Julien Sprunger beats Slawa Bykow in Gottéron: a recognition



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Killian Mottet, Christopher Didomenico and Julien Sprunger from Freiburg cheer during the match against the SCL Tigers. Image: keystone

Eismeister Zaugg

Julien Sprunger: an indestructible romantic becomes Gottéron-Gretzky

Hollywood could not have organized the culmination of this career better. Gottéron captain Julien Sprunger is now the best scorer in club history, ahead of Slawa Bykow.

A muffled rumble heralds the historic moment in the empty hockey temple at Ilfis. Langnau defender Yannick Blaser throws Chris DiDomenico from Gottéron into the gang. The roar can be heard in the stands. And also urgent and strict calls reminiscent of a concerned teacher: “DiDo !, DiDo! DiDo !, DiDo! ». It’s the head referee Julien Staudenmann. He manages to stop Chris DiDomenico from attacking the culprit and can prevent a patriotic fight. “Yes, I wanted to calm the situation,” he will say later.

The penalty due (2 plus 10 minutes) opens the way to a historic and magical moment in our hockey. Julien Sprunger scores 5-0 on the power play. His 652nd goalscorer point for Gottéron in game 850. This makes him the most successful goalscorer in club history. That is historical. And also magical: it is him before Slava Bykow. One of the best players in the history of world hockey, multiple world champion and Olympic champion.

Jean Martinet with the two Russians Slawa Bykow (right) and Andrei Chomutow, November 1990. Photo: trapezoidal

With the assist at 4-0, Julien Sprunger had set Slava Bykov’s record, with 5-0 now the sole record holder and “Gottéron-Gretzky”. With a record for all ages. Slava Bykow has 651 points from 332 games.

Return to the historic evening in Langnau. With 4-0 and even more with 5-0, the correspondents of Radio Freiburg and Radio Friborg almost went crazy like the Brazilian soccer reporters celebrating goals in the World Cup final. Vortex words from the Freiburg dialect and slightly fancier French rise from the media platform.

One should celebrate the holidays as they fall. Especially with a club like Gottéron, which has never become a champion and may never be. And it is only fair that Gottéron has seized the top of the table with this victory, that Julien Sprunger is voted the best player on his team and goalkeeper Ivars Punnenovs, who he has beaten, is voted the best of Langnauer. You can’t get more Hollywood than that.

DiDomenico and Sprunger celebrate. Image: keystone

Julien Sprunger edged out Slawa Bykow. And stay calm after the game. Like so many great players (and Wayne Gretzky too), he is reserved, calm and humble by the ice. Yes, it seems almost fragile. He speaks German and speaks French through the microphones they offer.

The Gottéron captain does not want to be at the height of Slava Bykov. I cannot compare myself to Slava. He was one of the best players in the world. He has accomplished a lot. “I could still learn a lot from him today. Even before he left the booth for interviews, he saw the congratulatory SMS arrive on his smartphone.” One of the first came from Slava. I am particularly pleased. ” And even now, in the hour of his greatest personal triumph, he does not forget his fellow players: “I couldn’t have scored a goal or an assist without my teammates.” A success for the team.

Julien Sprunger has booked all of his 327 goals and 325 assists in 850 games for Gottéron. You no longer remember your first assist point. But on his first goal. “It was an 11-0 win against Basel.” He still has the disk today. It was January 20, 2004 and with his goal he scored the final 11-0 in the 59th minute. He got his first scorer point in the same season on December 6, 2003 for a 2-0 victory for Philippe Marquis against the Lakers (final result 5-1).

Julien Sprunger is an indestructible romantic. Indestructible because he has recovered from serious injuries (concussions, knees) that could have ended his career. The toughest in the last game of the 2009 World Cup in Bern against the United States. The spinal injury cost him his NHL career. He had a signed NHL contract with the New York Rangers in his pocket. He does not return to the ice until six months later, in late November 2009, and misses half the season.

The 96-time international (33 goals / 32 assists) could have become champion. He once turned down a well-paid offer from the ZSC Lions. “If I really wanted to become a teacher, then I would have left Gottéron.” He stayed for personal (family) reasons. If you want, a romantic. Or better: one from Gottéron. With a contract until 2023 and will not leave Gottéron. He dominated all setbacks and overcame all crises with Gottéron. And you know why: “We have a tradition, we have a culture, we have an identity. People are never indifferent to how things are going with us. “

The captain is at peace with himself and with his career: «I do not regret anything and I would do it all over again. I am happy and grateful for how my career has gone so far. I just regret that I was too late to play Slava Bykov and Andrei Khomutov. “But he was in time to become statistically number one. Before Slava Bykov.

And the type of player? Julien Sprunger is the (almost) perfect winger. Big (194 cm), strong (90 kg), brave, tough, smart and with a huge reach. He can invade opponents, intimidate them, even dance in clear moments, and sometimes he does it with several in the same movement. Of course, he owes his career to his talent. With the fun buttons on the pants, no one gets more than 600 points.

But talent is only part. He is also a leader. One that stands up when it really counts. An enormously resilient leader.

There is a scene for all ages that really tells us all about Julien Sprunger. March 1, 2008. Playoff quarterfinals. Gottéron lost the first game in Bern 3: 5. If the Titan (Bern is the winner of the classification) is to be overthrown (which actually seems impossible), Gottéron must win the second game on his own ice. The SCB is almost there. The Bernese lead 1-0 17 seconds before the end. An irregularity. Boiler. The referees decide a penalty. Objects fly from the stands. Ice cleaning is ordered. Julien Sprunger has to wait a few minutes for the execution. Greater stress on the nerves is unthinkable. More tension, more chicken skin, more drama is no longer possible.

It leaves no chance for SCB’s cult goalkeeper Marco Bührer. 1: 1. Renewal. And after just 46 seconds, Julien Sprunger hung up for Benjamin Plüss. 2: 1. It is a stab in the heart of the bear. Gottéron will win these quarterfinals.

Julien Sprunger celebrates his 1-1 draw against Bern on March 1, 2008. IN THE PHOTO: PHOTOPRESS

Gottéron is a teacher and Julien Sprunger never has been. But what is a title in front of such magical moments. And who knows, maybe he is still a teacher after all. “A title with Freiburg, yes, I still dream of him and if this dream doesn’t come true, it will be a bit disappointing. But the dream is not over yet. We have a new arena and I feel renewed energy. “

You still have time. He will only turn 35 in January.

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