The Spengler Cup as a Springboard?
Article - The Spengler Cup as a Springboard?
10.09.2024
The story of Fribourg-Gottéron began with its founding in 1937. The wait for a major title has been just as long. Will this year be the one to break the spell at the Spengler Cup?
Swiss champions in the then National League B in 1980 and runners-up in the top league in 1983, 1992, 1993, 1994, and 2013: these are the greatest achievements of the Fribourg team. The record seems rather modest, especially when recalling the glorious times with Slava Bykov and Andrei Khomutov, who enchanted Swiss hockey in the 1990s but failed to secure the playoff final three times. This exceptional Russian duo also made their mark at the Spengler Cup, participating in 1990 (with Kloten), 1992 (with Gottéron), as well as 1993 and 1994 (with HC Davos), reaching the final with the host team each time – only to fall short against Färjestad. Thus, Bykov/Khomutov never secured a title in Switzerland.
In 2013, Gottéron managed to qualify for the finals in the national championship under coach Hans Kossmann, but lost the series 2:4 to SC Bern. Since then, such successes have been completely absent, and the longing for a title win has only grown stronger.
The modest results compared to the investments have now led Gottéron to part ways with coach and sports director Christian Dubé after nearly a decade. In a transition season, Patrick Émond was appointed head coach, before the Swedish star coach Roger Rönnberg, who currently works with Frölunda, will take over in a year. However, even in this “interim season,” the dream of a title is very much alive. The prerequisites are actually in place; the Fribourg team boasts a broad and high-quality roster, and with former Davos player Reto Berra, they have a goaltender who can make a difference. Additionally, Chris DiDomenico, a forward who embodies the Spengler Cup spirit, has already won the tournament three times with Team Canada. With Raphael Diaz and Ryan Gunderson, the defense, now strengthened by Yannick Rathgeb, has plenty of experience. In attack, the Swedes Marcus Sörensen and Lucas Wallmark are constant threats, and Swiss players Christoph Bertschy, Killian Mottet, Samuel Walser, and the club legend Julien Sprunger, who is in the twilight of his career, regularly score.
Looking at the competition is also encouraging. Genève-Servette HC once faced a similar title drought, with at least one obstacle always being too great on their path to the top. However, the Spengler Cup proved to be a “key opener”: in 2013 and 2014, Servette, led by Chris McSorley, lifted the Spengler Cup trophy, and in 2023, they won the Swiss championship, with the team from Lake Geneva triumphing in the Champions Hockey League the past season.
With the National League, the Champions Hockey League, and the Spengler Cup, Fribourg-Gottéron has three opportunities this season to end their title drought. Perhaps, like Servette about a decade ago, they will break the spell during the year-end week in Davos, although balancing three major competitions with respect to energy reserves and workload management is a challenge. Nevertheless, the hunger for success is great, as forward Christoph Bertschy, who has already won the championship and cup with SC Bern, says: “Every title is worth striving for. For Fribourg, winning the championship would be the biggest goal, but we also approach the other two tournaments with good feelings and are not just playing for fun; we want to achieve something. We have the team for it, with ambitious players.”
HC Fribourg-Gottéron is presented by Spengler Cup Gold Partner SCHENKER STOREN
Text: SLAPSHOT, Das Hockey-Magazin der Schweiz
Foto: KEYSTONE/Anthony Anex