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Anxiety in the Swiss league – as happened with Olten’s Simon Stirchi after the promotion of EHC Kloten.
With no money or prospects in place, the House of Representatives is on the verge of collapse. In Langenthal, Winterthur, with Ticino Rockets or Visp, various scenarios have long been implemented: change of location, merger, retreat to an amateur camp or even (adventurous) relocation to a neighboring country (Visp, Italy).
In Langenthal, the stalled hall project also causes a major headache. Professional hockey can only be played at the Schoren ice rink until 2026. Although people have already waved through a planning loan in 2020 with 75 percent of the vote, there isn’t even a draft from the city yet. VR President Gian Kamphe: “In Langenthal, the creation of a new stadium has been discussed for almost 10 years. Today we have to seriously ask ourselves how we should continue to exist ».
For SC Langenthal, the new ice rink represents the most important economic basis for the future, and the association itself does not have the right to exist per se, says Kämpf given the current challenges. “The professional league is mainly governed by the law of economic efficiency. You should be able to finance yourself.”
Mistakes were also made in the Swiss league
The National League did the job – but just for her sake. With the separation from the rest of ice hockey in Switzerland, NL has taken everything under its nails. NL did not have to take losses into account – losses affect only others: the SIHF relies on financial drip and the Swiss League after withdrawing TV money (365,000 francs per year per SL club) and free of which the rise of popular clubs Ajoy and Kloten pile of rubble.
The misery of the Swiss league is at least partly due to itself: the grandiose dreams of self-marketing have failed with fanfare. Even during the planning phase, ambitious SL clubs (in the broad sense: the desire to climb), spoke out, in a fit of overconfidence, against coaching clubs staying in place.
The perfect solution is not feasible
After all, it has now also been noted in the National League that a professional league without a solid foundation makes the overall product questionable in the short to medium term. Attempts are now being made to salvage what can still be saved. The best solution (a two-chamber system of 10 or 12 teams and promotion and direct relegation) is not up for discussion among the decision-makers in the National League: it is politically unenforceable because, in theory (almost) everyone could do it with a sports cutback that could get hurt.
National Director Lars Whipple: ‘We have to cooperate’
National director Lars Whipple looks at the Swiss league from a sporting perspective. So what could be the solution in your opinion? Whipple exudes a slight optimism: “The situation has brought people together at a table. Everyone seems to feel that we have to work together. We have a chance to make an impact to narrow the gap between the youth league and the National League in terms of sports. In this unfortunate situation we have to strive hard. to find the best solution.
Weibel believes that the Swiss league should continue to run it professionally. “In an amateur or semi-professional setting, Division Two can’t handle National League training.” You may have to bake smaller rolls and reduce the budget a bit, but a more balanced league can be created for that. This will then be a fertile ground in which Swiss players, Swiss coaches and the sport can develop.
National director Lars Whipple looks at the Swiss league from a sporting perspective. So what could be the solution in your opinion? Whipple exudes a slight optimism: “The situation has brought people together at a table. Everyone seems to feel that we have to work together. We have a chance to make an impact to narrow the gap between the youth league and the National League in terms of sports. In this unfortunate situation we have to strive hard. to find the best solution.
Weibel believes that the Swiss league should continue to run it professionally. “In an amateur or semi-professional setting, Division Two can’t handle National League training.” You may have to bake smaller rolls and reduce the budget a bit, but a more balanced league can be created for that. This will then be a fertile ground in which Swiss players, Swiss coaches and the sport can develop.
Only accompanying measures remain. The SIHF Ice Hockey League plays a major role in this. After an extraordinary virtual reality meeting, talks began with representatives of the National League, the Swiss League, the MyHockey League (the top amateur league) and the junior leagues. To this end, FIFA, in coordination with the National League, is trying to put in place a marketing package that would mitigate the performance of the Swiss League clubs in the short and medium term. Patrick Bloch, CEO of SIHF says: “Everyone agrees on the need for a second professional league in Swiss ice hockey. In principle, the Swiss League is an attractive product for good ice hockey. So we have to find a solution that matches the interests of Swiss ice hockey in general, And the Swiss league and athletes in particular.”
Indeed, the Swiss league offers a lot. Professional sports are accompanied by some folklore. An attractive playing field for the second guard and a breeding ground for offspring. She needs help from the National League to keep her alive. After all, the top players in Swiss ice hockey note that they may soon be lost without the juniors.
Swiss League 22/23
|
Team |
SP |
TD |
Point |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
6 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
VIII |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
9 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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