Former NHL Star Glen Metropolit excited to faceoff New York Rangers with EV Zug in Switzerland
It might be the National Hockey League’s (NHL) first visit to Zug, Switzerland, but certainly not for Glen Metropolit, a former NHL star who is now playing for the EV Zug team of the Swiss Nationalliga A, after he signed on with the team back in 2010.
Born originally in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Glen Metropolit returned to his roots in Switzerland, in the city of Zug, which has a tiny population of only 26,000 people, after completing his eighth season in the NHL with Montreal Canadians.
Now the 37-year-old is playing the forward position for EV Zug, which is scheduled to face New York Rangers at the Bossard Arena, part of the 2011 Compuware NHL Premiere Challenge, an annual event between North American and foreign teams.
Metropolit might have had a good chance to continue in the NHL, but appreciates what the foreign leagues have given him.
"Playing in Europe has helped my career", Metropolit said. "I gained a lot of confidence, and NHL teams started to show interest again. It opened some doors for me, and I knew I had the option of returning to Europe if it didn't work out in the NHL".
Picked up from the International Hockey League (IHL), Metropolit started off his professional hockey career by participating in 30 games with Washington Capitals during the 1999-2000 season. He continued with Washington, but was sent to the minor leagues
during the following season.
His seesaw career continued to with teams like Tampa Bay Lightning, Atlanta Thrashers, St. Louis Blues, Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers and Montreal Canadiens.
In total, Metropolit has played 407 NHL games, and boasts a record of 159 points (57 goals, 102 assists).
Metropolit might have left the NHL, but it is nothing he regrets.
"I owe everything to hockey", Metropolit said. "I'm not ashamed of where I came from or embarrassed to talk about it, but a lot of people have it much worse than me. I always had love and support, and that's more than some other people have. I'm just grateful
for this game”.
There is still much time in the matchup between New York Rangers vs. EV Zug, which is scheduled to begin on Monday, October 3rd, at 2 pm, but Metropolit is ready and confident he will succeed in raising his teams’ banner on the international platform.
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