Pats’ Huet named to Switzerland’s preliminary world junior roster

Ewan Huet is expected to represent Switzerland at the 2024 world junior hockey championship.

The 18-year-old Regina Pats goaltender was named to the country’s preliminary roster for the international tournament, Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Gothenburg, Sweden.

“It’s a great feeling. It’s just an honour to be a part of this,” Huet said Tuesday. “It’s unreal. Switzerland is a hockey country and wearing this jersey, it’s an honour.

“Growing up and seeing all those Swiss NHL stars and wearing that jersey and getting a chance to wear it yourself, it’s a special feeling and I couldn’t be more happy.”

Huet, a product of Lausanne, joined the WHL’s Pats this season after playing for an under-20 team in Lausanne last season.

This year, he has gone 6-9-0-1 with a 3.60 goals-against average and a .896 save percentage. He has recorded a save percentage of at least .900 in 10 of his 17 appearances.

“I think Switzerland is on the right path (with goaltending),” Huet said. “You can really see more and more European goalies and I think it’s the style of hockey we play in Europe and we have great schools for hockey, especially in Sweden and Finland.”

“It’s a great accomplishment for him; it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Pats head coach Brad Herauf added. “All us Canadian kids grew up watching all those games at Christmas and I’m sure he was doing the exact same thing in Switzerland as he was growing up.”

Three other CHL players — defenceman Rodwin Dionicio (Saginaw Spirit, OHL), forward Miles Muller (Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL) and forward Leo Braillard (Lethbridge Hurricanes, WHL) — will also join the Swiss team.

Switzerland will have Czechia, Norway, Slovakia and the United States in its round-robin group in Sweden.