Servette and the Lakers showed us how to beat the Germans

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They are deeply and painfully burned into the memory of the Swiss ice hockey community: defeats against the Germans. Who could forget how the national team lost to their big neighbor when it came to sausage? Such as in 2018 at the Olympic Games in the preliminary quarter-finals in South Korea (1:2 nV) or the World Cup quarter-finals in 2021 (2:3 nP) and 2023 (1:3).

Nati coach Patrick Fischer (48) recently said: “We see the story behind the opponent, instead of just the opponent. German NHL defenseman Moritz Seider told me it was ‘morbidly easy for them’ because all of Switzerland felt like they were the clear favorites against Germany.”

Swiss teams have also repeatedly cut their teeth in the Champions Hockey League in recent years. The robust playing style of the DEL clubs often caused problems for the National League representatives.

But this week, the SCRJ Lakers and Servette showed how it’s done in the CHL Round of 16. Both played without any complexes, pushed the pace and had the upper hand. Almost effortlessly, Rapperswil-Jona managed to reach the quarter-finals with 4:1 and 3:1 against the ambitious Adler Mannheim of ex-SCB coach Johan Lundskog, who had completed the qualification as number 1.

100,000 euros in prize money was collected

Servette had to grit her teeth even more. Against the German champion Red Bull Munich, who is now also coached by Toni Söderholm, a coach who failed at SCB, the team from Geneva lost the first leg 2-3. They owed the narrow result to a strong evening from goalkeeper Robert Mayer and a late goal from Daniel Winnik.

They then dominated on their own field in the return match. But Munich goalkeeper Mathias Niederberger stood on his head and prevented a goal from conceding for a long time. Jan Cadieux’s team did not let themselves be deterred – not even by the 0-1 result – and attacked the keeper like the oft-quoted drop in a stone. And in the end it was a mistake by Niederberger that allowed Tanner Richard to make it 3-1.

Patrick Fischer must dream of such a dominant and convincing performance in a quarter-final against the Germans.

Geneva and St. Gallen are in the quarter-finals. Servette will have to deal with the next champion, the one from Sweden, the Växjö Lakers. Vitkovice, the team from Ostrava (Czech Republic), is waiting for Rappi.

Unlike football, the Champions Hockey League is not a gold mine. But from the quarter-finals onwards it is no longer a losing proposition. Servette and the Lakers have received 100,000 euros from the CHL so far. Another 20,000 would be added to reach the semi-finals. The winner will receive a total prize money of 360,000 euros, the second place will receive 240,000 euros. Added to this are the viewership revenues. Servette had 5,527 fans on Wednesday and the Lakers had 3,515 last week.

Source : Blick