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Start-finish victory: Starting as the heavy favorites, the ZSC Lions lived up to expectations.
6 years after the last championship title, the ZSC Lions have reclaimed the Swiss hockey throne. If the Swiss champions had come from Lausanne in 2023/24, one would have had to speak of a surprise despite third place in the regular season. The Vaudois playoff Palmarès has been too manageable in recent years.
The people of Zurich, however, are completely different. The triumph of the ZSC Lions is something like the logical conclusion to a season that could only end with the title – perhaps even should. After years in which the people of Zurich ran after high expectations, the 10th championship title in the club’s history is proof of their regained self-image.
Always on top
The Lions’ years of crisis began after their last title win in 2018. By missing the playoffs, the club reached a kind of negative milestone and seemed to have difficulty recovering from it in the following years. In 2021/22 they reached a playoff final again, but actually lost a 3-0 lead against EVZ. Last year it was over for Zurich in the semi-finals. They didn’t win a single game against Biel.
However, ZSC has not performed as confidently in qualifying in recent years as it did this season. The people of Zurich started out as overwhelming favorites last late summer. And the longer the season lasted, the more they did justice to this role. They followed up their ultimately confident qualifying victory with a “sweep” against Biel and Zug.
The fact that they failed to achieve this in the final against Lausanne deserves no more than a side note. A perfect playoff, 12 wins in a row, no team in this country has ever achieved that. The Lions, however, managed to react to setbacks. They had to leave the ice as losers three times in Lausanne, and three times they drew the right conclusions from the defeats.
These are the 10 cornerstones of the ZSC championship team
1 / 10
Legend: Simon Hrubec (CZE, goalkeeper) He doesn’t have to shy away from comparison with Ari Sulander, who is revered in Zurich. Hrubec played an outstanding season with the lowest average goals conceded (1.88) and the best catch rate (93.21%). He also achieved the best results in the playoffs – and no fewer than 5 shutouts. Freshfocus/Martin Meienberger
2 / 10
Legend: Dean Kukan (SUI, defender) A very calm player who hardly makes any mistakes and gives the team security. You notice how important it is, especially when it’s missing. Freshfocus/Martin Meienberger
3 / 10
Legend: Mikko Lehtonen (FIN, defender) The two-time world champion and 2022 Olympic champion scored 30 points in qualifying, just like in his first season. The plus-minus balance increased from +4 to +28. No other Zurich resident can come up with a better value. Freshfocus/Claudio Thoma
4 / 10
Legend: Yannick Weber (SUI, defender) The former NHL defender took a while to find his way around Zurich. In his third season, Weber fully embraced his role. He’s not a scorer like Lehtonen or Kukan, but he’s a reliable worker. In the playoffs, the Bernese turned up the heat, scored game-winning goals and had the best plus-minus balance. KEYSTONE/Michael Buholzer
5 / 10
Legend: Denis Malgin (SUI, striker) He is and remains the exceptional Swiss striker in the National League. The man for special moments. On average, he collected just under one scorer point per game. Freshfocus/Claudio Thoma
6 / 10
Legend: Sven Andrighetto (SUI, striker) Due to a hand injury, Andrighetto didn’t start the season until mid-October. He feels most comfortable next to Malgin. Turned it up even more in the playoffs and finished with Malgin as the top scorer. Freshfocus/Urs Lindt
7 / 10
Legend: Rudolfs Balcers (LAT, striker) Together with Sven Andrighetto and Denis Malgin, he formed the most spectacular line in the league. The goal to make it 1:2 in the fourth final game was emblematic of this. Tic-Tac-Toe at its best. Missed the last two finals due to injury. Freshfocus/Claudio Thoma
8 / 10
Legend: Derek Grant (CAN, striker) He made an immediate impact in his first season on Swiss ice. He scored his goals with deflections, from the wrist and especially on the power play. Grant was indispensable there in the playoffs. Keystone/Michael Buholzer
9 / 10
Legend: Jesper Fröden (SWE, striker) With 40 points, Fröden was the second best ZSC scorer in qualification behind Malgin. His 22 goals were a record for the Lions. In the playoffs, the Swede fell somewhat short of his performance – but in the final “Belle” he scored the important 1-0. Freshfocus/Pascal Muller
10 / 10
Legend: Juho Lammikko (FIN, striker) Lammikko also impressed with his scorer points and physical presence in his second season in Switzerland. Collected the second-most penalty minutes on the team after defender Marti and had the second-best plus-minus record (+20) behind Lehtonen. In the final “Belle” he was outstanding with a goal and an assist. Freshfocus/Claudio Thoma
Burden spread across many shoulders
This successful and convincing season was made possible not least by the excellent Zurich squad. At ZSC, attackers line up on the 3rd or 4th line who would adorn the top line of other NL teams. And in goal the Lions had the best keeper of the season in Simon Hrubec (CZE).
With players like Denis Malgin, Sven Andrighetto and Dean Kukan, the ZSC had some of the most sought-after Swiss players in its ranks. That had already been the case in previous years. What was different this year: For the first time in a long time, the foreign group impressed across the board.
The strikers Jesper Fröden (SWE), Derek Grant (CAN), Rudolfs Balcers (LAT) and Juho Lammikko (FIN) all collected an average of over 0.75 points per game. And even defender Mikko Lehtonen (FIN) cracked the 30-point mark.
The foreign sextet (with Hrubec) is likely to remain unchanged next season (everyone has a contract until 2025 or 2026). For once, sports director Sven Leuenberger, who has not always been blessed with a lucky hand with foreigners in previous years, has no need for action in the summer.
Crawford and the right conclusions
Another building block for success can be found on the boards. When Leuenberger brought Marc Crawford, the 2014 ZSC master coach, back to the Limmat city at the end of December 2022, it was definitely a risk. After all, old brooms don’t necessarily come back again.
The semi-final out against Biel in spring 2023 was also a disappointment. But this season, Crawford and his long-time assistant Rob Cookson seem to have done everything right. The Canadian, who had become calmer, drew the right conclusions from setbacks; he gave the players enough freedom and still brought emotions into the game. The success proves the 63-year-old right.