It sounds like hockey, of course. But only from afar. Introduced to the Youth Olympic Games, after being inspired by basketball, 3×3 hockey is in the test phase in Lausanne. From there to being part of the Olympic program too, there may be more than one skate to give.
Two Valaisans – Leni Michellod and Loris Uberti – have been playing guinea pigs for a few days at the Vaudoise Arena. But what is 3×3 hockey? “There are three outfielders on each team who compete on a half-ice (editor’s note: the neutral zone is free) for three-thirds of sixteen minutes,” said Leni Michellod, 16, in April. “As long as the puck does not go beyond the limits, the game does not stop. However, every minute, a siren sounds, which invites a flying change of players. ”
There is a lot of intensity, the puck goes from one goal to another. Besides, there are a lot of goals.
Leni Michellod, 3×3 hockey player
But the real originality lies in the composition of the teams. The eight teams, which have a color name, include thirteen players of different nationalities. And sometimes exotic. Thus, among the “orange”, Leni Michellod rubs shoulders with a Russian, a German, an Italian but also a Hungarian, a New Zealander and a Singaporean. “The teams have been drawn,” said the striker. “It’s quite funny. There are some difficulties in understanding each other. The level of players can also vary. Some are clearly above the rest, others have more pain. But it’s kind of cool to interact with other cultures. It’s also an opportunity to adapt to other styles of play. “
That’s what happens:
Good hands help
The Martignerain, son of Cédric Michellod, ex-player of LNB, is rather mixed as for the format of this competition. “It’s weird. There is a lot of intensity, the actions go from one goal to another. As soon as the puck is lost, it quickly goes in the other direction. There are many goals, many reversals. On the other hand, the ice suffered during the third third since during the breaks of three minutes, the maintenance only removes the bulk of the snow with a shovel. The puck doesn’t circulate as well anymore. ”
It would be more interesting if we kept the national teams.
Leni Michellod, 3×3 hockey player
Given the small surface, many contacts, players with good hands, technically skilled, are advantaged. “I confirm,” smiles Leni Michellod. “My thing is more about speed. Here I cannot really exploit these qualities. In order for this format to truly be called upon to endure and seduce the public and the players, some details will have to be improved. It can be fun. However, it would be more interesting if we kept the national teams. ”
Loris Uberti, goalkeeper, nods. “Sometimes we have more pucks to block, sometimes many more goals too. These are intense matches, there is spectacle. ”
He plays in elite U17 in Friborg
The only two Valaisans selected with the U16 national team were therefore invited to compete in the 3×3 competition rather than the traditional tournament. Leni Michellod suspected this a bit since he hadn’t been called for the last two preparation tournaments. Admittedly, he would obviously have preferred to skate the entire length of the Vaudoise Arena. But it is said that so many other players in his age category stayed at home. “It’s beautiful to live these YOGs from the inside.”
Since last summer, Leni Michellod has been wearing the jersey of the Friborg-Gottéron U17 elites where he has joined a large delegation of Valais players, now in the U20 elites. He has 14 points in 24 games. “It wasn’t easy at first because the jump with the elite U15 and top U17 is important. Now I have found my rhythm. At the same time, I am learning to be a logistics specialist. “
Leaving Valais was almost compulsory
The striker is aware that if he had not left Valais, at the end of last season, he would not have had the chance to take part in the YOG. “Already, I could not have played elites this winter. Visibility is not the same either. In Friborg, structures allow rapid progress. ”
Enlisted in the yellow team, goalkeeper Loris Uberti (Lausanne U17) was injured on Sunday in a collision with an opposing attacker. The Martignerain fell back and hit the ice with his head. He was taken to the CHUV for examinations. He was able to get out the same day but his tournament is over. Affected in the vertebrae, at the nape of the neck, he suffered from a slight concussion. “This injury leaves me with regrets, of course, but I am still happy to have been able to play in several games,” said the goalkeeper.
The two Valaisans had the opportunity to face each other on Saturday. “It was nice even if it was not a first either,” said Leni Michellod. “We had already been opposed in the U15 selection and this winter in the U17 elite junior championship. Saturday I scored against his team. But Loris was not in the cage at the time. Otherwise, we have always been teammates at Martigny. Here we share the same room. We are very close, even outside of hockey. ”
Last summer, however, their paths separated. Leni Michellod signed early for Friborg while Loris Uberti joined Lausanne. So here they are adversaries. “Before our meeting, we get a little room. Then we redo the match… ”
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