On Tuesday, EVZ secured its first three points of the championship thanks to a 3-0 home win against SC Bern, with Leonardo Genoni celebrating his first shutout with 27 saves. His teammates also did a better job defensively than they had done in some of their Champions Hockey League appearances, but their performance still fell short of expectations.

Head coach Michael Liniger clearly focused on defense before the game. Even though not everything was quite right and the opponents were allowed too much, “I can live with that and I’m satisfied considering it was the first game.”

On Friday, Lugano awaits Zug. The Bianconeri started the season with an overtime defeat in Fribourg. The decisive goal in overtime was scored by former Zug player Attilio Biasca for the Dragons.

Janick Steinmann has been pulling the strings in the sporting department in southern Ticino since last spring. For the sporting director, who also has a past in Zug, team culture is central: “Everyone must understand that the success of the team is more important than their own.” Steinmann has also signed five new foreign players: Connor Carrick (USA, Bakersfield Condors). Zach Sanford (USA, Rockford IceHogs), Mike Sgarbossa (CAN, Hershey Bears), Brendan Perlini (CAN/GBR, Lausanne HC), and Rasmus Kupari (FIN, Winnipeg Jets). Also new to Lugano is long-time EVZ forward Dario Simion, who signed a contract in Ticino last summer that runs until 2031.