Hampered by recurring foot injuries over the last two years, Grégory Hofmann made his return to the national team during the Swiss Games. The Bernese Jura striker, silent in 3 matches in Fribourg, told RTSsport.ch of his pleasure at having found the red jersey with a white cross.
For 2 years, Grégory Hofmann (32 years old) has had one hell of a lot of trouble. Foot injury in the semi-finals of the Champions League in January 2023 with Zug against Tappara Tampere, again in November 2023 with the Swiss team during the Karjala Cup in Tampere and finally again in February 2024 during the Beijer Games in Karlstad.
While he was limited to 5 caps during the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons, we easily understand the striker’s joy at simply having been around Patrick Fischer’s gang again. The Jura Bernese, who is one of the 4 French-speaking people, with Julien Vauclair, Goran Bezina and Gaëtan Haas, to have played in the NHL, also returned for us on his brief adventure across the Atlantic in 2021/22. And on the current exercise with Zug, his club.
My foot? The pain is gone
RTSport.ch: We imagine that you particularly appreciated this invitation to the Swiss Games?
GREGORY HOFMANN: Absolutely. It feels good to be here after what happened last season. This proves that I am on the right track.
RTSsport.ch: After these repeated foot injuries, do we have any doubts when it comes to putting our skates back on for the first time?
GREGORY HOFMANN: It’s clear that after 2 foot operations in a short period of time, there is a certain apprehension when it comes time to return to the ice. Especially in terms of mobility and stability. But I’ve been working on this for several months and now the pain is gone. The fact remains that my foot is different compared to when it was healthy. I have to live with it, it will get better with time.
RTSsport.ch: At 32, you still have many good years ahead of you!
GREGORY HOFMANN: Quite. I had almost no physical problems between the ages of 20 and 30. Then, in 2 years, the injuries kept coming, without me really knowing why. But it’s part of the sport. It’s up to me to get back into the rhythm and progress.
Yes, I am thinking of the 2026 Olympics and the 2026 World Cup at home. But you have to go step by step
RTSsport.ch: Against the Swedes, the Czechs and the Finns, defeats have often occurred in recent years in the Euro Hockey Tour. Despite everything, do you enjoy playing these matches?
GREGORY HOFMANN: I think it’s positive to participate in the Euro Hockey Tour. If you want to win medals in a big tournament, you have to beat the cream of the crop. So it’s better to face these big teams, which we often find in the last four of major competitions, already during the season. It allows us to get used to their style of play.
RTSsport.ch: Since the 2022 Beijing Olympics, you have not appeared in a major tournament again. You must miss it, right?
GREGORY HOFMANN: I would love to compete in a few more World Championships. But I must work to earn this right. The competition is tough. However, I know what I am capable of: if I perform with Zug, a selection will come automatically.
RTSsport.ch: In addition, the Milan 2026 Olympics are looming on the horizon, with the presence of NHL players. Surely the idea of demonstrating your worth to the world’s elite is on your mind?
GREGORY HOFMANN: I have already competed in the Olympics twice, in 2018 in PyeongChang and in 2022 in Beijing. They were incredible experiences. It would certainly be interesting to compete against the best players in the world in Milan. I’m thinking about it, just like I’m thinking about the World Championship at home in 2026. But we have to take it step by step: the 2025 World Cup is the next step.
My regret is deciding to go to the NHL knowing that my wife was pregnant
RTSsport.ch: Let’s look back at your time in Columbus in 2021/22. You left the NHL during the season, after 24 games, due to the birth of your daughter. Looking back, don’t you regret coming back to Zug so quickly?
GREGORY HOFMANN: At the time, my decision was the right one. I had good times with my family experiencing my daughter’s first days, then winning the title with Zug a second time in a row. My regret is deciding to go to the NHL knowing that my wife was pregnant. But we can’t repeat the past and playing in the NHL was a goal. We cannot always predict all the parameters. I took the opportunity to play in the NHL, I was able to score goals there, you can’t take that away from me. Now I’m very happy to be with my family in Zug, and to be able to join the national team like I did this weekend.
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RTSsport.ch: After your departure from the Blue Jackets, Elvis Merzlikins didn’t wear gloves. The Latvian goalkeeper, a long-time ex-teammate at both Lugano and Columbus, publicly declared that he had never seen someone give up so quickly.
GREGORY HOFMANN: We had discussed it. He called me and explained that he hadn’t exactly said that to the media. He had apologized. He is someone virulent, who lives with emotion. I have no score to settle with him, on the contrary: Elvis helped me a lot from the moment I arrived in Columbus. We still call each other from time to time and we even saw each other this summer. He’s making his career in the NHL, I’m making mine. And I wish him the best.
In Zug, the return of Leo Genoni will give us defensive confidence
.RTSsport.ch: As an individual, how do you judge your season in Zug? You have 13 points (8 goals) in 19 matches so far.
GREGORY HOFMANN: I had a bit of bad luck at the start of the exercise with a muscle injury. This is probably due to the fact that I was away from the ice rinks for a long time after my foot injury. After returning to play, there are always ups and downs. Our team has something to aim high for, in any case.
RTSsport.ch: Goalkeeper Leonardo Genoni (37) has only played 3 games so far in 2024/25. By having to evolve without its pillar, Zug therefore faces an unusual situation.
GREGORY HOFMANN: Leo is not young anymore (laughs)! But he will return for the 2nd part of the season. We know how important he is to us. He is the number 1 goalkeeper in Switzerland and we need him to perform. His return will give us confidence defensively, although his backup Tim Wolf has done a good job so far.
From Fribourg, Michaël Taillard
