History of the HC Lugano

This is a history of the HC Lugano is a professional ice hockey club of the Swiss National League A based in Lugano, Switzerland.^[1]

Origins

To was founded in the course of the 1940-1941 season when, on the small lake of Muzzano, the first games were played against the "cousins" of Ambrì and against the improvised teams of Muzzano, Massagno and Paradiso. But the club's actual setting-up takes place on 11 February 1941, during a meeting in the small lounge of the Apollo restaurant. Among the founding partners there are Antonio Caslani, the Arrigo brothers, Ivo Badaracco, Bruno Soldini, Dino Bernardoni, Ivo Molina, Renato Crivelli, Guido Keller, Tullio Visani, Pepi Paulon, Livio Balmelli, Renato Paganetti, Kurt Tritten, Ezio Bernasconi, Bobo Trachsel and Alfonso Weber.

The last-named is elected president, also because, being a player in the Football Club Lugano, he can guarantee the jerseys for the team. Seven years after its foundation, the team abandons the small lake of Muzzano and goes to the Loreto quarter. This change is certainly beneficial and is a good opportunity to make the hockey game gradually known in the neighbourhood.

In Loreto, the first real games of puck on ice are played, with the appearance of those who will become world champions: the Canadians of Mercury. The game of hockey starts getting a footing; however, the civic authorities keep considering Lugano as, basically, a football city. All the efforts of the president-of-presidents Luigi Bellasi come to nothing. In fact, the lack of political support causes the club's eviction from Loreto, too.

The 50s

In 1955, after loads of ups and downs, the Lugano club plays a few games on what functioned as tennis courts in summer, i.e. the tennis courts of the Münger bakery in Paradiso.

This was possible thanks to two great promoters of the black-and-white family: Cuccio Viglezio and Guido Keller. Still in the course of 1955, Albino Mangili sets up the sport facility in Noranco. And it's in Noranco itself that the black-and-white Club achieves its first real purchase: Beat Rüedi, from Canton Graubünden.

With Rüedi comes the first real example to follow: apart from playing and training, Rüedi moves skillfully in all fields in order to realise what was considered a real dream in Lugano: the artificial rink. In the three years passed in Noranco, the Lugano club contends its first official championships and celebrates its first promotion to first division in 1956.

The president is still Luigi Bellasi, and the omnipresent Cuccio Viglezio and Antonio Bariffi become part of the committee; the last-named is a player already and will subsequently become the first Ticinese to hold the position of president in the National League. The Lugano club also finds its first Canadian purchase during its last season in Noranco: Bob Mitchell, a defender taken from the Milan Devils and who will give the Lugano club those new shots called slapshots.

The first artificial rink, which will be called "Resega", is inaugurated on 1 December 1957.

That day, among the present, there was the guy who – thirty years later – would take the Lugano club to the height of Swiss and international hockey: Geo Mantegazza. An engineer by profession, he has his first contacts with the black-and-white family by doing the Resega's static calculations. The most important engagement experienced during the first years of the Resega was the then Pedrolini Cup, name taken from the family that then owned the facility and that gives hospitality to the strongest European teams, such as the Stockholm club, the Wembley Lions, the Paris club and the Milan Devils.

The 60s

The Resega's inaugural season coincides with the first professional wearing the black-and-white jersey: Gene Miller, followed by the acrobatic Chinese-Canadian Larry Kwong. At the end of the fifties, the Lugano club also sees a Swiss lad called Gérald Rigolet for a short spell; subsequently, with the Villars and the Chaux de Fonds teams, he will reveal himself one of the greatest goalkeepers in the history of Swiss hockey. In the 1963-1964 season, the HCL will finally achieve the coveted promotion to National League B, thanks to a sensational recruitment drive with the signing-on of the defender Elwyn Friedrich and the winger Roland Bernasconi, both of them internationals and Swiss champions with the Villars club. During that season a great talent shows up on the Resega's ice and makes history: Alfio Molina.

And it's precisely the fifteen-year-old Alfio Molina who will drag the black-and-white team towards Series B, which will be conquered on 29 February 1964 in Rapperswil's ice rink. And the fans of the Ambrì team get a great shock when the Lugano club beats its rivals in the Swiss Cup: the game becomes decisive during extra time, when Moretti finally shoots a goal. But in the championships, the revenge of the Ambrì team is terrible: 13 to 2. And to this day, this remains the clearest performance in the derbies' long history. Here are some of the names of the players who marked the first years in the history of the black-and-whites at the Resega: Friedrich, Faoro, Moretti, Stephani, Hochstrasser, Mazzola, Brambilla, Molina, Rezzonico, Corti, Giudici, Bernardoni. And three guys from the Leventina Valley are also introduced in the various formations of those years: Silvio Baldi, Ennio and Danny Tenconi.

