This summer, Lars Steiner took the plunge. Then aged 16 (he celebrated his 17th birthday on November 12), he left his native Grison for Quebec in order to optimize his chances of realizing his childhood dream and one day reaching the NHL, the best world hockey league. The Davosian will only be eligible for the entry draft in 2026, so the road is still long.
Nevertheless, he has successfully integrated with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, his team based more than 600km northwest of Montreal. In 22 games, he collected 33 points (12 goals and 21 assists), which made him the sixth best scorer in the QMJHL.
Lars Steiner is considered one of the surest talents in Swiss hockey. Here are four things to know about him.
Lars Steiner’s response bursts out when he is asked about his childhood idol. And unlike many from Graubünden, it is not the legendary Andres Ambühl, but a Bernese Jura from EV Zug.
“I admire Grégory Hofmann. I watched him play a lot and I want to be like him,” underlines Lars Steiner who wears the same number (15). He already had the opportunity to speak to his favorite player, when he played in Davos (from 2012 to 2015). “It was thanks to my uncle. He is an HCD equipment guard.”
For supporters of Lausanne HC, or assiduous followers of the National League, the name of Lars Steiner is perhaps not unknown. Proof of his precocity, the Graubünden nugget played, at the age of 16, in act VII of the quarter-final of the 2024 play-offs between the LHC and Davos at the Vaudoise arena due to numerous injuries. “It was a total surprise to me, to this day it remains the best memory of my career. It was crazy to claw the ice in front of 9,600 spectators, I will never forget it.
“He goes for it, he goes straight to the point, he is afraid of nothing and he has this bit of arrogance, sometimes poorly received in Switzerland, but which is useful to him in North America.” For Félicien Du Bois, former Swiss international and coach of Lars Steiner in U20 in Davos, his former foal is cut out to play across the Atlantic. “He has above average offensive qualities. The important thing for him now is to become a complete attacker,” adds the technician.
Four Swiss players wore the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies jersey before Lars Steiner: Tristan Vauclair (2002-2004), Sven Andrighetto (2011-2013), Jason Fuchs (2013-2014) and Timo Meier (2016).
The latter won the QMJHL title and the Memorial Cup, the most prestigious trophy in Canadian junior hockey, with the franchise before becoming an NHL star. “There is a photo of him with the cup in the locker room, it makes me want to achieve the same achievements as him.”
