Hischier serving in Swiss army with Devils season ended

Nico Hischier has been using the pause in the NHL season to serve his country.

The New Jersey Devils center, who was born in Switzerland, is fulfilling his military obligation. Switzerland has mandatory service for all able-bodied male citizens once they turn 18 years old. Hischier, who turned 21 in January, previously stated his intention to serve but hadn't been able to because of the NHL schedule.
Hischier returned to Switzerland after the NHL season was paused March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus. The Devils are not among the 24 teams that will compete for the Stanley Cup as part of the NHL Return to Play Plan, giving Hischier time to serve.
"This summer is 18 weeks, and then every summer for the next 6-7 years I have to be there for three weeks, but just from Monday-Thursday, you have to be at that training center," Hischier said from Switzerland on Saturday. "If you (play in) the World Championships tournament for Switzerland, that counts as well (for up to three weeks)."

Hischier said the routine is different for athletes in the army. It's mostly training exercises with no access to weapons.
"It's army for athletes, so we are seven hockey players together in my group," he said. "Because of the coronavirus, for the first four weeks we were at home, and did a home-schooling kind of thing. We had exercises on the computer we had to basically learn. After that, we went to a training center where the army for athletes is. We started with some 45-minute meetings where we learn first aid
on Feb. 16. Greene was captain for five seasons.
"That's a big, big thing," said Hischier, who was an alternate captain this season, his third in the NHL. "Obviously, I wouldn't say no, but I think at the end of the day, I'm still a young player, still got a long way to go and still a lot of things that I don't know yet and need to learn. Even being an (alternate) captain this year, it gave me confidence with that. I tried to help the team off the ice and on the ice with leading by example. Just doing the little details right."
Hischier, who scored 36 points (14 goals, 22 assists) in 58 games this season, signed a seven-year, $50.75 million contract (average annual value $7.25 million) on Oct. 18. It begins next season.
"The pressure is always there for everyone, but obviously there's going to be this little extra pressure, but I'll try to use it as motivation," he said. "But at the end of the day, I try to come in there and be a great teammate, try to get my teammates going, try to get my teammates better, try to have success with that team and I'll try to do whatever I can to help that. That's always my main focus every year."