Molina's reserve is Roger Corpataux. The black-and-whites celebrate their promotion to National League A in the 1970-1971 season, with the purchases of Arturo Baldi from the Ambrì club, of Marzio Agustoni, a guy from Bellinzona who stepped into the limelight with the Grasshoppers team, of Bernard Côté and of the Czech Karel Blazek, the protagonist of a real spurt in Switzerland during a tournament in Lugano.

The season's key encounter is Lugano-Lausanne, contended at the Resega in front of 6000 spectators and won by the black-and-whites 3 to 1.

The 70s

The team includes eight players of the breeding ground: Molina, Corti, Rezzonico, Giudici, Brambilla, Bernardoni, Bernasconi and Cereghetti. So thirty years after its foundation, the team finally sees its dream come true! Second only to Canton Valais, Canton Ticino has two clubs in the highest category. Molina crowns his extraordinary career when, at the world championships in Prague, he proves the second best goalkeeper absolutely. The adventure of the black-and-whites in National League A lasted two seasons; in the 1972-1973 season, it was relegated to the National League B.

So the Lugano club prepares itself to pass nine years in the lower division, among wavering results, even though some of the players kindle the Resega in the seventies, such as the Finns Juha Pekka Rantasila and Henry Leppä and the American Tom Vanelli.

In 1975 the black-and-white club packs its suitcases and moves to Lugano's first covered ice rink: the one in Mezzovico.

The black-and-whites will play two championships here, the time necessary to cover the Resega completely.

In 1978, the guy who will become a great figure in only a few years' time enters the history of the Lugano club and of Swiss hockey: Geo Mantegazza. And what will often be the seventh player on ice takes shape with him: the North End.

The new managing staff, formed by Geo Mantegazza, Severo Antonini and Fausto Senni immediately conquers two historical results: for the first time, the Lugano club has a ranking in front of the Ambrì club and for the first time, on 23 October 1979, the Valascia is conquered (5-2).

The extra guy on this occasion is Jim Koleff, who will become the North End's idol.

The 80s

Koleff will wear the black-and-white colours for two seasons. In the 1979-1980 season a guy returns to the Lugano club after his experience in Lausanne: Fabio Gaggini. He will remain tied to the black-and-white colours for a long time.

In 1980 two great names dock on Lake Ceresio's shores. In fact, they are Mark Pavelich and John Harrington, fresh with the extraordinary gold medal conquered with the American national team at the Olympics in Lake Placid.

But they disappoint both the fans and the team and remain in Lugano for a championship only. Pavelich will then move to the New York Rangers and result one of the best.

However, it's in these years that the Resega sees one of its most crowded championships, with an average registration of nearly 8'000 spectators per game!

Therefore, in the 1981-1982 season, the Lugano club decides to invest a lot in the recruitment drive, and treats itself with eight new players.

Among all of them, the name of the captain of the Swiss National team stands out: Aldo Zenhäusern. The foreigners are Réal Vincent and Bernard Gagnon.

Two other important arrivals are Claude Domeniconi, a stern defender who will give a lot to the club in the years to come, and Bruno Rogger, one of Canada's (Quesnel B.C.) first Swiss.

But the team doesn't really work out as expected and the coach-player Vincent decides to dedicate himself solely to the role of coach, abandoning the role of defender: he places Rogger in his place, until then a forward, and engages a new foreigner in the attack: Bob Sirois.

This move proves winning and, together with the cousins from the Leventina Valley, the Lugano club returns to the National League A after an exhilarating and promotional heat, and is also triumphant on glamorous ice rinks such as the Allmend in Berne and the Hallenstadion in Zurich. For the adventure in Series A, the Lugano club engages an American defender, Bob Hess, with more than 300 games in the NHL and the ability of inflaming the fans with his spectacular, but not always successful, traverses of the rink. The black-and-white team is also strengthened by other experienced players: Giovanni Conte, Daniel Blaser and Jean-Claude Courvosier.

But the greatest promise for Swiss hockey is the following purchase: Jörg Eberle from Canton Appenzell. However, with the sixth final place, the championship of the black-and-whites isn't really memorable. At the end of the season, an author of the scaling of the black-and-white team in National League A finally and definitely gives up ice skating: Alfio Molina. On the other hand, Eberle leaves the Lugano club and moves to Davos.

The "Grande Lugano" era

In order to give a turning point to the whole environment, the president Mantegazza gives way to a real technical revolution and calls a new coach from Sweden: John Slettvoll. With him, inflexible in and outside the ice, arrives a player destined to become the Resega's favourite: the legendary Kent Johansson!

The sprinting nr. 25 has a tough time getting adjusted, but what an explosion after Christmas! Next to him there's a Finn not always the best winger for Johansson: Häkan Hjerpe.

Enthusiasm for hockey in Lugano increases and other important players complete the team – which becomes more competitive day after day – i.e. Beat Kaufmann and Arnold Lörtscher.

