“Why hockey? I was attracted to what was different,” explains Pierre-Edouard Bellemare – rts.ch

On October 31, more than one National League follower was undoubtedly surprised by the news. Little Thumb of the Swiss championship, HC Ajoie offered itself the services of Pierre-Edouard Bellemare785 matches and 2 NHL finals under the clock!

Arriving at the end of a wonderful journey – begun at the venerable age of 29 – lasting 10 seasons across the Atlantic, the captain of the French team was notably convinced by Boris Gellé. The equipment manager of the HCA, who occupies the same position with the Blues, has in fact facilitated contacts between the Jura club and the 39-year-old striker. Which came from an unsuccessful test in Colorado.

Living in a small town like Porrentruy doesn't scare me

“After 10 years in the NHL, I wanted to be at home as much as possible. My wife and I like this type of region, because we live in Skelleftea, Sweden, during the summer. Living in a small town like Porrentruy doesn't scare us.”explains the native of Paris.

“Other Swiss clubs wanted me as is, with my character, my aggressiveness and my big mouth in the locker room. Ajoie, on the contrary, wanted me as a dominant striker in several areas. However, it had been a very long time since I did not have an offensive role. This corresponded very well with my desire to always learn.“, continues the ex-Seattle player.

Hockey is by far not the most publicized sport in France. However, Bellemare decided to put on skates at the age of 6 and a half… in Montpellier. For what? “Because I didn't like running and was attracted to what was different“, he replies. The beginning of a great adventure which, subsequently, led him from Rouen to the Swedish clubs of Leksands and Skelleftea, to the sacrosanct NHL.

In 2018, the stage became too big for many Vegas players in the finals

“Pi-Ed” made his debut in the best league in the world in 2014, with the Philadelphia Flyers. “The NHL is a world where you have nothing to think about other than playing hockey. Everything is excessive. Of course, the human side is less emphasized. But it's still a great experience to live.“, he believes.

Of his two lost finals in North America, Bellemare most bitterly regrets the first, with Vegas in 2018. The Golden Knights defied the odds by reaching the bottom step during their inaugural season. “Our biggest star was goalkeeper Marc-André Fleury, and he was also the most humble player on the squad. In these conditions, we could only have a golden team.”remembers the Frenchman, then teammate of Zougois defender Luca Sbisa.

“The experts, who were against us throughout the playoffs, changed their song before the final. The stage then became too big for many players“, deplores the Habs.

With Tampa Bay in 2022, the context was completely different. “There, on the other hand, we were shattered. We were missing our 2 best players and 5 of us were on the pool table the day after the last match. We almost wondered what we were doing at this stage of the competition“.

Finishing at the Olympics would be a perfect ending for me

In addition to remaining with HC Ajoie, one last major challenge looms on the horizon for Bellemare: the 2026 Olympics. The French team has certainly not validated its presence in Milan during the qualifying tournament in September. But she should still probably be there replacing Russiastill banned because of the war in Ukraine. The IIHF will make a decision on this next February.

“France has been absent from the Olympic hockey tournament for 22 years. I have always dreamed of participating in it, also to imitate my sister (ed: ex-gymnast, Rose-Eliandre Bellemare took part in the Summer Olympics in 2008). I can't wait for the vote to take place to have confirmation of this. Finishing at the Olympics would be a perfect ending for me.” Bellemare proclaims.

Interview with Pascal Thurnherr, in collaboration with Michaël Taillard