up with the defence and a point shot deflected in off my stick. I didn’t even know whether I had touched it or not. That wasn’t exactly the way I had visualized my first goal, but the main thing is, we scored.”
Q: Another landmark for you came when Ambri qualified to play in the Spengler Cup in 2022.
Alex: “Definitely. It was really big for the organization. And it was an incredible experience for me personally, because I knew how much it meant to everyone. The tournament was held in Davos, and our families were all there for it. We would walk to the arena with them before each game and then they’d watch us play. So our families got to witness history. Winning the Spengler Cup was amazing. We were only the fourth Swiss team to ever win it, and it was the first time for Ambri.”
Q: You played a Czech team in the final game. What was the atmosphere like for that game?
Alex: “It was unreal. Our own fans were really passionate and super loud. We won the game 3-2 in a shootout, so it all went right down to the final moment. It was so emotional and meaningful for Ambri to win. There were definitely some tears shed on the ice. I was thrilled that my parents and girlfriend were there to witness it.”
Q: How was your personal performance in the tournament?
Alex: “In the final, I was lucky enough to score both of our goals. The first was on a really nice pass. The second was on a breakaway. It was very special to me to be able contribute to us winning. Our team was so determined to bring that Cup home with us.”
Q: You were chosen as Player of the Game for that final game.
Alex: “Yes. It was an incredible honour. But the trophy I really wanted to hold that day was definitely the Spengler Cup.”
Q: For someone who is still a young player, a lot has happened in your life. Have you gained any special insights into life and hockey?
Alex: “I have definitely done a lot of learning from the older players and the coaching staff on my teams. The older guys can answer just about any question you ask. I try to be the same as they are with younger players. There are always going to be younger guys on a team, and you want to be the person they come to for help.”
Q: Do you dream of being back in the NHL, Alex?
Alex: “I certainly want to go back to the NHL. But my focus right now is right here, playing for Ambri. I spend a lot of extra hours doing everything I can to develop and get better in all aspects of hockey and life. Age and experience all go into being a leader.”
Q: What memories do you expect to take home from Switzerland when your playing days come to an end?
Alex: “It has been incredible to make so many new friends and to play in such a different atmosphere. I‘ll always remember how passionate the fans here are and how well the organization has treated me. Something else I’ll always remember is the feeling of waking up every morning and opening my window to see the mountains in the distance with snow caps in their peaks. It’s a beautiful way to start every day.”
Q: Thank you for your time, Alex. And continued good luck on the ice.
December 7, 2023