The 1983-1984 season is very regular: the team ranks in 4th position. In order to face the 1984-1985 season, Slettvoll further strengthens the Lugano club with two essential players: Mats Waltin and Fredy Lüthi.

The first guy is a real mainstay of the Swedish National Team: together with Ingemar Stenmark and Björn Borg he is part of the legendary figures in Swedish sports. Another player arrives with them, Beat Eggimann, and will stay with the black-and-whites for several seasons.

The departures that should be taken note of are those of Aldo Zenhäusern and Martin Lötscher; in the meantime, Fabio Gaggini closes his competitive career. For the whole season, the black-and-white team chases the champions of the Davos club, but without success. It fails to conquer the umpteenth title of the Canton Graubünden guys.

However, it concludes its best season in that period by conquering the second place. The guy who steals the show, among the black-and-whites, is the elf Johansson.

Slettvoll prepares the 1985-1986 season fully conscious that it could really be the most important season in the history of the black-and-whites. The recruitment drive brings two new players of great promise to the Lugano club: Sandro Bertaggia and Andy Ton; there's also Jörg Eberle, who returns from Davos with two national titles.

A guy full of talent arrives with them: Roberto Triulzi, from St. Moritz in Canton Graubünden. 1 March 1986, the Lugano club is Swiss champion!

This is a memorable season that finishes with the most sought-after prize: the delivery of the cup of the first Swiss play-offs to captain Kaufmann, won in Davos' lovely ice rink. The guy who steals the show for the evening and for the whole championship in general is, once again, Kenta Johansson, with a good four goals in the conclusive contest that invert the score from 2-4 to 7-5! The ice rink in Davos is absolutely teeming with black and white colours, with more than 3000 season ticket holders to see and support the team. And that's when the Era of the Great Lugano Club begins. By following the motto "the winning team mustn't change", Slettvoll confronts his first season as the current champion with the same players of the previous year. In fact, the only new arrival is the goalkeeper Urs Räber, destined to alternate with Thierry Andrey as goalkeeper.

During the 1986-1987 season, with the Lugano club always at the top of the league, the author of what will become the greatest brawl in the history of the derby in Ticino drops by for a few games: Mats Hallin. 1986-1987 is also the season that launches the Lugano club in Europe. Successful at first in East Berlin, the black-and-whites eliminate what – until then – had been considered the strongest western team absolutely: the Köln club! Never before had a Swiss team been able to reach its aim of playing in the European Cup's final phase. During the championships, the Lugano club confirms itself wonderfully and conquers its second national title in the play-off finals against the Kloten team. But, at the end of the season, various essential players leave the Lugano club: Waltin, Lörtscher, Kaufmann, Triulzi and Von Gunten.

In order to replace the various departures, mainly due to the withdrawal from the contests, the following players are called for the 1987-1988 season: the Finn Kari Pekka Eloranta, Peter Jaks, Thomas Vrabec, Didier Massy and Remo Walder. Even though Slettvoll still has to build a whole team, the Lugano club confirms itself as the championship's leader. In fact, after its dominance in the regular season, it attains its third title in a row in the play-offs, at the expenses of the Kloten team.

The black-and-whites impose themselves in the final in three games and win the last game at the Resega; the goal was shot by Vrabec in the extra time in front of the eyes of the literally delirious North End! A note of respect for the European Cup, too, which took place in an enthusiastic Resega. The guests of honour are no less than the legendary CSKA Moscow, the then great world leader with the legendary Larionov, Makarov, Krutov and Fetisov, and the teams Färjestad and Kosice.

However, the Lugano team has no power whatsoever against these sacred monsters of European hockey. The Lugano team of John Slettvoll and Geo Mantegazza conquers the first place in the regular 1988-1989 season, too. With the arrival of spring, however, the bears in Berne wake up from their dormancy and the men in the federal capital pinch the Lugano team's title!

The never-ending challenge is concluded after five battles at the Resega, in front of the incredulous eyes of the black-and-white fans.

For the first time after the introduction of the play-offs, the Lugano team leaves the national title to an opponent. This deeply felt disappointment leads to the difficult separation of the public from its great idol: Kenta Johansson. With him, even Peter Jaks returns to his Ambrì team and Thierry Andrey leaves the Lugano club, too.

The goalkeeper Markus Bachschmied, the defender Patrice Brasey and the unknown American Lane Mc Donald are called in order to re-launch the Lugano team in the 1989-1990 season. Unfortunately, the last-named, late in the championship, must abandon hockey because of a serious problem with an eye. The Lugano team is forced to look for a new foreigner and engages the Czech Dusan Pasek. Disqualified after a violent brawl against the Ambrì team, the wizard Slettvoll decides to call a small Japanese-Canadian to Lugano for the play-offs, Steve Tsujiura.

