Deliberate plan: SCL Tigers sells foreign license for 18-year-old Czech

class=”sc-29f61514-0 icZBHN”>

After the surprising 2-1 victory of the SCL Tigers on penalties in Biel, there were many compliments for debutant Jiri Felcman (18). “Jiri did great things in his first match,” said teammate Julian Streit (29) in an interview with MySports. And Langnau sports director Pascal Müller (44) was also enthusiastic in an interview with Blick: “He did an excellent job. Especially as a centre, it is anything but easy in the first match.”

Felcman came to kiss the hand because the Finns Harri Pesonen (35) and Saku Mäenalanen (29) were sick in bed and the American Anthony Louis (28) was injured. The special thing about it: sports director Müller had to obtain a foreign license for the young Czech striker. Because Felcman has only been playing in Swiss junior hockey for four years. And it takes five years to obtain a Swiss driver’s license and thus not burden the foreigner quota. At Felcman this will be the case from the 2024/25 season.

Calculable risk and strategy

But the Tigers did not license him as a foreigner out of sheer desperation. “It was clear before the season that we would do this if necessary and we had injured, sick or suspended foreigners,” Müller explains. However, in September he has already used up his eighth of a maximum of ten foreign licenses for the Czech junior international. Isn’t that too daring?

“Of course, there is always a certain risk,” says Müller. But since the foreigners who are currently absent are returning and no one is absent for months, this can be calculated. “And it is also part of our strategy that we give young players a chance.”

Second match against Fribourg

Felcman should also get this tonight in the home game against Fribourg. Because Pesonen and Mäenalanen are still low and according to Müller it will take a miracle for even one of the two to play against the current team in second place.

Jiri Felcman is the most spectacular U20 foreigner in our league since today’s NHL star Auston Matthews (USA, 26) played as an attraction for the ZSC Lions in 2015/16. The Czech, who is already extremely robust for his age, is also expected to have a future in North America. The Chicago Blackhawks drafted him in the third round this summer and Felcman just returned from Chicago on Tuesday, where he attended prospect camp. “He got good feedback there. “Jiri meets all the requirements for a great career,” Müller is convinced.

Until then, he should be an asset for the SCL Tigers. Whether as the youngest foreigner in the National League this season or with a Swiss license from next season. The Emmentalers have secured the services of the Czech Hradec Kralove until 2026.

Source : Blick