The SCB has strengthened its championship-winning team for the new season - but the Zug team also has two new aces.
Some things are new in Swiss ice hockey. The top division is no longer called the National League A, but simply the National League. Instead, the National League B has become the Swiss League. And the former 1st League is now the MySports League.
Keyword MySports: UPC's new live sports channel has acquired the exclusive TV rights for National League matches. Subscribers to Teleclub, which has shown live field hockey matches in recent years, are now left out in the cold. SRF at least offers live broadcasts during the playoffs.
So much for the changes. The sporting balance of power has remained the same. SC Bern, champions in 2016 and 2017, go into the new season as the title favorites. With the signings of national team player Gaëtan Haas and the two top-class foreigners Mika Pyörälä and Mason Raymond, the Bernese have even been able to strengthen their championship team. There is no way around the Mutzen this season.
Their closest rivals are ZSC, EV Zug, Lugano and Davos. Last year's finalists EVZ will be particularly exciting: With the Swedish Stanley Cup winner Viktor Stahlberg and the US-American Garrett Roe, the Central Swiss team has brought in two players who have the potential to be league attractions.
The season starts on Thursday, September 7, with the French-speaking derby between Geneva-Servette and Lausanne. The SCB will then enter the fray on Saturday, September 9. The opponent is Fribourg-Gottéron. The arch-rivals are likely to make life really difficult for the Bernese Bears.
ICE HOCKEY SEASON 2017/18
Various games
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