This small but great man will be at the origins of the fourth national title of the black-and-whites; in fact, together with Ton and Eberle, he will form a terrible line! In the final, the Lugano team takes its revenge for the previous season by winning in four games and conquering the title in the impressive Allmend ice rink, absolutely swarming with black-and-white fans. Once again, the Lugano club enters its name in the Swiss Hockey's roll of honour. A success that basically closes the Era of the Great Lugano Club and with it the era of a well-loved president, Geo Mantegazza.

The president-of-presidents, in fact, leaves the team in the hands of another of the Resega's favourites: Fabio Gaggini.

The 90s

After Geo Mantegazza

Gaggini and Slettvoll trust in two Swedish stars for the 1990-1991 season: Magnus Svensson, a powerful defender with a great shot, and Mats Näslund, a star in the NHL. The goalkeeper Wahl, from the Ajoie team, arrives with them in Lugano.

The season closes with the second place in regular season and the defeat in the final play-off against the usual Berne team in four games. However, the Lugano team crowns its year with a new participation in the European Cup's final round in Düsseldorf, where it will be on the verge of its exploit with the Finnish champions of the Turku team.

We are in the winter of 1991-1992, one of the most difficult ones.

The Lugano club confronts the season with several new purchases. Gingras and Thibaudeau replace Näslund and Svensson. The Swiss Brasey, Fontana and Bachschmied leave, too, leaving their place to the new-comers on the shores of Lake Ceresio: Doug Honegger, André Rötheli, Patrick Sutter, JJ Aeschlimann and John Fritsche.

During the ninth season as leading coach in the Lugano club, the wizard Slettvoll goes into a crisis, taking the Lugano team with him.

A tormented season with the second place in the regular season and, immediately after the Olympic Games, the bitter elimination by the Zurich club led by Arno del Curto at the play-off quarter-finals. For the first time in the play-offs' history, the Lugano team isn't present in the final. However, the season's task is for the black-and-whites to qualify in the Spengler Cup's finals, whereby the Lugano club wins hands down against the Mannheim team, it beats the Malmö team in extra time, loses by a single goal against Team Canada and beats the legendary CSKA Moscow at the penalty shots!! The following day, during the conclusive action, the Russian masters impose themselves 5 to 2. At the end of the season, John Slettvoll leaves the Lugano club. The latter, in turn, looks for a new playing philosophy and a new style for the team.

The Canadian Andy Murray is engaged as the team's leader for the 1992-1993 season; he is exquisitely kind. With him, a legendary figure arrives in the Lugano club, a guy who had formed an unbeatable fivesome for years in the Russian National Team and in Moscow's CSKA: Igor Larionov.

And to support this star of the first magnitude in world hockey there is the Czech Petr Rosol. In the meantime, two internationals from Berne land in Lugano: Sven Leuenberger and Patrick Howald, as well as the Swiss-Canadian Mark Astley.

The Lugano club is extremely strong on paper but, somehow, it has trouble asserting itself. Murray has a hard time trying to adapt to European ways and in December, due to the internal situation in the changing rooms, the club is forced to dismiss him and to call back Slettvoll. The Canadian Brian Propp comes too, in order to give a hand. Together with Larianov – who has finally recovered after a long pubalgia – he will form an extremely dangerous pair. However, all of this isn't really enough to go beyond the play-off semi-final. The black-and-whites, in fact, are eliminated by the Kloten team at the penalty shots in the Resega.

Larionov leaves the Lugano club and returns to the NHL, where he will win the Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings for two years running. Other players leave with him, too: Massy, Lüthi, Propp, Rosol and Eggimann.

The 1993-1994 season sees two other Swedes on the shores of Lake Ceresio: Jan Larsson and Pär Djoos, as well as Sami Balmer and two greenhorns, destined to become the favourites of the black-and-white public: Lars Weibel and Marcel Jenni, found by John Slettvoll in the Under 18 National Team that he manages.

The greatest news of the 1993-1994 season, however, is the temporary rink called Reseghina.

In fact, the legendary, old Resega is in the course of being demolished, so that a new and modern facility can be built.

Third in regular season, Slettvoll's Lugano club is eliminated once again in the play-off semi-finals by the Kloten team, led by Michael Johansson, Kenta's brother.

John Slettvoll changes role and becomes the sports manager of the black-and-whites, while the Finn, Timo Lahtinen, becomes coach. The reinforcements for the 1994-1995 championship are Tommy Sjödin, Pat Schafhauser and Peter Kobel.

The 1994-1995 championship leads the Lugano club to conquer the 2nd place in regular season directly after the Zug club.

But the play-offs betray the black-and-whites once again; they are eliminated by the usual Kloten team in the quarter-finals, which imposes itself in the Reseghina for its fifth challenge. Supported by the good show offered, the team renews its trust in Lahtinen and, as an additional aid, calls a fresh Stanley Cup winner to Lugano, the French-Canadian Stéphan Lebeau, as well as two old foxes from the blue-and-white cousins, Keith Fair and Rick Tschumi.

