A look at the next generation: A good start for the EVZ elite teams

By Raphael Biermayr

The EVZ U21 Elite team has established itself amongst the leaders after eleven rounds. With 22 points, it sits in fourth place, level on points with the GCK Lions and HC Davos, who have already played one game more. The Zug side have picked up at least one point in nine matches. Most recently, on Wednesday, they bounced back from two narrow defeats with a 6–3 victory over Fribourg-Gottéron.

“We’re pleased with the start. But in sport, the journey never ends, so we’re looking ahead and focusing on our path,” says Head Coach Reto Suri. The team has also learnt some hard lessons along the way: “We’re once again the youngest side in the league, but we have more experience than last season – you can see that.” An internally defined mission provides direction: “We’ve divided the 48 matches into eight segments and introduced a reward system. This is based on our own potential, not purely on the result.”

So far, no U21 Elite player has been called up to the NL team. Reto Suri sees this in a positive light: “Players like Sol Fueter and Jan Daron, who were already part of the NL team last season, are now with us all the time. This allows us to work consistently and help the players improve. They’re given the time to develop.” This coming weekend will see two head-to-head clashes among the top teams. On Friday, EVZ will host the GCK Lions at the OYM in Cham at 8.15 pm. On Sunday at 4.30 pm, Zug will travel to face HC Davos.

Reto Suri is gaining further experience in his new role as assistant coach of the Swiss U20 national team. “Head coach Luca Cereda quickly asked me if I’d like to be part of the coaching staff. I’m honoured by that.” His work at EVZ is proving helpful in this regard: “Thanks to my coaching role in Zug, I get to see many players in the local league and can therefore contribute my insights.” Following the team’s training camp in November, preparations for the World Championship will begin over the New Year. During this time, Reto Suri will be represented at EVZ matches by his coaching staff, led by assistant coach Frédéric Rothen.

Head Coach Alain Heim’s U18 Elite side has also made a good start to the season. After nine matches, EVZ sit in fifth place with 16 points and a goal difference of 29:23. A run of three consecutive wins against Biel, Ambri and Lugano was followed most recently by a 2–5 defeat at the hands of the Rapperswil-Jona Lakers.

On Friday, the team will host eleventh-placed SC Bern Future at the OYM in Cham (5.00 pm). On Sunday, a particularly challenging task awaits them against second-placed SCL Young Tigers (2.30 pm).