On the way after a crazy year in women’s hockey

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There is movement in Swiss women’s hockey. So much has happened between the Beijing Olympics in February 2022 and this World Cup in Brampton (Ka) that promotes – but also challenges – women’s hockey.

April 2022: The EVZ presents the association with a concept for its women’s hockey project. The people of Zug would like to get into the top league, the Women’s League. Because the EVZ is planning a semi-professional women’s team, there is resistance from the competition. Although the association believes that large clubs should take their responsibility for women’s hockey.

August 2022: Due to a change in the statutes of the IIHF, a top division World Championship will be held for the first time in the Olympic year. Only six months after Beijing and eight months before this World Cup. A tour de force for the Swiss women who are not professionals and work or study. Switzerland is fourth, just like at the Olympic Games in Beijing.

October 2022: It is announced that SC Bern is taking over the Bomo Thun Women’s League team. Bomo (“Berner Oberländer Modis”) is an up and coming team. Most recently, she challenged the heavyweight ZSC in the playoff finals.

December 2022: The HCD also enters women’s hockey. Directly in the highest division because he takes over an existing team with the Thurgau India Ladies and stationed it in Davos.

January 2023: The association announces that the new team will grant EVZ direct entry – albeit in the second highest league SWHL B. However, this does not prevent the residents of Zug from sticking to the planned budget of CHF 1.2 million . That is a multiple of the competition.

March 2023: Setback for the Women’s League. The top team Ladies Lugano withdraws due to lack of (financial) prospects.

April 2023: The national team goes to the World Cup with a much different and narrower selection than at the Olympic Games. Four top players (Staenz, Bullo, Raselli, Rüegg) have since resigned. Ryhner is absent sick.

The third major tournament in 14 months, “that’s a lot for the players,” says national coach Colin Muller (59), “especially mentally.” The Canadian takes his hat off to everyone who regularly commits. A World Cup medal remains the ambitious goal, but at least to stay in Group A. “As long as the players still have to work, you cannot expect us to always be top internationally,” Muller emphasizes.

Nati’s coach welcomes the spirit of optimism in Swiss women’s hockey. “It’s great that big clubs are participating,” said Muller. The product, the Women’s League, must be as good as possible. “It will take at least two or three years for the national team to benefit from the development.”

Source : Blick