The 2021 Fenix Outdoor European Hockey Awards were announced by the Alliance of European Hockey Clubs (E.H.C.). It’s the fifth year the E.H.C. recognizes the best accomplishments in the European clubs and leagues. This year, the annual Awards Gala was presented as part of the Hockey Business Forum. EV Zug ist the Club of the Year!
Club of the Year – presented by Hanwag
EV Zug (SUI/NL) – After another finals loss in coach Dan Tangnes’ first campaign and following the pandemic-shortened 2019/20 season, Zug won the 2020/21 regular season by a record 27 points ahead of Lugano, with a +69 goal difference and and only 6 losses in regular time. Zug entered the Corona-shortened playoffs as heavy favorites – and for the first time since 1998, the club delivered, living up to expecations and winning its 2nd chmpionship. Off the ice, club president Hans-Peter Strebel invested over 100 million CHF into the “OYM” high-performance athletic academy. Other nominated clubs: Avangard Omsk (RUS/KHL), HC Donbass (UKR/UHL) Lukko Rauma (FIN/Liiga), Växjö Lakers (SWE/SHL)
About the Alliance of European Hockey Clubs: The alliance was formally founded on 13 June 2016 at the E.H.C.’s first Annual General Meeting in Berlin, by some 70 clubs from 13 European countries. Ice hockey thus became the third major European team sport, after football and handball to found a club alliance with the mandate to look after and promote the interests of the professional hockey clubs and represent them internationally. The E.H.C. currently has 87 member clubs from 16 European countries. www.eurohockeyclubs.com
