Chris DiDomenico heads to Ambri — a dream come true

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Athletic director Paul Duca has made three attempts to bring Chris DiDomenico to Embry. Now it works. Chris DiDomenico and Dominic Kubalik could rock the league as a dream couple.

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Chris DiDomenico (35), of all people, a passionate leader whose game is as much about talent as it is about emotion, is leaving Gautron, the A club that relies on emotion to survive like no other. Because he was already uncomfortable. It's a bit like a stock market guru leaving Stanley Morgan on the grounds that money doesn't work at the company and he has no place here.

In the long run, the termination of the contract with “DiDo” was the declaration of Gottéron's bankruptcy. The flamboyant Canadian's listlessness, with his efficiency only half of his best (16 games/9 points), suggests that the conditions in the locker room are broken and coach Patrick Emond's tenure is coming to an end. .

Now Embry will be Chris DiDomenico’s new employer. Paolo Duca made his first attempt to sign the Canadian in the spring of 2018. But after his NHL adventure in Ottawa failed, he returned to Langnau. After the Langnau scandal broke in December 2019, Paul Duca made a comeback, but his dream player moved to Gotron. Two years later, when Gautron transferred to SCB, he was late again.

Now Ambri's Swede Jakob Lilja (31) will move to Gotron and in return Chris DiDomenico will also come to Ambri. Both men signed new contracts with new employers. “This is an opportunity for two players who are no longer happy,” said Paul Duca. In a sense, Jakob Lilja and Jonathan Ang (who left Ambri for Sweden/HV 71) became Dominik Ku​ Balik's victim. «We planned a season with seven foreign players. Then the opportunity to sign Dominik Kubalik presented itself. We can't say no to this. But now we have eight foreigners. Jakob Lilja and Jonathan Ang never really accepted the situation. Both performed professionally but were unsettled by the uncertainty of their availability. “

Jacob Ligia and Jonathan Ang have departed, and Chris DiDomenico is arriving. Now, according to the original plan, Ambri has seven foreigners. If Janne Juvonen is in goal, someone has to step into the stands. Even if no one says it: Dominik Kubalik and Chris DiDomenico are a lock. The ice-cold enforcer Dominic Kubalik and the smart playmaker and “emotion maker” Chris DiDomenico have the temperament of ice and fire, and they can form a dream duo to shake up the league.

Only Embry’s hockey culture is more emotional than Gotron’s. So has Chris DiDomenico finally fulfilled his destiny at the hockey-mature age of 35? Paul Duca hopes that's the case and doesn't think the Canadiens will disturb the peace of mind in the locker room. “He is a passionate fighter and a perfect fit for us.” Indeed, Chris DiDomenico embodies Ambri's values ​​with his unconditional commitment. He can ignite more emotions in the locker room, on the ice and in the stands. At the risk of him taking it too far. It means he wants too much. But it's still better to have a forward who wants too much than one who can do too little. He won't be short of motivation: He'll turn 36 in February and will have a chance to extend his NL career by another season with proper performance.

The anxious question is: Does Chris DiDomenico still have enough energy to deliver his generous and wild game? Paul Duca says that's not a problem. “He's healthy.”

Gotron moved his most passionate player to Embry and gave Embry the favor of redeeming himself from Jakob Lillia (32): the Swedish striker with no flair who played in Levin last season Tiner is already just a decent average (53 games/30 points total) and has almost zero this season: 11 games, 1 assist and a disastrous minus-7 record. He doesn't bring any significant playful added value to Gottéron, nor does he ignite any emotions in this dream factory.

Paolo Duca, humbled by his wealth of experience over the years, said: “We never know what will happen…” But there is a good chance that Ambri will do well and Gotron (Gottéron) is terrible.

But there are still leaves on the tree, and Ambri has already used nine of 10 possible alien permits. There isn't much room left. Paolo Duca probably keeps his last foreign driver's license in a safe, only redeeming it in the last year for an extremely urgent emergency.

The second phase of Gotron's coaching dismissal has now begun. The first is a statement of confidence from Patrick Emond. The second is often the unnecessary termination of contracts with foreigners in order to find scapegoats. The next person to be terminated will be Patrick Emond.

We leave the final decision on this matter to Paul Duca. “We took a risk and signed Dominik Kubalik. He has until December 15th to transfer to the NHL. Chris DiDomenico's commitment is not without risk. But you always say well, Drama is part of Ambri…” Or to put it in a sentence: no risk, no drama.

PS Already play against Zug on Tuesday? Paulo Duca said that Chris DiDomenico will play in Embry's first game against Zug if he can resolve all bureaucratic issues (licenses, work permits) on Tuesday.

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