Linden Vey and Pat Emond’s “happy puzzle”

Journalists present at Dragons training on Monday had to wait for many minutes before being able to meet Linden Vey. Upon their arrival, the players had already returned to the locker room after having advanced their training to allow the ice of the BCF Arena to wear the colors of the Champions League. It was therefore in civilian clothes that the Canadian presented himself to the media, holding a small Mario Kart figurine in his hands. “I have to give it back to my son,” smiles this father of three when a journalist asks him what it is.

Linden Vey, 33, arrived in Friborg last Thursday after leaving Russia and making a brief visit to his native Canada. “It’s been a long journey to get here,” says the striker, who terminated his contract with HK Avangard Omsk for family reasons. “Being able to be at home every night is something special,” he explains without elaborating on the subject. Before his departure, this center recorded 19 points in 20 KHL games this season (7 goals and 12 assists).

Now settled with his family on the banks of the Sarine, Linden Vey is ready to return to service after several weeks away from the ice. “We quickly realize how much we miss hockey. It’s a pleasure to be back on the ice, with teammates and at work.” Wearing the number 92, he will make his debut with the Dragons on Tuesday, during the second leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League against the Växjö Lakers (7:45 p.m.). His mission: to help Fribourg-Gottéron qualify after a 1-0 defeat in Sweden last week.

A place to take

“We will still have to be patient while he gets his bearings,” says Pat Emond. The Dragons coach could line up the former ZSC Lions player (10 games played during the 2017/18 season) alongside Christoph Bertschy and Killian Mottet. For his part, Lucas Wallmark, uncertain after being hit in the head by a referee’s skate on Saturday in Davos, could also be lined up against the Swedish team. In any case, Pat Emond will not have to designate a supernumerary foreigner, the number of imports not being limited in the Champions League.

With seven foreigners under contract, a decision will have to be made for the rest of the championship. “We should not expect a turnaround,” warns Pat Emond. “Jacob Lilja has scored two goals in the last two games, and that’s not insignificant. Our two foreign defenders are also performing very well. So it’s a happy headache,” concludes the Quebecer with a smile.