The EVZ Women’s Team relies on continuity: In addition to forwards Lara Stalder, Noemi Ryhner, Lena-Marie Lutz, Naemi Herzig and Ivana Wey, as well as defensewomen Annika Fazokas (AUT), Nadine Hofstetter and goalie Eveliina Mäkinen (FIN), who all already have a contract until at least 2025, four other players are now also extending their contracts in Zug.
Defensewoman Annic Büchi moved from EHC Winterthur’s U17 top team to EVZ last year. A lot has happened to the 18-year-old since then: she made the direct jump from the U18 to the senior team and scored her first goal for Switzerland in mid-December. The young defender has grown into a leading role at EVZ and has earned herself a two-year contract extension.
Fellow defender Nina Harju has also extended her contract with Zug until 2026. 19-year-old Harju moved to Zug from the ZSC Lions (PostFinance Women’s League) a year ago. She has also developed into a regular international player and is EVZ’s third most productive defenseman behind Fazokas and Hofstetter (9 goals, 15 assists in 16 games).
In the offense, head coach Daniela Diaz can continue to count on the services of Luisa Waser and Vanessa Kleeb. Waser, who comes from Engelberg and played in the junior ranks of EHC Engelberg and HC Luzern, decided to return to the ice before this season. Before that, the 23-year-old was forced to sit out a season after her former team SC Reinach disbanded due to a lack of alternatives. She has now extended her contract with EVZ for a further two years. Vanessa Kleeb will also remain a Zug player until at least 2025. Before joining Zug, the forward from central Switzerland had already played seven seasons in the top two divisions, five of them in the Women’s League.
