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Biel is no longer an absolute top team, but he’s definitely enough for the playoffs. Image: keystone
Eismeister Zaugg
The EHC Biel and a consolation prize as a prize for reason and patience
Biel has long gone from being a relegation candidate to a superior team that even meets the SCB titan at eye level. But now begins a phase of turmoil with SCB master coach Lars Leuenberger, which requires a lot of patience.
After the last title in 1983, wild years followed in Biel. The sporting and economic existence was in danger several times. But the Bielers survived all the storms because they never lost patience and nerves in tough times. Therefore, they were able to prevail twice in the seventh game of the league standings after being promoted again in 2008. That is why it was possible to build a new hockey temple and that is why it was possible to return to the top tier of the highest league. after 30 years.
Leading the stage, “God of Hockey” Kevin Schläpfer epitomized the excitement of the years after his rise as sports director, coach and entertainment director from 2006 to 2016. Today he is head of sports at Langenthal. Behind the scenes, coach Daniel Villard has made sure everything runs smoothly since 2003. The “god of hockey” Kevin Schläpfer made a name for himself. The satisfaction of Daniel Villard. He is now the league’s longest-serving general after Marc Lüthi (SCB).
The new stadium has already brought great joy to the ECHB. Photo: trapezoidal
The move to the “Tissot Arena” (2015) and the transfer of NHL goalkeeper Jonas Hiller in the summer of 2016 sparked a euphoria that Biel recently led to the semifinals twice in a row and close to winning the title in spring 2019. . Only one win against SCB in 2019 was missing to reach the final. There, the Biel train would have swept the ice.
The road from the Second Division lowlands to the best clubs in the country was long and arduous. But the last leg to the top of masterful glory is even more arduous.
No club with patience yet:
The change slows down Biel
The risk of losing patience is greater just before the summit than during the arduous ascent from base camp. On this way to the top, the residents of Biel now have to take a breath. The years of new fame are over for now. The team faces a major change.
Coach Antti Törmänen, who formed a top team from Biel, has to leave his post due to a serious illness. He is represented by Lars Leuenberger, SCB’s master coach since 2016. Jonas Hiller and cult captain Mathieu Tschantré have finished their careers and Damien Riat has fled to the NHL via Geneva. For the first time since 2016, smart sports director Martin Steinegger failed to pull off a spectacular transfer hit.
Nominally, Biel, at least temporarily, is no longer a candidate for the championship. After the successes of the last few years have fueled a certain level of expectation, the demands should be lowered a bit for now. The pressure of truth, which is at the top of the scoreboard, has increased.
Until the next title from 1983, the Bielers have to wait a little longer. But now they are so financially and athletically solid that they can stay in the upper half of the table and be patient.
The Amazing Titans:
The perfect substitute
What is possible under these conditions? At least one place in the upper half of the table. With Lars Leuenberger, sports director Martin Steinegger has signed the perfect replacement for Antti Törmänen until the end of the season. The question is not whether Lars Leuenberger can train anyway. In 2016 he coached the SCB for the title.
The question is another: Can coach Lars Leuenberger out of the Fuchsbaus SCB? Since the brother of ZSC sporting director Sven Leuenberger ended his career at Ambri in the spring of 2006 after 489 National League games (212 points) for SCB, Gottéron, Basel and Ambri, he has worked in a wide variety functions exclusively in SCB. This season he should have been helping Don Nachbaur.
Lars Leuenberger is the boss of the Bieler gang. Image: keystone
But Lars Leuenberger can train elsewhere as well. It is the perfect solution for Biel. He knows our hockey, he meets sports director Martin Steinegger, he is so confident in himself that he doesn’t have to hang out with the general and he will respect the special family culture in Biel and will also be able to cope with the special situation around Antti Törmänen. And by the way, their obligation has weakened the SCB: With Lars Leuenberger, the SCB has lost the last strong personality in the sports department.
“JvP” has to make Hiller forget
Biel’s most important individual player is Joren van Pottelberghe. For years he was considered the goalkeeper of the future. Now, at 23 in Biel, he has to show that he is also the goalkeeper of the present. The Zug- and Sweden-trained butterfly stylist has had eventful years: he moved to Davos in 2016 to take on Leonardo Genoni’s difficult legacy alongside Gilles Senn, and failed. Coach Arno Del Curto doesn’t believe in him. He was loaned out to Denmark (Rungsted) and Kloten before sharing the job at Davos with Sandro Aeschlimann last season.
Joren van Pottelberghe follows in the great footsteps of Jonas Hiller. Image: keystone
Now Zuger has landed in Biel, a club that has had very good experiences with goalkeepers with an HCD past (Reto Berra, Jonas Hiller). The talent of Jonas Hiller’s successor is out of the question. He has already participated in three World Cups as number 1 at the youth level and is the future national goalkeeper. But is he mentally robust enough? He doesn’t exude the same confidence as Jonas Hiller. In a perfect world, Biel would have a stronger number 2 than Elien Paupe for safety. We believe in the potential of Joren Van Pottelberghe. Also because you can count on patience in Biel.
A board of directors that allows operational management to function in peace: The work in Biel is excellent, the club is exhausting its commercial and sporting opportunities in a limited but dynamic economic region. If someone manages not to stumble without a patron on the road to masterful fame according to the motto “Reculer pour mieux sauter”, then it is Daniel Villard and Martin Steinegger. Your patience can bring masterful fame.
Athletic director Martin Steinegger will continue to have the patience. Photo: trapezoidal
After all, there will be a consolation prize next spring: Biel will be number 1 in the Bern region for the first time since 1988, ahead of SC Bern, SCL Tigers and Langenthal.
Forecast:
5th for the first time in more than 30 years number 1 in the Bern region.
