The Orange County Register will have a series for the Ducks Olympians, getting to know the player better, who is headed to the Olympics. Ducks have eight players attending the Olympics to represent their country with the heaviest representation for Team Canada, the second is a tie with both Team Finland and Team Switzerland, with Team USA coming in third for the amount of Ducks players representing their country:
Team Canada:Ryan Getzlaf, Scott Niedermayer, Corey Perry
Team Finland: Saku Koivu, Teemu Selanne
Team Switzerland: Jonas Hiller, Luca Sbisa
Team USA: Bobby Ryan
Jonas Hiller has seen a dream unfold in front of him. He's going to be able to set his foot on the World's Biggest Stage in Athletics: The Olympics.
He's representing a country that is more looking in than being in hockey wise. As his country is not considered a "Big 7". Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Slovakia, Sweden, Russia, and the USA.
In Canada and the United States where the biggest dream for a male hockey player is to make the NHL; the other five countries, their biggest dream is playing in the Olympics to represent their country.While they don't defer playing in the NHL the Olympics is just the biggest accomplishment [not that it isn't for the US/Canada] This time around; Hiller is no different. He was named to represent Switzerland and he looks to be the go to goalie for the Swiss.Martin Gerber also born in Switzerland is a former Duck and will help Hiller in the crease.
Hiller, as many international players who's family and friends aren't able to see them play very much he will give his family and friends a big opportunity to play in the Olympics possibly even live in Van2010. Hiller's dream has unfolded as Switzerland will come in more as an underdog than a top runner. He will most likely be able to help his country go far and possibly even take a medal in the Olympics. Being in the Olympics will also unite Hiller with old teammates he played with at home which would give him a huge golden opportunity to catch up with his friends he left behind in Switzerland.Hiller will also be playing with fellow countryman Luca Sbisa; who the Ducks acquired in the Chris Pronger trade during the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
Hiller will be facing his teammates in the Olympics as he will be facing Bobby Ryan with his first game in the Olympics. This is assuming he will be starting for the Swiss as the first game pulls nearer and nearer.
And now, not only has Hiller made the NHL with much thanks to Sharks then Bruins center man Joe Thornton who was one player who really helped Hiller be pushed into the system after the second NHL lockout. Former Ducks goaltending coach now the goalie coach for the Toronto Maple Leafs Francois Allaire is a huge reason why Hiller slipped the Ducks jersey over his head. J.S. Giguere was immediately supportive over Hiller telling him that if he needed any help don't hesitate to ask him. Hiller's biggest dream has now been fulfilled he is an NHLer and he is an Olympian. The 2010 Vancouver Olympics is his first ever Olympics and this has completed his dream.
If you realize while watching the video and in general that Hiller always pronounces his "W"s with "V" just completely represents his Swiss-German accent. In German the W is pronounced with the V sound:
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