With six rounds to go, Zug’s U21 Elite team has regained its place in the play-off places. In ninth place, EVZ is level on points with eighth-placed SC Bern Future, their opponents on Saturday (4 p.m., PostFinance Arena). The Zug team has created this good starting position thanks to a great race to catch up since mid-January: They have won five of their last six games – most recently 4-0 at the leaders GCK Lions on Wednesday, their second win without conceding a goal this season after the 5-0 victory in Kloten at the end of October. Back then Matia Birchler celebrated a shutout, this time Nico Keller (picture). For the 17-year-old, who moved from the ZSC Lions organisation to Zug for the current season, it was his first appearance in a month. “This is the well-deserved reward for his hard work, I’m happy for Nico,” says EVZ U21 Head Coach Reto Suri.
The oldest EVZ juniors are full of confidence as they travel to Bern for the direct play-off duel.
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Thanks to the Olympic break, he was able to make almost full use of the line-up. The NL players Robin Antenen, Loris Wey and Colin Lindemann formed a forward line. Three of the four goals were scored by them. “The experienced players provide protection for our many young players. We need all the players in the squad, we’re a team, but they tipped the scales in this game,” praised Reto Suri.
” … then we’ll make the playoffs.”
Reto Suri, EVZ U21 Head Coach
He will also be able to count on them next weekend. After Saturday’s game in Bern, a home game awaits the EVZ on Sunday: their opponents are bottom-placed SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers (2.30 pm, OYM, Cham). Reto Suri warns: “We’ve now created a good starting position, but haven’t achieved anything yet. It may be a cliché, but we’re looking from game to game and focussing on putting in our best performance. If we can do that, we’ll make the playoffs.”
Six rounds before the end of the regular season, the U18 Elite team is in 12th place, 16 points behind a playoff spot. On Sunday, Zug will host EHC Kloten (5.15 p.m., Swiss Arena); their next home game is on Friday, 20 February, against the SCL Young Tigers (5 p.m., OYM, Cham).
