Mario Pouliot expected to be fired from HC Sierre

“Surprised? I would say no. These things are felt, particularly in terms of people’s behavior. And that was my feeling recently…” Unfortunately for him, the experienced Mario Pouliot (61 years old) was right: on Friday, the Quebecer was fired from his position as coach of HC Sierre with immediate effect.

This dismissal is justified by the disappointing “sporting results”, according to the Valais club and Chris McSorley. The Graben team, fifth in the Swiss League (46 points in 28 outings), is however on target to meet the objectives set at the start of the season, namely a top 4 in the regular season and a place in the last four of the playoffs. off.

“I am really satisfied with the work I have accomplished since I arrived here,” underlines the Canadian technician. When I arrived in Sierre, I found a completely disorganized club. From now on, the club has an identity and a structure.

Beaten on Tuesday in Visp, the Reds and Yellows are nevertheless not going through the best period of their season since mid-November (six defeats in ten outings). A dip which can be explained, according to Mario Pouliot.

“We were facing some adversity recently due to injuries,” he recalls. But I found that we were gradually regaining our game, which was positive. Throughout my time at Sierre, the guys always worked hard and made great efforts to change the way they played before my arrival. I don’t have much to reproach them with, quite the contrary.”

Did Yves Sarault’s successor on the Valais bench, who was keen to highlight the progress made by the Reds and Yellows under his leadership by relying on the various advanced statistics, feel “betrayed” when the brutal decision was announced to him?

“Honestly, I didn’t really ask Chris any questions (ndlr: McSorley) when I met him, continues Mario Pouliot. Such meetings are generally not very long; you don’t want to drag on. It’s his decision. He’s the owner. It’s his right. We have to respect that. However, I think we were perfectly in the game in this very competitive league. In the last match in Visp, the team reacted well despite the defeat and there were a lot of positive signs.”

The day after the cantonal derby lost at the Lonza Arena, the important vote on the Valais Arena project led by Chris McSorley took place. Did the favorable result precipitate things on Graben’s side, as many imagined?

“It’s not up to me to judge,” says the Quebecer. I have no idea. These are not things I seek to connect. I have my own thoughts on this decision, but I will keep them to myself.

HC Sierre, which hosts EHC Coire this Saturday evening (kick-off at 6 p.m.), will be managed until the end of the season by Dany Gélinas, who until Friday coached HCV Martigny, the partner club of the Rouges and Yellows. Did the appointment of the Franco-Québécois shake Mario Pouliot?

“I worked very well with Dany, particularly in terms of our alignments,” notes the main person concerned. But I don’t waste my time analyzing who replaces me because it’s not in my control. We know how this environment works. There’s no point in speculating.”

If he does not intend to argue, the experienced coach would have liked to reach the end of his contract – which he extended last March after turning the club around (5th place, then eliminated in the quarter-finals of the play-offs) – at the end of the current season.

“I would have liked to finish what we started,” breathes, unsurprisingly, the Quebecer. I would also have liked to have our contingent back in full, but I am still satisfied and happy to have seized this opportunity that Christophe Fellay offered me (editor’s note: ex-sports director) and Alain Bonnet (president).»

What’s next for Mario Pouliot? End of year celebrations with family in Valais and… spending time in ice rinks. “I’m going to take the opportunity to go see matches and see friends in other leagues,” he smiles. As for my professional future, I had already started looking at some avenues for next season. We’ll see what happens.”