The 1995-1996 championship starts with an event that will make history: the inauguration of the longed-for Resega's new ice rink on 25 September 1995 with the first championship game between the Lugano team and the Lausanne team. However, hard times are ahead after the unforgettable party, and in October the club separates for lack of results on Lahtinen's part.

Therefore, John Slettvoll returns as coach, but the move doesn't reveal itself winning.

The Lugano club concludes the championship in 7th place only and is immediately eliminated in the play-offs by the Kloten team once again… how odd!

The 1995-1996 season won't only be remembered for the Resega's inauguration, but also for Pat Schafhauser's sad fate, the black-and-white defender who, in the evening of 5 December 1995, will slam violently against the balustrade in the Davos ice rink, thus severely damaging his spinal cord; he will be forced in a wheelchair.

After this sad accident, the Lugano club launches the idea of the "Fondazione Pat Schafhauser", with the aim of creating a fund for possible sports accidents. This foundation organises the famous All Star Game each year.

New spurs are needed for the 1996-1997 season, so the Lugano club hires a new coach, namely an old acquaintance of the black-and-white hockey team: Mats Waltin, who has returned from two seasons as the leader of the Davos club. Another great Swede arrives with him, Michael Nylander, who leaves the Calgary Flames (NHL), in order to wear the black-and-white jersey.

And due to professional reasons, it's Jörg Eberle's turn to leave, but together with Kenta, he will always remain in the hearts of the Lugano fans. The international Sutter will leave the club with him, too.

The 1996-1997 season is rather disappointing in its first phase. But as the team grows, inspired by Nylander and strengthened by the Russian Pavel Torgaev, it finally defeats the bugbear Kloten team, before being beaten, in turn, by Gaetano Orlando's Berne club in the play-off semi-final.

The supporters are hungry for victories and the team prepares a leading recruitment drive.

There are other arrivals apart from the promising Julien and Geoffrey Vauclair from Canton Jura: the international Patrick Fischer, Andy Näser, the Canadian Todd Elik, a mixed blessing in and outside the ice, the Swedish pluri-champion Peter Andersson, Trevor Meier, Rolf Ziegler and the Swiss-Canadian Mark Astley returns from Canada.

The departures that should be taken note of are those of the three foreigners Lebeau, Torgaev and Nylander. But the season begins badly and in November Waltin is substituted by Jim Koleff, who had come to Lugano as sports manager. Jim brings the team back into the ranking's top places, but he isn't able to save the season, because the black-and-white team is eliminated by the Davos team in the play-off's first round, once again after the penalties at the Resega. But the satisfaction for Julien Vauclair is great, drafted even by the glamorous Ottawa Senators.

The Lugano team wants to win once again, so Jim Koleff calls two greatly experienced players, whom he knows well: Gaetano Orlando and Misko Antisin. Régis Fuchs and Gaetan Voisard come from Berne, too. In order to help the defence and Lars Weibel, there's also the first foreign goalkeeper in black-and-white history: Cristobal Huet, a young French man ready to explode. The Lugano club also takes on Igor Fedulov, the top goalscorer in National League B, as he awaits his future red-crossed passport. Among the departures, there's that of Sjödin, for years the soul of the black-and-white defence. The regular season is characterised by unsteadiness, also due to the accidents to Orlando's hand, Bill Mc Dougall's substitute.

However, at the beginning of the play-offs, the team is complete and in top form. The Lugano club suffers with the Davos club, but with the help of a next to unbeatable defence and goalkeeper it splendidly eliminates the current champions of the Zug club; it then prepares itself to confront the Ambrì club in the finals, the protagonist of a record regular season. Canton Ticino is in a state of agitation and the derby mood is strongly felt. Thanks to a better freshness and experience, the Lugano team, edition 1998-1999, conquers its fifth national title on 5 April 1999 at the Valascia, by beating its cousins in five games and by winning a good 3 encounters out of 3 up in the valley! All the players are protagonists in this splendid venture, but the following stand out in particular: the goalkeeper Huet, the defender and captain Andersson and the indestructible Orlando, who will end his magnificent career at the age of 36.

2000-Present

Season 1999-2000

The 1999-2000 season offers some memorable and spectacular hockey evenings to the black-and-white fans. The Lugano club dominates the regular season far and wide, closed with 68 points and a good 11 advantage points ahead of the second ranker. But the real exploit is attained in the Euroleague, when the black-and-white team finally reaches the semi-final round after having beaten the Dynamo Moscow club 3 to 1 and the Ice Tigers of Nürnberg at the penalty shots at the Resega. This is possible because the team is strengthened in particular by Philippe Bozon, Christian Dubé – already first choice by the New York Rangers in 1996 – Oliver Keller and, after Christmas, Wes Walz.

