Launch of “EVZ Women’s NXT”

The EVZ organisation is pleased to announce the next milestone in the systematic promotion of women and girls, which was launched in January 2023. In line with the strategy to promote women’s ice hockey both “top down” (EVZ Women’s Team) and “bottom up” (Girls Hockey School and Girls Junior Teams), the new “EVZ Women’s NXT” programme will be launched for the 2026/27 season.

This programme is a unique training concept for Swiss sport that enables young female ice hockey players to optimally combine sport and career. The players in the “EVZ Women’s NXT” programme devote themselves to their school education in the mornings, while training sessions and matches take place in the afternoons and at weekends. In this way, the dual career path in competitive sport is consciously promoted. The project manager will be former EVZ player Nadine Hofstetter, who ended her active career at the end of the 2025/26 season.

In sporting terms, EVZ is strengthening the targeted development of players between junior players and the EVZ Women’s Team with the new training programme. Ambitious juniors should continue their individual development in a performance-orientated environment and make the leap to the EVZ Women’s Team in the medium term. The launch of the “EVZ Women’s NXT” programme will have an impact on the entire EVZ women’s department:

The EVZ Women’s Team remains the flagship. After the first championship title in the 2025/26 season, the goal is to continue winning titles in the future.

The promotion of the club’s own juniors remains central. Thanks to the “EVZ Women’s NXT” programme, they will be deliberately introduced to the first team and integrated into it. In concrete terms, this means that the four players Joy Roulet, Simone Ambauen, Lara Klaus and Neela Brander will train with the Fanion team and, if they perform well enough, will also be given playing time in the PostFinance Women’s League.

The partnership with the SWHL B-Team Sursee will continue. Junior players will continue to play certain games with Sursee in the future and strengthen the Central Switzerland region.

In addition, the EVZ is founding an U16 Girls Team and will participate in the Junior Women’s League newly founded by the association. The team will be provided by the EVZ, but is open to girls from the entire region. Nadine Hofstetter is also the head coach of the new U16 team.

Girls of a young age will also be supported in the future. The U9 and U12 teams will both remain in place, as will the Girls Hockey School.

VOICES

Nadine Hofstetter, Project Manager EVZ Women’s NXT: “I’m really looking forward to it. With EVZ Women’s NXT, we are creating clear prospects for talented female players within the club. It’s about supporting girls on their path, encouraging them individually and taking them to the next level step by step. I am grateful to be able to take on this task so soon after my career as an active player.”

Daniela Diaz, Head of Women & Girls Programme and Head Coach of the EVZ Women’s Team: “With EVZ Women’s NXT, we are taking the next step according to the EVZ roadmap. We don’t just want to offer young players prospects, we want to support them so that they can develop to the top in the long term and make it into the women’s team. In Nadine, we have found the ideal leader for this. She has the relevant experience, knows what is needed for the top level and competitive sport and will be able to provide the young players with the best possible support.”

Ibi Can, Head of Marketing & Sales at EVZ: “EVZ Women’s NXT is the next logical step in the sustainable strategy that we launched around three years ago. We are consciously investing not only in the top, but also in the foundations – and with EVZ Women’s NXT, we are now finalising the last piece of the puzzle on the pathway for female athletes from young talent to the EVZ Women’s Team.”