EVZ provides information on various topics at the start of the season

Patrick Lengwiler (CEO), Reto Kläy (General Manager), Michael Liniger (Head Coach Men’s Team), Daniela Diaz (Head Coach Women’s Team), and Ibrahim Can (Head of Marketing & Sales) provided information on finances, sports, marketing & sales, and the “Keep Building” project at the annual pre-season media conference.

EVZ CEO Patrick Lengwiler presented the EVZ Group’s financial results for the 2024/25 fiscal year. Subject to approval by the respective general meetings (EVZ Holding AG: September 8, 2025 / Eissportverein Zug: November 20, 2025), EVZ Holding AG posted a profit of CHF 7,544 and Eissportverein Zug a profit of CHF 16,332.

In the 2024/25 financial year, the EVZ Group achieved total sales of CHF 34,377,362. However, the early exit in the playoff quarterfinals led to a negative financial result. With the exception of the pandemic-related annual loss in the 2020/21 financial year, EVZ has consistently achieved an annual profit in recent years, but this was not the case last season. EVZ closed the 2024/25 financial year with an annual loss of CHF 352,348. The EVZ Group’s equity ratio is a healthy 69.2% – EVZ continues to be on a very sound financial footing. However, the negative financial result shows how important it is for the company to continue to perform well in sporting terms and how challenging it is to achieve a balanced budget based on the three home games budgeted for in the playoff quarterfinals.

Patrick Lengwiler, CEO of EVZ: “We will continue to face significant challenges in terms of corporate management, critically scrutinizing all expenditures, reducing costs, and increasing revenues. The next few years, during which construction work on the expanded arena will be underway, will be very challenging for us from a business perspective.”

Michael Liniger will take over as head coach of the EVZ Men’s Team this season. Born in Langnau, he already has experience as head coach in the Swiss League. From 2017 to 2022, he was in charge of the GCK Lions and has continued to develop since moving to Zug. Now he is ready for his first challenge as head coach in the National League: “I am very excited to take on this challenge – all the more so because it is with EVZ,” says Liniger. “The organization has a clear vision, which it pursues consistently. I am proud to be able to continue contributing to this in the future.” Roger Hansson is new to Liniger’s coaching staff. The 57-year-old Swede is very familiar with EVZ: in 2019, he took over as head coach of the EVZ Academy in the Swiss League and as head of player development at Zug. After three seasons as head coach in Germany and Sweden, Hansson is now returning to Lake Zug.

There have also been some changes to the men’s team roster over the summer. Six players and long-time head coach Dan Tangnes have left the organization, while last year’s league scoring champion Dominik Kubalík (CZE, forward), Tomáš Tatar (SVK, forward), David Sklenička (CZE, defenseman), and Raphael Diaz (SUI, defenseman), who is returning to his home country after four years with Fribourg-Gottéron. In addition, Nic Balestra (2005, defenseman), Mischa Geisser (2006, defenseman), Robin Antenen (2006, forward) and Loris Wey (2006, forward) have also signed their first professional contracts with EVZ.

The EVZ Men’s Team will start the new season on Thursday, August 28, and Saturday, August 30, with two CHL away games in Luleå and Grenoble. The first home games of the season will take place at the OYM hall the following weekend – on Friday, September 5, against ERC Ingolstadt and on Sunday, September 7, against the Belfast Giants. EVZ will host SC Bern on Tuesday, September 9, to kick off the National League season.

The EVZ Women’s Team has signed several contract extensions in recent months, and six new players are joining head coach Daniela Diaz’s team: Yara Keller will now form the goalie duo with Chiara Pfosi, national player Nicole Vallario brings a wealth of experience to the defense, and Alina Marti, Lia Egger, and Sarah Mettler will strengthen the offense. Noemi Neubauerová, a player with PWHL experience, has also been signed to bolster the offense. For Neubauerová, it will be a return to Zug: the Czech player already played for EVZ last fall before joining the Toronto Scepters in November.

For the Women’s Team, the second season in the PostFinance Women’s League is also a season of confirmation. Last year, EVZ secured direct qualification for the playoff semifinals with second place in the regular season, where they won the series against HC Davos Ladies 3-0. In the final, the Zug women were defeated in three games by the qualification winners SC Bern. The goal for the upcoming season is clear for Daniela Diaz: “We want to compete for the championship title again and also successfully defend last winter’s cup victory.”

The PostFinance Women’s League championship kicks off for EVZ on Saturday, September 13, with an away game in Neuchâtel, followed by their first home game against Fribourg-Gottéron on Sunday, September 14.

“We have once again been able to increase our sponsorship volume for this season. We have made particular progress with the Women & Girls program,” announced Ibrahim Can, Head of Marketing & Sales, at the media briefing. Many long-standing and loyal partnerships have been extended and several new sponsors have been acquired, resulting in slight overall growth. Nutribullet (De Longhi Switzerland from Baar) was secured as an exclusive partner for the Champions Hockey League games. In addition, the partnerships with main sponsors Sika, Bossard, Binelli Group, and Glencore were extended.

As in previous years, season ticket sales for the men’s team were capped at 6,000. The season tickets include the CHL games up to and including a possible quarter-final. Individual ticket buyers had the option of purchasing packages for all three home games of the regular season. Due to the stadium expansion work, the total spectator capacity of the OYM hall for the 2025/26 season will be 7,450.

As things stand today, season ticket sales for the women’s team are up 30% on last year. “Last season’s attendance figures, with an average of 1,000 fans per game and a record of over 4,000 spectators at two playoff games, show that we are on the right track,” says Ibrahim Can. The aim is to continue to build up the audience for women’s games in the future. “To this end, we will conduct a fan survey and continue to make the match experience varied this season with highlight and themed games.”

At the EIS Fäscht in mid-August, the EVZ presented a new member of the family: mascot Kolin. “The bull is a powerful symbol of the EVZ and firmly anchored in our identity. With Kolin, we are giving this symbol a face and creating an emotional connection to our youngest fans,” explains Seraina Knobel, Head of Brand & Marketing Activation. “A mascot like Kolin is the ideal way to introduce children to the EVZ in a playful way. The Women’s Team’s Family Games are the perfect platform for this.” Together with mascot Kolin, the EVZ also launched the new Kids Club for children aged 0 to 13. Members can look forward to exclusive events, great goodies, and many more surprises.

In spring 2026, EVZ will unveil its new look, including a new logo. Various workshops have already been held in collaboration with different stakeholders. The voices of fans, employees, patrons, sponsors, and partners are actively involved in the process and are being listened to carefully. The rebranding will always focus on the history of EVZ and its values, as well as the colors blue and white. The men’s and women’s teams will start the 2026/27 season with the new logo on their jerseys.

As part of the “Keep Building” stadium expansion, new ticketing, hospitality, and premium offers are currently being developed. In order to best meet the needs of all visitors, a large fan survey will also be conducted at the beginning of the season. As was the case during the construction work, existing season ticket holders will be relocated after the stadium expansion is completed. The EVZ will contact all affected customers in good time and endeavor to ensure a fair transition.