Winning a championship, whatever it is, remains the ultimate goal and dream of every professional athlete. Quebec’s Marc-Antoine Pouliot did just that a few days ago when his team, Genève-Servette HC, was crowned champion Bundesliga in Swiss.

“Finally!” exclaimed Pouliot, visibly moved and delighted by the feat he’s just accomplished, in the middle of a lavish interview with TVASports.ca.

The Quebecer, who was the Edmonton Oilers first-round pick in 2003, was in his 11th season in Switzerland and his 18th as a professional hockey player. In addition to his two victories at the Spengler Cup in 2012 and 2016 with the Canadian team, this was his first consecration of this kind.

“It’s the first time in Switzerland,” said the striker, who will be 38 in a few weeks. This is my 17th year (as) a pro (Editor’s note: After review, 18), it’s my first title, if you disregard the Spengler Cups that I’ve won, that’s still the one Fun for prestige.

“I have a lot less left than I used to. I was finally able to enjoy this moment!”

This makes Pouliot one of the few Quebecers to get their hands on the Swiss Premier League champions’ trophy. Few have achieved this feat since the beginning of the 21st century; the youngest was Maxim Noreau in 2017. To this name we can add in particular those of Marc-André Bergeron, former defender of the Montreal Canadiens who is now general manager of the Trois-Rivières Lions in the ECHL, Simon Gamache, Christian Dubé twice and the well-known Alexandre Daigle also twice.

Pouliot was no stranger to his team’s success after a bitter seven-game clash in the final against Biel HC, a team he played for six seasons and scored twice, including the winning goal, in a 3-2 win in Game 4 twice after a 7-1 thaw in Game 5. He ended up scoring six goals and having two assists in the playoffs.

“All games are big finals, they all have their own meaning,” philosophized the man who also has Swiss citizenship. To be able to get involved in the 2-1 defeat in game 4 in Biel. We scored the same goal twice with (Alessio) Bertaggia and Roger Karrer, which made the difference in that game, I’m sure I will always remember that.”

After 118 years of waiting

This victory is of course a personal success for Pouliot, but apart from that this victory was expected in Geneva for 118 years when the club had never won a title of this importance since its foundation in 1905.

As such, fans were over the moon as the trophy was lifted at arm’s length by the team’s players on the Patinoire des Vernets after a 4-1 win of Game No. 7.

“It was really cool on the ice,” said Pouliot. After that there was a huge screen in the parking spot, there were two floors, we could go upstairs and party with the fans. They haven’t been able to enjoy such a victory for a long time.

“There are a lot of videos and photos, so we have a lot of memories. We are lucky to be able to be at this time. We will be able to engrave these memories forever.

And the next day, the players could celebrate in the streets of the city.

“There was a parade the next day,” the Quebec native continued. We went to City Hall, (we were) celebrated by the city. Then there was the parade from the town hall to the arena by bus, a small parade of maybe half an hour. Then we went partying with the fans again, with autographs and everything in the arena, where parking spot. Of course the women were there with the family and everything. It was very cool.”

As in the time of the Oceanic

If it was the first title of Pouliot’s professional career, the latter had also enjoyed the spree of victory in 2005 when the Océanic de Rimouski, of which he was part with a certain Sidney Crosby, received the President’s Trophy of the QMJHL’s champion team.

Though the team ended up losing to Corey Perry’s London Knights in the Memorial Cup Grand Final, the memories of that course will stay with Pouliot forever.

“We had won the President’s Cup, we really were hot since Christmas this year, Pouliot recalled. I think we lost a game or two. We were in a bubble. Winning the President’s Cup with Rimouski is a moment I remember like it was yesterday. It’s a bit similar.

“Lift the trophy, celebrate with the team on the ice. Unfortunately we lost the Memorial Cup afterwards in the final. We won the last game there this time. It’s a little different on this side. You always want to win your last game, we don’t, but we still had an exceptional season.”

Special family time

The Quebecer is well established in Switzerland, he married and started a family with his wife. He was able to experience a special moment with his two little boys aged six and a half and four and a half and his 10-month-old daughter.

“Right after that they came onto the ice. We were able to celebrate together, win the trophy, take photos, really unforgettable moments,” said the forward.

“After that we went out. The children went home, the in-laws were there, he laughed. We went out with the other couples, with the other players, it was really amazing.

Your granddaughter won’t remember any of this. Your youngest boy might not. But his eldest may have memories in his head, to his father’s delight.

“It’s something that might change his life in the long run,” Pouliot dreamed. To see his father win. Hopefully.”

The Quebecois, who has signed a contract with Genève-Servette for next year, will be looking to defend the title won this season. Despite the victory and the celebrations, Pouliot needs to get down from his cloud and get to work pretty quickly.

“I still have at least a year to defend my title,” he said. It’s great to enjoy moments of victory. Ultimately, we need to come back to Earth in a few days and prepare for the next year.

But Pouliot can stay on his cloud a little longer, and no one will blame him for that, because winning a championship doesn’t happen every day.

See some passages from the interview with Marc-Antoine Pouliot in the video above.