“AOE – Dany Bousquet”: This is how Freiburg ice hockey fans once celebrated their goal hunter. Dany Bousquet now works for the Post in Breisgau. A big change?
He used to rush across the ice on runners, today he walks around 15 kilometers a day in his job: Ex-ice hockey professional Dany Bousquet now delivers letters and parcels. “You definitely stay fit with your work,” says the 47-year-old Canadian on a gray December day on his tour through his delivery area in Breisgau.
“You can’t play ice hockey all your life.” Dany Bousquet
Bousquet played in various teams on two continents. He got on the ice for the first time in Canada when he was three. His professional career began in North America in 1995. He played there until 2002, then he came to Europe, where he was signed to the EHC Freiburg and the Kassel Huskies, among others. In 2006 he was awarded the title of best goal scorer in the first division in Austria. Legendr is the outburst of anger of his then coach Greg Holst, who was angry about a referee decision that brought Bousquet away from a penalty shot.
Video: “This is f ***** not normal” – Greg Holst talks himself into a rage
His year in Freiburg was also characterized by outstanding statistics: In 2003/04 the wolves entered the DEL elite league and were relegated again straight away, but with 33 goals and 25 assists in 54 games, Bousquet was not only one of the Breisgau’s top scorer, but also one the best goal getter in the entire league. In January 2009, Montreal-born Strmer returned to the wolf pack for a season and a half. The Canadian also found his personal happiness in Breisgau – which is why he lives outside Freiburg even after his career has ended.
In 2010, Bousquet injured his knee and ended his career. “At some point you have to do something different. You can’t play ice hockey all your life,” says Bousquet – and you think you can hear a slight regret in his words.
After leaving ice hockey, Bousquet first worked shifts, then at an assembly company, which caused him long absences from his wife and two daughters. He has been with the Post for five years and is happy with the job, says Bousquet – perhaps because he sees some parallels to his life as an athlete.
“You’re always in contact with people,” he says. This is important when delivering parcels, for example in order to know where to put the parcel. And because he works as a representative, with constantly changing areas of activity, he also has to remain flexible – just like back then with his frequently changing teams.
“My career has been my whole life.” Dany Bousquet
Switching from professional sport to a new job meant a big change. “My career has been my whole life,” says the 47-year-old. It was not easy to reorient yourself. But the money from his professional days was not enough in the long term – and that is not the only reason for his work at the Post: “I can’t just stay at home and sit around. I prefer to be outside and move around.” Carrying a package is true strength training. “Ice hockey has given me the advantage that I’m fit.”
The people who Bousquet delivers with letters and parcels usually don’t know anything about his athletic past, says the Canadian. However, he has not turned his back entirely on ice hockey: Before Corona, he made an appointment to play on the ice with his old EHC colleagues once a week. And it wasn’t until this year that his career was crowned: The North American East Coast Hockey League accepted Bousquet into their Hall of Fame because of his impressive goal record.
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