Broken ribs. A punctured lung. An emergency operation. Doctors were pessimistic. It will be “almost impossible” for you to attend the Beijing Games, they announced to Claude Julien.
Posted at 5:14 a.m.
It was two weeks ago, in Davos, Switzerland. Claude Julien had just taken part in an integration activity with the players and coaches of Canada’s men’s hockey team. “We were sledding on a small toboggan,” he says. It was slippery. He fell and hit a tree. The shock was violent. He immediately went to the hospital.
The doctors first subjected him to X-ray examinations. Diagnosis: broken ribs. Except that on returning to the hotel, Claude Julien was in more and more pain. “I was experiencing symptoms that told me there was something more. I returned to the hospital. They made me take other exams [en tomodensitométrie]. That’s when they discovered that in addition to the fractured ribs, I also had a punctured lung. »
Less than 24 hours after his accident, Claude Julien found himself on the operating table. “It didn’t look good,” he says. It was hard to accept. The other coaches and I had taken a lot of time to prepare the team. With the pandemic, we had done a lot of screening with video. It was disappointing, but it was the reality. »
The operation was a success. “It not only helped my ribs, but also my punctured lung. Despite everything, the doctors preferred to remain cautious. “They told me it was almost impossible for me to go to China, and at that time it was true. »
On January 30, Hockey Canada released a press release announcing that former Chicago Blackhawks head coach Jeremy Colliton would replace Claude Julien as coach of the men’s team. “Claude was thrilled and honored to be part of Team Canada for the Games, and we are all disappointed that he can no longer lead our team in Beijing,” said Team Canada general manager Shane Doan.
Then Claude Julien got better.
Quick.
Very quickly.
“I stayed a week in Davos. There, we are 5000 feet above sea level. I did all the exercises I was asked to heal my lung. It went well. »
After the departure of Team Canada, Swiss doctors took care of him. “If I’m in China today, it’s a lot thanks to them. The guy who operated on me was fantastic. Her work helped me heal faster. When the team left, they came to see me almost every day. They came to check on me. They were pushing really hard so that I could go to the Games. They stayed in contact with the Canadian medical staff, and told them: we will do everything to give you back your coach. »
People who know Claude Julien well will not be surprised to learn that during his recovery, the former head coach of the Canadiens continued to supervise Team Canada – from a distance.
“The pill was hard to swallow at first. But the coaching staff, led by Jeremy, did a very good job. He followed the game plan we had prepared. I was able to see all the practices, as well as the exhibition game against the United States. I was able to keep an eye on it all. The players also adapted very well. We have such a great group. If it went better than expected, it’s because of the personality of the people in our team. »
Then against all odds, about a week after his accident, Claude Julien got the green light from the doctors to join the team in Beijing. “There were no more risks. That’s why they let me go. »
Except that Claude Julien was not yet at the end of his troubles. It is not as easy to enter China, in the midst of a pandemic, as in a neighborhood grocery store. There is a form to fill out. And another. And another. And another. More testing for COVID.
“When did you feel relief?” I asked him.
“When I got on the plane. There, I knew I was on my way for good. The flight was excellent. I even slept. And at the airport in Beijing, everything happened quickly. When they arrived, the guys from the team had waited three hours. Me, I passed in half an hour [rires]. »
A few hours later, Claude Julien sat in the heights of the Wukesong Omnisports Palace, in Beijing, to watch the Canadians’ first match against the Germans. He really liked what he saw.
“What I like about our team is that we have big players and good skaters. And since we play on small ice, we are comfortable with our style of play. We want to play “Canadian style”. Meaning a good forecheck, good pressure on the other team. We want to smother our opponents in their own area. Kill games as soon as possible. Our guys did it right [contre les Allemands]. We also want nice transitions in the neutral zone. I think our team did very well in this first match. »
Friday, facing the Americans, Claude Julien will no longer be in the heights of the arena, but at ice level, behind the bench.
Where it feels best.
Where, two weeks ago, it was “almost impossible” to imagine it.