Canadian goaltender Maxime Lagacé has been Färjestad Karlstad's clear choice between the posts this Champions Hockey League season and with the ultimate game of the CHL season just days away, we caught up with him to get his thoughts on everything CHL Final and more!
"We came in with the right approach and we've made our success."Maxime Lagacé, Färjestad Karlstad
"We took it one game at a time and showed we were ready to play our very best from the start," started Lagacé about the start of the CHL season."
Färjestad would go on to win the first seven games of their CHL season - including sweeping through the Regular Season unbeaten to seal the Regular Season Winners' crown. How did that feel? "It was a really fun run, I think we came in with the right approach and we've made our success," he responded.
For a player who has spent all his career playing in North America, a competition like the Champions Hockey League is a new and different thought. The 32-year-old, who is in his second CHL season, says he's really enjoyed the experience.
"Playing in the CHL has been great. I've really enjoyed playing this year. We've been travelling to different cities, facing different teams from different leagues. It's cool facing the very best teams from Europe!"
"These types of games really test our team as you always have to adapt be it a new arena, a new formation or simply adjusting to a new place."
Some of the places Lagacé mentions include Finland, Austria, Czechia and Hungary, as the Swedish club have faced eight different opponents en route to the big Final. Is there a favourite among these?
"Prague was really cool, the arena and setup was a nice experience. But looking even further back, visiting Switzerland last year to face EHC Biel-Bienne was really nice as well," he said, noting a great eight-goal Round of 16 game last season on the club's most recent trip to Switzerland.
"Prague was really cool, the arena and setup was a nice experience."Maxime Lagacé, Färjestad Karlstad
"But each place has been spectacular. We went to a really new arena in Hungary which was a huge experience. The rink was really really cool," he added, highlighting their Game Day 3 game against Fehérvár AV19.
Looking to what we're really here for: the Champions Hockey League Final. The battle to host the Final was very close between Färjestad and Zurich down to the last few minutes of Zurich's game against Genève-Servette. In the end, the Swiss club managed to score the one goal they needed to best their Swedish rivals to the hosting rights of the ultimate game of the CHL calendar. Did that hurt?
"Look, it's always good to play at home, but, from my perspective at least, travelling has been really exciting for me this season and I'm looking forward to the arena - I've heard fantastic stuff about it - so there's no doubt it's going to be fun."
Backing up what Lagacé says, it's generally known that SHL clubs are used to travelling long distances so maybe it really isn't an issue at all. "For us it's just another day and just another flight. We'll definitely be at our best," added the ex-NHLer.
"I've been following the clubs we could face for a while."Maxime Lagacé, Färjestad Karlstad
ZSC Lions Zurich. The Swiss heavyweights standing in Färjestad's way of European glory this season. What's Lagacé's take on them? Did Färjestad follow them as the battle for a place in the Final intensified?
"Yeah I've been following the clubs we could face for a while. We know they are a very strong club offensively, with great goaltending and defence. It's going to be a really fun game," noted the goaltender who was nominated for the LGT MVP Award at the start of the year.
Each player handles games when it's all on the line. How does the Canadian prepare for a game like the CHL Final?
"I approach it as any other game," he said, "of course there's something big at the end of the game, but I don't change anything and I stick to what works for me."
"We're going to go out and represent the SHL and our team as best we can."Maxime Lagacé, Färjestad Karlstad
With six past CHL Champions coming from Sweden and all nine past CHL Finals featuring at least one team from the Scandinavian country, there's a very long legacy of Swedish success in the elite European club ice hockey space. Maxime Lagacé says that he's aware of that and, putting aside his Canadian pride, he feels he wants to represent Sweden and the SHL on this level.
"I like to think I represent the SHL - even though I'm Canadian. We like to think it that way as hockey players. We're going to go out and represent the SHL and our team as best we can, but we know the National League is also really up top. It's really going to be tough!" he ended.
ZSC Lions Zurich and Färjestad Karlstad will face each other in the ultimate one-game CHL Final in Zurich, Switzerland on Tuesday, 18 February 2025, at 20:15 CET.