class=”sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc”>
The Swiss League once again lives up to its reputation as the problem child of Swiss ice hockey. Just now, everyone was generally happy that the traditional club EHC Chur enriched the second top division through promotion. But once the people of Graubünden return, big problems arise elsewhere.
Last week it was announced that Martigny would withdraw from the Swiss League for financial and structural reasons after just one season. This means that the competition size, which had been increased from eleven due to Chur’s promotion, dropped to ten. But the Bellinzona Rockets, who belong to the HC Ambri-Piotta pyramid, also have another team facing major problems and an uncertain future.
Promoter Chur is complicit
Promoter Chur is also partly to blame. After HC Lugano left the Rockets, they were saved at the last second a year ago by the participation of the SCL Tigers. But now the Emmentalers have left Bellinzona again and announced their collaboration with Chur last week. What the death knell could mean for Bellinzona.
“We don’t know at the moment what will happen next with the Rockets,” Ambri sports director Paolo Duca (42) told Blick. He doesn’t blame the SCL Tigers: “They always behaved properly.” But their departure puts him in great need: “We need a new partner, sponsors and players.”
Coaching school for Cereda and Cadieux
This is not a new situation for Duca and the Rockets. “We have been fighting every season for four years and we don’t know if it will continue. Last season we didn’t know until May.” At that time, the rescue location also changed – from Biasca to Bellinzona.
It is important to keep fighting and looking for solutions to save this youth project from Ticino, which is also close to Duca’s heart. But realistically, things aren’t looking good for the Bellinzona Rockets. And there is a good chance that there will be only nine teams in the Swiss league next season.
The Rockets are often derided for being chronically bottom of the table in the Swiss league. However, it is often forgotten how much valuable work they have already done for Swiss ice hockey. Ambri coach Luca Cereda (42) and Servette’s master coach Jan Cadieux (43), among others, learned their trade there, and Nati goalkeeper Connor Hughes (27) was able to flourish in this organization.
|
team
|
SP
|
T.D
|
PT
|
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
 HC La Chaux-de-Fonds
|
45
|
54
|
92
|
|
|
2
|
 EHC Basel
|
45
|
67
|
92
|
|
|
3
|
 EHC Olten
|
45
|
43
|
84
|
|
|
4
|
 GCK lions
|
45
|
23
|
77
|
|
|
5
|
 HC Sierre
|
45
|
-20
|
63
|
|
|
6
|
 HC Thurgau
|
45
|
5
|
63
|
|
|
7
|
 EHC Visp
|
45
|
-10
|
61
|
|
|
8th
|
 EHC Winterthur
|
45
|
-16
|
60
|
|
|
9
|
 Hcv Martigny
|
45
|
-27
|
58
|
|
|
10
|
 HC Biasca Ticino missiles
|
45
|
-119
|
25
|
Source : Blick
I’m Emma Jack, a news website author at 24 News Reporters. I have been in the industry for over five years and it has been an incredible journey so far. I specialize in sports reporting and am highly knowledgeable about the latest trends and developments in this field.
