New Jersey Devils captain Nic Hischier is being lauded for helping save a family with two young children when they encountered trouble while on an inflatable raft near the Engehalde Weir dam in Switzerland.
Hischier, 27, was boating in the area at the time, when he spotted the family being pulled toward the dam and unable to get out on their own. Authorities were called and the Devils captain rushed to the scene, where a witness described his actions as “heroic,” according to Swiss outlet 20Minuten.
“In this situation, everyone is grateful for support, and we were all relieved that no one was hurt in the end,” Hischier told 20Minuten in a story published Thursday, July 9.
He hasn’t said much else about the situation, which reportedly occurred on Saturday, July 4, but Devils reporter Amanda Stein said the story might be “the most Nico story of all time.”
“A rubber dinghy with two adults and two children got into distress for reasons that are still being investigated,” police spokeswoman Sarah Wahlen told 20Minuten. “The police were eventually able to pull the boat ashore using a throw bag, and the four occupants were rescued unharmed.”
Hischier, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, was named team captain for the Devils in 2021, becoming only the 12th player in franchise history to have the honor.
The Devils announced on July 1 that Hischier had signed a five-year, $11.7 million contract extension to stay with the club.
“Since the day he was drafted as the No. 1 overall pick in 2017, Nico Hischier has represented the New Jersey Devils with class, commitment, and a dedication to the community,” Devils managing partner David Blitzer said in a statement at the time. “He puts the team before himself and wants nothing more than to win here in New Jersey. The entire organization is extremely proud that Nico wears the ‘C’ for us, and we couldn’t be happier that he’s signed this contract extension.”
General manager Sunny Mehta added that, despite fan and media speculation, he wanted to keep Hischier in New Jersey, rather than trade him for what would have been a massive haul.
“When I took this job, I knew that Nico was one of the core pieces that I definitely wanted as part of our future,” he said. “The way he plays the game, his leadership, and selflessness are qualities we value for this team. We all look forward to him leading this franchise, on and off the ice, for years to come.”
