Baltisberger returning to Zurich
Guelph Storm defenceman Phil Baltisberger is getting ready for the next step in his hockey career.
While eligible to return to the Storm as an overage player next season, Baltisberger will instead play for his hometown Zurich Lions, one of the top club teams in Switzerland. He signed a contract with them some time ago.
Zurich has a team in both the Swiss A and Swiss B leagues and Baltisberger hopes to make the ‘A’ team, where his brother Chris currently plays. The ‘A’ team has several ex-National Hockey Leaguers on its roster and is coached by former NHL coach Marc Crawford.
“Before I came to Canada I played with the ‘B’ team but now I am signed with the ‘A’ team, but I still have to go out and make the team,” Baltisberger said after practice on Wednesday.
“It’s my goal to make the ‘A’ team. Right now they have seven defencemen signed so my chances are pretty good,” he said.
He said you can make a good living playing in Switzerland, more than what he would make in the American Hockey League, although the higher cost of living pretty much evens it out.
Baltisberger, who has his eye on making the Swiss Olympic team in 2022, said he has no regrets about his decision to come play in Canada two years ago with the hope of being drafted into the NHL. He was passed over in the draft.
“I don’t regret it at all. I’ve learned a lot here, I’ve improved my game, I had a really good time and we won a championship,” he said, adding that the off-ice benefits such as living away from home and improving his English were added benefits.
As for the disappointment of not getting drafted last summer, he said it was actually better to be undrafted than to be drafted in the late rounds. That way if he plays a couple of years in Switzerland and NHL teams are interested, he can sign with anyone he wants.
