Introduction text
At the diploma ceremony on 23 June in the Legends Club of the BOSSARD Arena, the EVZ players aged 19 to 22 who succeeded in sport and career received the coveted diploma: Mats Alge, Dario Allenspach, Damian Gehringer, Nico Gross, Valentin Hofer, Lars Kieni, Arno Nussbaumer, Lucas Rötheli and Dario Sidler received the diploma “Kaufmann EFZ”, Joel Marchon the diploma “Office assistant EBA”.
Head of Sport Reto Kläy and The Hockey Academy ambassador Peter Forsberg presented the awards to the last graduates of the Vinto training, which has since been taken over by the OYM College. EVZ President Hans-Peter Strebel, coaches Dan Tangnes, Fabio Schumacher and Corsin Camichel as well as Lars Weibel, General Manager National Teams at the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation SIHF, congratulated the graduates via video message. Roland Schmid, Head of The Hockey Academy, was happy for the successful graduates for two reasons: “They all passed the exams with flying colours and at the same time found a solution for continuing their hockey careers.”
Head of Sport Reto Kläy addressed a special thank you to the parents and responsible teachers and practical trainers and underlined the importance of EVZ’s work with young talent: “This is the reward for the fact that our training is not only about hockey, but also enables a professional qualification.” Since the launch of the Hockey Academy in 2014, all 40 athletes who took part in the exams have successfully passed them.
In August 2022, the ninth 1st grade class and eight other athletes are already embarking on their sporting and academic education in The Hockey Academy programme.
Pictured from left to right, top row: Benno Sidler (OYM College), Ralf Frigg (KBZ), Roli Schmid (THA), Nico Gross, Joel Marchon, Dario Allenspach, Arno Nussbaumer, Reto Kläy (EVZ), Peter Forsberg (THA Ambassador).
Bottom row: Damian Gehringer, Valentin Hofer, Mats Alge, Lars Kieni.
Absent: Lucas Rötheli and Dario Sidler.
