This Thursday, December 5 is a big day for number 91 of the Lausanne Hockey Club, Fabian Heldner. In addition to facing the HC Biel at the Vaudoise Aréna, the Haut-Valais defender will participate in his 500th National League match. A symbolic milestone reached for the man who played for the first time with professionals at the age of 16 at EHC Visp.
The milestone of 500 reached
At the age of 28, Fabian Heldner embodies a figure of experience and consistency in the Lions locker room. After 10 years of career, the Lion does not see this milestone of 500 as a sort of finality.
“It’s cool to get to a number like this, it shows that I’ve reached some experience in this league as I’ve been playing for 10 years. I try not to dwell on it too much, because it’s just a number in the end. But hey, I admit that if I can still play 500 more matches, I won’t say no.”
The Swiss defender’s National League debut was made with HC Davos. A possibility that opened the doors to the professional world for him at just 19 years old to launch his career.
“I remember that for my first game, I was really nervous, I made a big turnover in the defensive zone. It was 10 games before the start of the playoffs, because there was an injury. Everything was happening so fast, I was playing alongside Beat Forster at the time. I have very few other memories of this first experience. With hindsight, I realize that it becomes easier to understand matches when you realize that you must continue to play the same way, despite the change in level. It remains a great memory despite everything, because we directly finished champion that year.”
Longevity through work
The number 91 of the Lausanne Hockey Club has started its 11th season in a row in the National League, a longevity which requires work in several phases.
“It’s not easy to stay at a high level in ice hockey because there’s a lot of competition. The work must be done from adolescence. First, you have to create a solid foundation that will build you as a player, then you have to constantly find ways to improve as you go. In terms of physical aspect, work in the strength room is adapted to get the best out of ourselves according to our age. After many years of experience, I know what my body needs to be in the best shape. In terms of technique, I have always had to work to improve my technique with the puck. I improved this aspect a lot when I arrived in Lausanne. The game has changed and we no longer ask defenders the same thing today.
When I started with Arno Del Curto (coach of HC Davos from 1996 to 2019), we did not ask defenders to launch into attack and therefore play a lot with the puck. When I arrived at the LHC, the different coaches I had placed great emphasis on the importance of the defenders’ offensive play. Here we play a different type of game which focuses on possession. It’s something more modern.”
Obstacles to avoid
An athlete always goes through complicated times in his career. Whether for physical or sporting reasons, it is by analyzing the way in which these professionals manage to return to the highest level that we realize their true mental strength.
“The season with Davos (2018-19), when we found ourselves in the last four before relegation, was very complicated to live with. Looking back, I’m happy to have been able to give my best to avoid the worst, it was good learning for my career. There were also injuries that were complicated to treat. During the 2022-23 season, I had a long absence during which I struggled to return despite my numerous attempts. So for a season I didn’t play because my body was never ready. Coming back, a lot of things had changed, including the coaches, which didn’t make the return easy.”
Stability is an essential element of Fabian Heldner’s career. With only 2 clubs in 10 years, the Haut-Valais defender has already re-signed with the Lions until the end of the 2027-28 season.
“It’s really important for me to know where I will be next year, I don’t like to be left in uncertainty about my career. I really like Lausanne, and so does my family. The direction is going in the right direction for me and it is unthinkable that I would not be part of this adventure.
At the start of the season, I again had some small problems with my body, which took me several weeks to recover from. Now I feel like I’m completely 100%, that feels good. As I told you before, I’m trying more and more to project myself into the attacking zone, because it’s a request from the coaches. I honestly enjoy it.”