The men of Koleff win the domestic challenge against the Slovan Bratislava club and, in a game teeming with emotions, they also vanquish the rink of the Slovak champions 6 to 5 in the second game. The seriousness and professionalism of the Lugano club bring about the Top Four Final, the final leg with four teams to crown the team European champion. In a greatly agitated Resega and in front of 24'000 spectators for four games, the Russians of the Metallurg Magnitogorsk team led by Gomoljako give an encore and beat the Sparta Prague team in the finals. It was exactly the Czech champions who, the previous evening, in extra time, had made the black-and-white dream go up in smoke. A fantastic game finally solved by the Czech Vujtek; the Lugano team, in fact, had nearly been on the verge of victory several times.

However, this extraordinary European adventure leaves a mark in the players' bodies and souls. The play-offs begin with the easy victories over the Fribourg and Ambrì teams, but not so with the ZSC Lions team. The games are really under pressure, Andersson is in bed with angina and notwithstanding the cues of Dubé and Bozon, the Lugano team loses at the Hallenstadion in "contest 6" when, 10 seconds to the whistle, Plavsic gets the 4 to 3 goal.

The Zurich team is Swiss champion and the Lugano is the protagonist of a splendid year, although without any titles to add to the notice board.

Season 2000-2001

The 2000-2001 season, the HCL's 60th birthday, faithfully follows the previous season in some things. In fact, the black-and-whites close the regular season in the lead, always in front of the ZSC Lions. The play-off quarter-finals and semi-finals are rather suffered, but the successes against the Fribourg and Berne teams respectively are possible especially because of the character and experience that allow various victories in extra time and, in particular, at the penalty shots. And it's at the penalty shots, incidentally, that the relentless JJ Aeschlimann closes Renato Tosio's great career at the Allmend.

The great final with the Zurich team is extremely intense, often unfair, polemical and, unfortunately, with an extremely bitter end. The Lugano team leads three to one in the series, but it doesn't conclude anything in "contest 5" at the Resega. On the famous 7 April 2001, "Game 7" is vibrant: Dubé gets a goal, but Zeiter ties at the 51st minute. Extra time is in full swing and Morgan Samuelsson strikes Huet and the blood of the black-and-white fans runs cold. Unfortunately though, the blood of roughly thirty offenders doesn't curdle, protagonists of serious uncivil behaviour during the awarding of prizes.

Season 2001-2002

The Hockey Club Lugano plc. is founded in the 2001-2002 season, the public limited company that manages the activities of the first team as well as of the Junior Elite team. The glorious HCL Association remains on its feet as majority shareholder of the HCL plc. and as main team for the Youth Sector, the club's Female Section and the Old-Timers team. Beat Kaufmann becomes the first president of the HCL plc.'s board of directors, while Fabio Gaggini remains in the lead of the HCL Association.

The championship begins with the game Lugano-Rapperswil, which will be remembered as the first (and hopefully the last) game without spectators, due to the accidents that occurred during the previous season's finals. And then, an ex player of the "Great Russia" arrives as coach of the Lugano club: Zinetula Bilyaletdinov. With him comes a player who is already well-known and appreciated in Switzerland: Petteri Nummelin. Moreover, the inseparable André Rötheli and Patrick Sutter return to the shores of Lake Ceresio, while Ryan Gardner arrives from Ambrì. Philippe Bozon leaves and is substituted by Mike Maneluk.

The Lugano club begins the season excellently, but gradually it loses lucidity and game. In the end, it's eliminated from the Continental Cup by the Milan Vipers, thus forcing the black-and-white management to take the drastic decision of dismissing the current coach. Jim Koleff takes his place once again; until then, he had been sports director. Two new players are then purchased in order to strengthen the black-and-whites – this happens just before the play-offs and after a memorable tour in Japan. The purchases are Noël Guyaz from Chur and Ronnie Rüeger from Zug. The latter will take the place of the goalkeeper Cristobal Huet who, in the summer, will leave the Lugano club for the Los Angeles Kings in the NHL, thus permitting the Lugano club to play with three foreigners. In fact, the forward Bob Lachance and the defender Greg Andrusak arrive.

At the end of the regular season, the black-and-whites are in second place directly behind the Davos team, but the play-offs aren't really satisfactory… after having beaten the Zug team in the quarter-finals, they're eliminated once again by the usual Lions club. The team from Canton Graubünden, after having dominated the whole season, will become Swiss Champion.

Season 2002-2003

In the 2002-2003 season the cycle of the "after Dubé" and the "after Huet" comes into being – two players who have left a mark in the Lugano club. To make up for the departure of the great player number 96, a talent in Swiss hockey is called for: Adrian Wichser. At the end of the regular season, he will be the player with the most goals shot in National Division A. The regular goalkeeper is Ronnie Rüeger. Jimmy Koleff then calls an old acquaintance from Swiss hockey, the American Corey Millen, an already appreciated player in the HCAP, to play side by side with the foreign pair Maneluk-Nummeli. His performance is, however, disappointing. Krister Cantoni returns to the shores of Lake Ceresio, too. He had played in the black-and-white youth section in his early years and had then left the Resega in order to acquire some notable experience elsewhere.

