Ice hockey: ZSC-Baltisberger misses brother Phil on the ice

The jubilation in the Swiss Life Arena on April 30 was huge. The ZSC Lions became Swiss champions for the tenth time. It was the first championship title in six years. The packed hall literally exploded when Jesper Frödén and Juho Lammikko scored in the 2-0 win against Lausanne in Game 7.

“This feeling of winning is incredibly fun,” remembers ZSC captain Patrick Geering of the magical night at the end of April. From hunter, the “Zett” has now become the hunted.

“If you start the season as champions, you can’t hide from the other teams,” said Geering. “Our opponents will be particularly motivated against us and will try to trip us up.” You have to find your hunger again and do everything you can to defend the title, said the 34-year-old about the mentality needed for the new season.

When asked about the well-known question of pressure, Geering replied: “Ultimately, people in Zurich have such high expectations. Not just the fans around us, but also us in the dressing room. At the end of the day, we work to win.”

The “Zett” brought in five young players from its farm team, the GCK Lions. Santtu Kinnunen has joined the Zurich team from the AHL club Charlotte Checkers. Head coach Crawford sees him as a very good “import”, as he calls him. “He has outstanding technical skills. We already had a very good defense last year. But it never hurts to add more good players.”

In addition to new arrivals, there are also departures at every season break. Among others, Simon Bodenmann and Phil Baltisberger left the club. Bodenmann hung up his skates, Baltisberger moved to the SCL Tigers. Has Chris missed his brother Phil on the ice? “Yes, of course!” he answers with a laugh. “Of course it would have been cool if we could have played together for longer. “But that’s the way the business is. We’re happy when we can play against each other and have our ‘duel’.”

Bodenmann has played for Zurich since 2018. “I would be lying if I said you don’t feel that they are both missing,” says captain Geering. “We have lost a few players with strong character. But the departures also offer younger players the opportunity to fill these gaps and grow in them.”

Resting on the laurels of last season is absolutely out of the question for Marc Crawford. “If you don’t pick up exactly where you left off, you’ll give the competition confidence.” “Everyone wants to beat the champions,” says the head coach. “Winning requires a lot of effort and dedication.” That has to be the case from the first match day here, the coach in other words.

The Lions have already gained confidence for the new season in the National League in the Champions Hockey League. The ZSC won the first two games 4:1. On Friday they will host the Straubing Tigers for the third game. “It is certainly an advantage for us to have already fought serious matches at the start of the league,” said striker Baltisberger.