MONTREAL – What’s faster, a fast-paced F1 race car or a fast-paced NHL slapshot? Just ask Günther Steiner, who now has experience with both.
The team principal of the Haas F1 Team and star of Netflix Formula 1: Drive to Survive The series made a pit stop at the Bell Sports Complex in Brossard on Wednesday while in town for the Canadian Grand Prix.
PHOTOS: Günther Steiner visits the Habs
The 58-year-old, a former ice hockey goalie, grew up in northern Italy and prepared for a day to test his skills.
“I mean, you don’t catch every puck, but you still get a feel for it. It makes me feel 35 years younger, at least for 20 minutes,” admitted Steiner, who previously worked as a goalscorer for HC Meran. Then it comes to the budgets, strategy and technical development of motorsport giants worldwide. “It’ll be worse in the morning, I’m sure. Tomorrow I will feel old.”
Possible aches and pains aside, the Italian-American dual citizen cut a fine figure on the ice with all her team gear and a surprise piece of resistance.
captain Nick Suzuki Steiner presented a custom airbrushed goaltender mask co-branded with the Canadiens and Haas F1 Team, as well as elements from the city of Montreal and the honorary hab’s personal life.
Of course, there’s no better way to test NHL pro stock than against real NHL pros, and Suzuki, Kaiden GuhleAnd Sam Montembeault were delighted to join Steiner’s daughter Greta, Canadian Grand Prix President and CEO Francois Dumontier and mascots Youppi!, METAL! and Vroum to host a shootout.
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Video: Günther Steiner goes on the ice as an NHL goalkeeper
So is a permanent return to his first sport in sight?
“You could see that I’m no longer a pro on skates,” Steiner added with a laugh. “But it’s cool to do it and have the opportunity to do it. Thank you to the Montreal Canadiens for making it possible.”
Note that no doors were smashed during Wednesday’s visit.
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