Hubert Audriaz is one of Fribourg’s iconic figures. As well as being a busy artist, community leader and former ice-hockey player, it was Hubert who came up with the idea of making the dragon the mascot of Fribourg’s ice hockey club, HC Gottéron.
Short biography of Hubert Audriaz
Born in 1940, Hubert Audriaz is one of 11 children. His family was one of 14 families who lived in Auge, a neighbourhood in Fribourg’s Old Town (Basse-Ville). With a total of 80 children between them, it was not surprising that these families always helped each other out. At 15, Hubert opened his own sculpture and painting studio. Three years later, he started to plough his energies into ice-hockey, playing for HC Fribourg-Gottéron (in Division 2) for more than decade. He later studied fine arts in Paris for four years, after which he began working as a cultural facilitator in the city of Fribourg. During this time, he organised creative workshops, contributed to the Passeports Vacances scheme (activities for schoolchildren during the summer break) and even drew up plans an 18-hole golf course through the city of Fribourg. He would have to wait 16 years (2008) for the local tourist office to recognise the potential of his innovative idea. Age has not slowed Hubert down. The 72-year-old continues to coach junior and amateur ice hockey players.
Short biography of the HC Gottéron mascot
HC Fribourg-Gottéron was the first ice-hockey club in Europe to adopt a mascot. At the start of every match, the Gottéron team make its spectacular entrance on to the rink from the mouth of a huge dragon, which was sculpted by Hubert Audriaz in 1998. The Fribourg artist took his inspiration from the legend of the Gottéron valley dragon: it was said that when the wind blew in winter, you could hear it roar. However, Hubert would have to summon up all his powers of persuasion to win over the hockey club directors to the idea of making the dragon the HC Gottéron mascot.
Born in 1940, Hubert Audriaz is one of 11 children. His family was one of 14 families who lived in Auge, a neighbourhood in Fribourg’s Old Town (Basse-Ville). With a total of 80 children between them, it was not surprising that these families always helped each other out. At 15, Hubert opened his own sculpture and painting studio. Three years later, he started to plough his energies into ice-hockey, playing for HC Fribourg-Gottéron (in Division 2) for more than decade. He later studied fine arts in Paris for four years, after which he began working as a cultural facilitator in the city of Fribourg. During this time, he organised creative workshops, contributed to the Passeports Vacances scheme (activities for schoolchildren during the summer break) and even drew up plans an 18-hole golf course through the city of Fribourg. He would have to wait 16 years (2008) for the local tourist office to recognise the potential of his innovative idea. Age has not slowed Hubert down. The 72-year-old continues to coach junior and amateur ice hockey players.
Short biography of the HC Gottéron mascot
HC Fribourg-Gottéron was the first ice-hockey club in Europe to adopt a mascot. At the start of every match, the Gottéron team make its spectacular entrance on to the rink from the mouth of a huge dragon, which was sculpted by Hubert Audriaz in 1998. The Fribourg artist took his inspiration from the legend of the Gottéron valley dragon: it was said that when the wind blew in winter, you could hear it roar. However, Hubert would have to summon up all his powers of persuasion to win over the hockey club directors to the idea of making the dragon the HC Gottéron mascot.
