Sven Senteler is «partly to blame» for Mike Künzle’s move to the EVZ. He is the best man and therefore a confidant of Zug’s new signing from EHC Biel-Bienne. Künzle was on the wish list of several NL clubs. No wonder, as the 30-year-old forward not only has the experience of almost 500 NL matches and consistent scoring figures of around 30 points. Mike Künzle is 1.93 meters tall and weighs 95 kilograms. EVZ General Manager Reto Kläy also emphasized his water displacement and finishing power when the signing was made public in November 2023. «He’s in his prime for ice hockey,» said Kläy.
Another important reason for the Zurich Oberlander’s move to the BOSSARD Arena is the OYM performance sports center in Cham. «The approach to off-ice training is completely different to what I’ve got to know so far. I’m excited to see how that works out on the ice,» says the winger, who has been wearing a full visor on his helmet since breaking his nose for the second time in spring 2021. In the beginning, he was often ridiculed for it or met with jokes. In the meantime, he has earned respect for his concern for his body. «In general, more attention is paid to health in the National League,» Mike Künzle has noticed and adds: «I think that’s great.»
He once had an agreement with his mother that he would never play without a grille on his helmet. After he turned 18, his teammates removed it. Mike Künzle screwed it back on before his teammates did it again. That’s when it became too much for him, and he did without the grille until the aforementioned moment three years ago.
The 30-year-old newcomer from EHC Biel-Bienne brings the necessary water displacement with him. Next up, a highlight awaits him off the rink.
The 30-year-old striker and his new teammates completed various performance tests in June.
Künzle is curious to see how the off-ice training at the OYM will affect his performance on the ice.
The 30-year-old is an open person and also talks openly about his skin disease. Mike Künzle suffers from neurodermatitis. The skin is permanently inflamed, loses its protective function and itches like hell – especially when you sweat. He is distracted on the ice and doesn’t notice it, but he does on the bench, the winger told various media outlets. He treats his skin with creams to relieve the itching.
Mike Künzles has enough distractions at the moment, as his life is currently exciting on various levels: new club, new apartment – and the wedding celebration in Lucerne. The big celebration with Chantal is coming up soon; the two said «Yes» at the registry office a year ago. By the time of the wedding, the lawyer and the professional ice hockey player have settled in Baar for a while. Mike Künzle wasn’t able to contribute much to the move, as he only had one day to do so due to the national team call-up. He played the three games as part of the Euro Hockey Tour in Zurich. To date, Mike Künzle has made 36 appearances for the national team. «I’m grateful for the understanding that Chantal has shown me and my job,» he says.
The fact that his job restricts his free time is not a new experience for him. Two surprising call-ups meant that he didn’t go on planned vacations: at the end of 2012, when former EVZ champion coach Sean Simpson considered him for the U20 World Championship in Ufa – as an NLB player for the GCK Lions, mind you. And last December, when he was able to take part in the Spengler Cup in a Frölunda jersey. This was thanks to the mediation of the 4Sports consulting agency led by former EVZ forward Dani «Gigs» Giger. «The Spengler Cup was on my list of highlights that I really wanted to experience,» says Mike Künzle. So Chantal Künzle had to cancel the planned surprise party for her husband’s 30th birthday.
«I HOPE PEOPLE WOULD RATHER SEE ME IN MY OWN TEAM THAN WITH THE OPPOSITION.»
Another milestone that Mike Künzle is aiming for is a Swiss championship title. That may be irritating: After all, Künzle already has two with the ZSC Lions (2014 and 2018) as well as several at junior level in his palmarès. In 2012 and 2013, he celebrated the Elite A gold medal alongside current NHL pros Pius Suter and Jonas Siegenthaler. He wants to be part of a team in which he can play a leading role, he explains. That should be the case with the EVZ. What can the fans in the BOSSARD Arena look forward to with him? «I hope people would rather see me in my own team than with the opposition,» he says and smiles. Of course, his best man and friend Sven Senteler hopes so too.
This interview appeared in the current issue of EISZEIT Business.
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