Stéphane Charlin aspires to the NHL, but not at all costs

While Leonardo Genoni is still on the flank for Zug and Reto Berra is playing in the gray of Friborg, Stéphane Charlin is taking on the tiger’s share in the Langnau cage. At 24 years old, the goalkeeper has had a completely crazy start to the season at Ilfis: 96.19% saves and 1.24 goals/conceded. The best statistics in the country, by far.

The Geneva goalkeeper is imposing (191 cm, 84 kg), so much so that he will return to his training club from the next championship (three-year contract, until 2028). Is he surprised by his current form?

“It’s a continuation of previous seasons,” he believes. Since I arrived at Langnau, we have played with a very structured defensive system. In order for us to win matches, we have to be very solid defensively and leave very few chances to our opponents. For my part, I work on details – and not on specific things – to have this consistency in my performances.

These logically opened the doors to the Swiss team to compete in the recent Karjala Cup. Despite a premature exit against the Czech Republic, the last Geneva rampart maintains great ambitions for the months to come.

“We had to adapt to another system, but above all to another level and a higher speed,” emphasizes Stéphane Charlin, followed by a mental coach for several years. You don’t just have to achieve good performances in the championship. I am working in this direction to be good in the national team. Because like every goalkeeper, I want to be taken to the next World Cup. That’s my goal.”

No. 38 of the Tigers arrived in Emmental in the summer of 2022, when the National League approved the move from four to six foreigners. This decision, which is not very favorable to doormen who benefit from a white cross passport, has however hardly slowed down the development of the future Eagle.

“Personally, I always played in a team that had two Swiss goalkeepers,” he recalls. But we see, this year, that Swiss goalkeepers perform as well, or even surpass certain foreign goalkeepers. It’s a good thing.”

This trend notably allowed Connor Hughes to make the jump to North America and the Montreal Canadiens organization during the offseason, at the end of a brilliant epic under the colors of the Lausanne finalist. Enough to give ideas to Stéphane Charlin, even though he is committed to Genève-Servette?

“It’s not because it’s the NHL that you have to sign directly, go there without looking at the proposal, nor without evaluating whether it’s a good thing for your development or not,” emphasizes the former garnet junior, never passed through Canada or the United States. If this were to happen, I would try to be as lucid as possible. But, for the moment, there has been no concrete contact.”

The future of the former goalkeeper from Sierre, La Chaux-de-Fonds or Langenthal should therefore be at Les Vernets, “in a team that wanted to win” the title. “To take the next step in my career, Geneva was the best solution.”

But before returning to his hometown, what does he see in the rearview mirror when he thinks back to his experience in Emmental?

“In terms of hockey, I was very well surrounded within the organization,” appreciates Stéphane Charlin. I was given a lot of chances and confidence, which I wouldn’t necessarily have had in a bigger team. In terms of everyday life, I have improved my German a lot. I’m doing well now.”

The Genevan, who lives with his girlfriend, grew up in Langnau far from big cities and their inherent distractions. “I have actually matured,” said the main person concerned. But you know, Bern and Lucerne are not very far (laughs). We have a good group of young people on the team. There aren’t 1000 things to do, but we always find activities to share.”

The next one? Beat his future employer garnet, this Friday evening (7:45 p.m.), at Ilfis.