However, the Lugano club has trouble getting started and has a hard time in finding its style. Koleff thus decides to purchase another Canadian player: Brandon Convery. This move, however, isn't really winning and, after the umpteenth defeat (on the part of the Berne team of the "ex Dubé), the management is rather under pressure and decides to separate definitely from Koleff, whose relationship with the fans and mass-media appears to be rather worn-out. An era is thus abruptly closed.

Larry "Harry Potter" Huras arrives as new coach. Game after game, he spreads faith and fighting spirit everywhere and gets the Lugano club back on its feet. In fact, as if by magic, the team manages to give its best and entertain the public once again. At the end of a very balanced regular season, the Lugano club comes in fourth. Ahead of it in the ranking there are the following teams: Davos, ZSC and Berne.

The play-off series begins against the Kloten team; as usual, this opponent is particularly difficult to tackle, but the newborn Lugano team manages to dominate rhythms and timing, thus attaining the qualification for the semi-final. In the meantime, as a support for the defending line – temporarily lacking the injured Nummelin – the greatly solid and reliable American defence Barry Richter steps in. The opponent that has to be confronted in the semi-final is, once again, the Zurich Lions team. But this year the tendency finally changes. Thanks to two convincing victories at the Hallenstadion, the black-and-whites impose themselves with the result 4 to 1, which is also due to the scoring vein on the parts of Convery and Maneluk, and to the whole team's great defence. Waiting for us in the final is the Davos team led by Arno Del Curto, the current champion.

The first two games are won by the team from Canton Graubünden and – seemingly – its aim in rejecting the attacks on the part of the Lugano club for the national trophy works out. But the latter doesn't give up, on the contrary! It brings out its fighting spirit in the rink and – starting from Contest 3 and with a character enviable to the greatest gladiators – will win the four remaining games. This was a task achieved by the whole team as such, and not by the single top players, such as Rüeger, the tireless Keith Fair, the conveniently handy Murovic, the brilliant Nummelin, and a very much inspired Rötheli. Contest 6, which counts as match point, is clearly dominated by Captain Fuchs and fellows in an over-crowded Resega with a peremptory 4 to 1 made possible by an excellent collective performance. The black-and-white team thus snatches the cup from the hands of an extremely disappointed Reto Von Arx and brings the black-and-whites' sixth title to the shores of Lake Ceresio.

This is a title that all the fans from Lugano will never forget, being the last title won by the great Sandro Bertaggia as player. Sandro, an indomitable bulldog, a great man and model player, decides in fact to withdraw and gives up ice skating. His career was a fantastic one and lasted a good 18 seasons with over 800 participations in National League A and 6 Swiss champion titles with the Lugano jersey!

...the unique jersey Number 2 that no other black-and-white will ever wear...

Season 2003-2004

For the 2003-2004 season, the Swiss black-and-white team is completed by some minor finishing touches: the great Sandro Bertaggia is substituted by the young and talented defender from Langnau, Steve Hirschi, born in 1981. During the summer, there's a lot of talk about the possible arrival of Oleg Petrov as Maneluk's substitute, but then, considering everyone's wishes (in particular the team's and the North End's) the decision to keep Iron Mike is taken. He is going to play side by side with a legendary Finnish hockey player, Ville Peltonen, already world champion with his hat-trick in the final and who, in January, had held the Continental Cup's winning trophy as captain of the Jokerit team right here at the Resega. The third foreigner is the untouchable Petteri Nummelin who, incidentally, will also receive the MVP prize for the preceding season. The introduction of two young men in the first team's group should also be proudly acknowledged: Mattia Bianchi (born in 1984) and Roman Botta (born in 1984, too).

The championship begins and proceeds brilliantly; the black-and-whites – spurred in particular by the forwards' extraordinary vein in the rival team – conclude the regular season at the top of the ranking, ahead of the Berne team, and with a record that had never been registered before: 74 points in 48 games played! It's the beginning of January. The team, followed by more than a hundred fans, undergoes the experience of a lifetime in Gomel, a city in one of the poorest countries of the poor, Belarus. From the sporting point of view, there's a certain disappointment regarding the new bronze medal in the Continental Cup's Superfinal. After having defeated the Rouen team, the Lugano club loses by a hair against the home team (3-2), and in the end, wins the finals for the third place in a lovely game against the current Russian runners-up of the Severstal Cherepovets team.

On 22 February 2004, the Resega lives an afternoon of intense emotions. In a mood of great collective participation, Alfio Molina's jersey nr. 1, Sandro Bertaggia's jersey nr. 2 and Pat Schafhauser's jersey nr. 4 are officially collected. The last-named is connected "live" by satellite and is deeply moved all the way from Minneapolis to the new giant screens at the Resega.

