Will SC Bern lift the ice hockey cup this week and HC Ambrì-Piotta win the league?
"Yes, of course," says 46-year-old Franz Steffen. He should know: The Bern native sensationally won the championship title with EV Zug in 1998. It was to remain the only title in the history of the Central Swiss club. Steffen, once feared for his hard checks, is the ideal expert for this final pairing. After his seven-year stint with EV Zug, the center forward moved on to Gotthard rivals HC Ambrì-Piotta. There he won the Continental Cup twice and was even a surprise qualifying winner with the Leventine village club. The Bernese then felt homesick: he returned to the Mittelland. He ended his active ice hockey career with SC Bern in 2002 after a mixed season and at the age of just 31. Steffen can look back on 517 NLA games (74 goals, 122 assists, 567 penalty minutes). At the beginning of his career, he also played 100 NLB games for SC Langnau, scoring 20 goals, 14 assists and 83 penalty minutes. He made 19 appearances for the national team, scoring one goal. So Steffen undoubtedly knows the DNA of all the NLA clubs currently still involved - regardless of whether they are playing for the championship title, league survival or promotion.
"SC Bern is playing fantastically"
"SC Bern are playing fantastically," enthuses Steffen as he watches the game. "They can always go one better. They're also clever tactically." Zug showed a lot more resistance on Saturday, but that's simply not enough against an SCB in this championship form. Much more would have to come. Nevertheless, he believes the Central Swiss team can win. "In the series, I'm betting on a 4:1 for the SCB," Steffen oracles. This would mean that EV Zug would have to win either tomorrow Tuesday in Bern or next Thursday in their own Bossard Arena. Otherwise the mission to win their first Swiss championship title since 1998 would be over. Even for the SCB, a Zug victory would probably not be so inconvenient. This would allow them to host an exhibition game and a big championship party at home in the Postfinance Arena next Saturday. It would be the first time since 2001 that a reigning champion could defend its title. Only the ZSC Lions have achieved this feat recently, but that was a long time ago.
HC Ambrì-Piotta is fighting just as hard as SCB to retain the league title. Since Federal Councillor Ueli Maurer has been mentally supporting his CVP buddy and Ambrì president Filippo Lombardi, the Leventines seem to have turned the corner. After all, they have a 2-0 lead against NLB challengers SC Langenthal, and if the Ticino side don't lose their way, they should be able to stay in the league this week.
The president of SC Langenthal, Stephan Anliker, is unlikely to be happy about this. But he is used to sporting disappointments. After all, in addition to SC Langenthal, he also presides over the football section of the Zurich Grasshoppers. And they are definitely off course and in acute danger of relegation. At least the Hoppers were finally able to secure their much longed-for first win under new coach Carlos Bernegger at the weekend. However, the 3:1 win against the weak FC St. Gallen should not hide the fact that the Zurich club still has a lot of work to do to secure the all-important league survival. After all, even in Niederhasli, where GC is at home, they would like to plan a derby next season against FC Zurich, who are most likely to be promoted, rather than against FC Winterthur in the Challenge League. GC will have the chance to follow this up on Easter Monday. A "three-pointer" away against Young Boys from Bern could be decisive, as GC managed to extend the gap to last-placed FC Vaduz to five points at the weekend.
SC BERN - EV ZUG
Tue April 11, 2017, 3rd championship match, Postfinance Arena Bern
TICKETS
Possible championship celebration if Zug wins on Tue, 11.4. or Thu, 14.3: Sat, 15.4.2017, 5th championship game SC Bern:EV Zug, 20:15, Postfinance Arena Bern. Tickets are available via Ticketcorner from 8 a.m. the following day after an EVZ. victory.
Tue, 11.4.2017, league qualification HC Ambri Piotta:SC Langenthal, 20:15, Stadion Valascia, Ambri. Tickets are available from CHF 31 via Ticketcorner.
Mon, 17.4. championship match BSC Young Boys Bern:Grasshopper Club Zürich, 13:45, Stade de Suisse Wankdorf Bern. Tickets are available from CHF 20.80 via Ticketcorner.
PLAYOFFS/PLAYOUTS
www.ticketcorner.ch/playoffs
