“We are in a renewal phase and need patience,” Biel’s team manager Martin Steinegger told the NZZ at the beginning of the season. A look at last summer’s transfer overview makes it clear that the Seelanders are undergoing a radical change: eight players have left the club, including Mike Künzle, who will meet his former teammates for the first time on Friday evening with the EVZ, and Beat Forster, who ended his career after 1171 National League games and six championship titles.
The Bielers have tried to compensate for the significant departures with Johnny Kneubühler (HC Ambrì-Piotta), Miro Zryd (SCL Tigers), Nicolas Müller (Michigan State, NCAA) and Lias Andersson (Laval Rocket, AHL). The 25-year-old Andersson was drafted 7th overall by the New York Rangers in the 2017 NHL Draft and has played 110 NHL games and 216 games in the AHL in North America.
On Friday evening (October 11, 7.45 p.m.), EHC Biel-Bienne will be the guests at the BOSSARD Arena.
INJURY WITCH IS ON THE LOOSE
A look at the table shows that the team of head coach Martin Filander, who came from Oskarshamn (SHL) and replaced Petri Matikainen, who was fired in February, still needs patience. After nine games, they have ten points, and EHC Biel have only won twice after 60 minutes. This means they are currently two places behind EVZ in 12th place in the table. The injury jinx, which has often struck in Seeland, is certainly not helping: In addition to Luca Cunti (concussion), Damien Brunner (muscle problems) and Miro Zryd (torn muscle fiber), Gaëtan Haas and Jérémie Bärtschi were also unable to finish last Saturday’s game. In addition, Jere Sallinen has been suffering from a broken rib since the beginning of September and is not expected to be ready for action this weekend. Cunti and Brunner however could give their comeback Friday night in Zug.
For EVZ, on the other hand, Lino Martschini might be able to play this weekend after recovering from pneumonia, but most likely only on Saturday in Rapperswil. Leonardo Genoni, who is not yet in team training but is already back on the ice, and Grégory Hofmann are still convalescing.