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SCL Tigers don’t run into lower-class Huttwil – was Langnau’s last big win of the season? Image: keystone
Eismeister Zaugg
A cup win as the last happy day of the SCL Tigers season
Actually, the first round of the cup against amateur teams is just a mandatory exercise for the highest league clubs. But not for the SCL Tigers. When two Langnauers meet next summer, they will ask: “And you, where were you on October 4, 2020?”
The weather is unpleasantly cool. Second break in the Huttwil Hockey Cup match against SCL Tigers. The Langnauer lead against the leaders of the third highest league (MySports League) only 5: 3. They sometimes wavered against the midget. Two expert cult fans are speaking outside the stadium. “When the season ends next spring, we will tell our colleagues: I was there on October 4. And where were you?
What else happened in the cup?
These intimate connoisseurs are well aware of the historical significance of this day. But can a first-round cup match be a historic event? Yes, so it is with the Langnauers.
The game in Huttwil was the last serious fight in at least two years, allowed to compete as clear favorites. A Swiss League and Cup team with the possibility of a serious fight against an amateur team may not be looking forward to the next round. Therefore, this Sunday October 4 at 9: 3 against Hockey Huttwil was probably the last happy day of the new season. Langnau will almost certainly never win so high and so easily in a serious battle this season.
The clear result disguises the fact that the Titan was sometimes very hesitant in the first half of the game. Who knows if it wouldn’t have been a sensation if the two goalkeepers Lukas Gasser (until the middle of the game) and Kevin Liechti (in the second half) had played the best game of their careers. Four hits were sustainable and the decisive one to make the 2: 3 fell after a flagrant bad pass in the majority game. With only one foreigner (Ben Maxwell) and Gianluca Zaetta in goal, the SCL Tigers are only at the level of a good team in the Swiss League.
Huttwil proves to be a tough opponent. Image: keystone
For no coach in the National League preparing for the match in this first round of the cup was as difficult as for Rikard Franzén. The underdog in the highest league games suddenly becomes a sky-high favorite. How is the boss supposed to urge discipline and easy play? The Swedish coach says: “I tried to explain to the players that we have to play with the same concentration and simplicity as last time in Lausanne.” That really was successful at first. But when it was 2-0 in just under four minutes, the coach’s instructions were forgotten and then he realized: “We were neglected and punished for that.”
20 seconds after the first break, the lower class tied with a forceful attack to make it 2-2. The Langnauers can’t even afford to be careless against a tired team from the highest amateur league. After all, Rikard Franzén can provide information after a high, almost double-digit victory.
Tigers coach Rikard Franzén can talk about a big win for once. Image: keystone
Who knows, he may never be able to do that again until the end of his tenure at Emmental. That is why the chronicler also tried to question the coach in the belly of the stadium. You can say once that he was the only reporter in the world who spoke to Langnau’s coach this season after a six-goal win.
The Langnauer owe their big cup win in Huttwil to an absurd game plan. The night before, the Huttwilers had traveled to Chur for the away game (where they won 4-1 and defended the championship lead). Round trip 370 kilometers by bus. 21 hours after the end of the game, they had to shine again on Sunday at 5.15 pm. Against the vigorous and lively Langnauer, who last played Thursday night in Lausanne (2: 5 loss) and has now slept, rested, massaged, freshly brushed and combed three times.
These mindless game plans were to be expected to have an impact in the second half of the game, especially for fans who have a regular job other than hockey. In the championship and in the cup, the freshest opponents await the Langnauer from now until the end of the season.
Rikard Franzén now expects reinforcements from abroad soon. “We can keep the pace of five against five. We saw it at the Lausanne game. But on special teams we have problems with just one foreigner. “Private donors are willing to pay additional foreign staff. With Canadian forward Ben Maxwell, the Langnauers only have one capable foreigner. Danish forward Joachim Blichfeld and Danish forward are scheduled to be signed. Swedish defender Erik Brännström.
The coach does not expect these reinforcements for the next game on Saturday against Biel and does not want to comment on the situation abroad. “I focus on my work, our sports director on everything else.” Sports director Marc Eichmann does not confirm or deny, managing director Peter Müller also speaks like a politician. But at least they both assure you that it is your turn. But of course they don’t say what they “have”.
Will young NHL talent Erik Brännström arrive at Emmental? Image: www.imago-images.de
For Marc Eichmann and Peter Müller, October 4 should have been the last happy and carefree day of the season in terms of hockey.
Also on October 4 (but 1883) the Orient Express began its maiden voyage in Paris. With clearly defined destination Constantinople (today: Istanbul). Crime writer Agathe Christie (“Murder on the Orient Express”) created the myth of the train.
However, it is not yet known where the Langnau will go after October 4, north or south on the table. The writer Jeremias Gotthelf creates the myth of the Langnauer (“Money and spirit”). At the moment there is a lack of money in Langnau. The spirit is still there.
