Curious return trip from Ticino: the Biel players ate alone at the rest area

class=”sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc”>

It is a bizarre scene late Wednesday evening at the Gotthard Nord service station. The EHC Biel team bus is parked next to the gas pumps. The players get out and grab the food brought by the staff and distributed in a special place. In the midst of all this, a handful of journalists are interviewing players and coaches who are clearly in good spirits.

This unique event took place because the Bielers did not want to give dressing room interviews immediately after their 4-2 win in the decisive play-in match in Ambri. Because the Gotthard Tunnel is closed for two hours at 11 p.m., it is urgent and every minute counts. The team bus wants to drive north at the last minute. And so the food and interviews are quickly moved to the first gas station along the highway after the tunnel.

Somehow it fits perfectly into the overall picture. Because EHC Biel not only got through the Gotthard at the last minute, but also reached the play-offs shortly before in Ambri.

It was made possible by sports director Martin Steinegger, who pulled the emergency brake after the impasse under coach Petri Matikainen, released him on February 25 and has been on the board since then.

Steinegger’s scary balance sheet

In the seven games under him, Biel’s team always scored points and did not lose six times in a row. “Of course it’s nice when you win,” says the 52-year-old between the team car and the gas pumps. He successively eliminated Swiss coaches Thierry Paterlini (SCL Tigers, long-distance duel for the final play-in place), Jan Cadieux (Servette, first play-in round) and Luca Cereda (Ambri, second play-in round). “The Swiss coaches probably don’t like me that much anymore,” says Steinegger, almost ashamed. From a Swiss perspective, the only people left in the play-offs are himself and Lugano’s Luca Gianinazzi.

Steinegger’s track record as a coach is uncanny. Because when he played six games in 2017 after Mike McNamara was fired and before Antti Törmänen took office, he won five. Seven years later the next success story. In fact, sports director Steinegger cannot avoid calling on coach Steinegger next season.

Now against Crawford

“After the season we will have to see what it looks like and how to proceed. But it’s not just me who made it; it’s everyone participating,” says Steinegger. Yet someone seems to be getting used to his new job. Just two weeks ago it all sounded a bit more defensive.

The ultimate challenge awaits Steinegger over the next two weeks. The sovereign qualifying winner ZSC Lions with his former, experienced NHL coach Marc Crawford (63). “I’m looking forward to it, we’re going to enjoy these matches,” says Steinegger before the quarter-final match.

The Zurich team will undoubtedly be loaded after the 0-4 disgrace in last year’s semi-final series against Biel. But Steinegger still doesn’t have to be afraid. He helped on the boards for two of the four wins. Once because head coach Törmänen had to drop out due to cancer treatment. Once because assistant coach Oliver David was unavailable due to illness. Steinegger also manages to beat Crawford.

Source : Blick