SCRJ goalkeeper Nyffeler gets up close and personal with 4-ton elephants

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Knie’s children’s zoo in Rapperswil-Jona SG. Only a few days left until the start of the quarter-finals of the play-offs. Lakers goalie Melvin Nyffeler enters the elephant facility. Sabu is already waiting for him. He feeds the elephant cow – 39 years old and weighing 4.5 tons – with carrots. The 1.78 meter tall keeper looks tiny next to the pachyderm.

Elephants have always fascinated Nyffeler. Despite their impressive appearance, they are gentle. Because Sabu’s back needs to be cleaned before the saddle, the elephant cow slowly lies down next to Nyffeler and allows him to stroke it all over.

The Lakers also have a lot to deal with in the quarterfinals. Master Zug is waiting. The SCRJ is the outsider there. Is he really? “We don’t label ourselves,” says Nyffeler, “but we understand that many people see us as the underdog. That’s okay too.” It’s been a year already when they duel HC Davos in the quarter-finals – also with home advantage. Suddenly, the Lakers are leading the series 3-0 and have four match pucks. And lose four times in a row.

“We learned the hard way,” says Nyffeler. But don’t worry too much about the past, “we know where we come from and we’re grounded.” Nevertheless, the EVZ is a difficult quarter-final hurdle, the 28-year-old cannot deny that. “But we don’t have to hide from anyone.” Not even in the presence of the master, who is aiming for the third title in a row. Because the pressure is clearly distributed.

“The ambitions are there”

Only a few laps before the end of qualifying, the people from Zug were really on their feet. The Lakers, on the other hand, have been consistent all season and have maintained their third-place ranking. What they lack in the playoff routine they make up for in their confidence and belief in the system. “The ambitions are there. When, if not this season, could an outsider surprise us.” With Nyffeler, whose contract runs until 2026 anyway. His big dream is to one day be able to use the SCRJ to lift the master tank.

Nyffeler climbs up at the end of his visit to the children’s zoo. He does another round on Sabu’s back. And has this big pachyderm well under control.

Source : Blick