In the first round of the play-offs, the black-and-whites confront the Fribourg team, whom they eliminate in four games. But then the ghosts of the ZSC Lions team reappear in the semi-final. The Lugano team wins the first home contest hands down, but loses the subsequent three, one of which in extra time at the Resega and one at the penalty shots in an away game! It's forbidden to lose now and, as is common knowledge, when the going gets tough… the tough get going! At the Resega, the black-and-whites disallow the first matchball on the part of the Zurich team and the second one at the Hallenstadion thanks to an incredible recovery in the game's last instants (with Rüeger on the bench and a goal by Peltonen) and a goal in extra time on the part of Maneluk and the third one at the Resega once again. Incredible but true… in the end, the Lugano team eliminates the Lions team and is in the final!Therefore, the ones to play in the final for the title of Swiss Champions are the players from the Huras team and the ones from the Berne team.

The "best of five" will be carried out for the final. The contest starts at the Resega and the Lugano team seems to be in trouble… it had lost its psychophysical energies in the semi-final two days earlier… and immediately loses the home advantage, too. The second game, played at the BernArena, is won once again by the bears 2 to 1 and, as had already been the case with the ZSC team, the Lugano team can't afford to lose anymore! So at the Resega, the team plays a perfect game and brings the Berne team to the fourth game. In front of an incredible public, completely crazy about the capital's team, the black-and-white team recovers once again and shoots a goal, thanks to a brilliant dart on Nummelin's part … the winning goal only three minutes to the end.

The prize-giving is thus decided at the fifth and last game in a completely booked-out Resega and after a memorable hunt for a ticket. The encounter is well-balanced until the end when, only 32 seconds before the last whistle, Maneluk pulls off a tie and defers the outcome in extra time (with Rüeger still on the bench). But unfortunately, energies are running low and the Berne team manages to grasp its victory at minute 14.20 in extra time with a goal by Marc Weber. All of this takes place in the presence of an exemplary sporting mood on the part of the public, even when the cup is handed over.

Congratulations to the new champions of the Berne team, but congratulations to the Lugano team, too, for having given us a really unforgettable play-off, which will make history as the greatest play-off ever played in Switzerland!

Season 2004-2005

The season 2004-2005 will be registered into the annals of Swiss Ice Hockey History as one of the most interesting ones and for the HC Lugano as one of the strangest. The reasons are obvious: For once the lockout in the NHL. World stars such as Joe Thornton, Rick Nash, Niklas Hagmann, Dan Brière and Martin St. Louis showed their skills on Swiss ice fields. Next the early drop out of the title candidate HC Lugano during the quarter finals against the actual Swiss Master SC Bern. Who later got worsted of the HC Davos.

The HC Lugano won sovereign the regular season, this thanks the two outstanding goal keepers and the two Finns Petteri Nummelin and Ville Peltonen. Because of, or owing to the lockout, the HC Lugano committed the Swiss NHL Goalie of the Colorado Avalanche, David Aebischer. He propelled Ronnie Rueger to maximum output. The situation in the NHL remained meanwhile unclear for the Trainer staff: Aebischer could have returned from one day to other to the NHL. This uncertainty helped Ronnie Rueger to play more and forced David Aebischer to be the reservist.

The long championship winter of the HC Lugano is characterized by a long injuries list. The adductor problems of Mike Maneluk, two brain concussions of Benoit Gratton, from whom the HCL technicians predict a promising season, but who could never fulfil the expectations. But nevertheless Lugano remains the solid table leader. In the Resega the NHL stars replace another: Kimmo Timonen, Jason Blake and above all Alex Tanguay, a 24 years old great player, who is however pursued by injuries and bad luck. First an old hip injury breaks open again - he returned after two months and suffers promptly on a knee joint injury. Tanguay must throw the towel briefly before the beginning of the playoffs.

The HCL management obligates Martin Gelinas - a star, with more than 1000 NHL games experience and a double Stanley Cup winner. He played (because of lockout) in the national league B with Forward Morges. The evening before the playoffs received Paul di Pietro the Swiss passport. He had a good season at the partner team EHC Chur.

Playoffs begin. Opponent: the SC Berne. The acting Swiss Master had an extremely turbulent season behind, shaped from the coach change and plays "on death and life", to rich the 8th place on the championship to qualify for the playoffs.

The quarter finals series ended with 4-1 for Bern. The decision in the "game of the games" was made by the goal made by the young defender Furrer in overtime. For the HC Lugano, its players and the fans was a great tragedy. Expectations, after the brilliant regular season, were high - the crash brutal. And a breath of sadness covered the Resega, as JJ Aeschlimann after 14 successful seasons with the HC Lugano his farewell round in the dismayed Resega turns...

Season 2005-2006

The new championship 2005-2006 begins: Lugano wins with regularity, and often the team proposes a convincing game to a demanding public. Just a few weeks are enough to understand that Glen Metropolit's arrival from Jokerit (he'll be the Topscorer of the whole regular season) has allowed Lugano to improve its game. Jason York, with more than 700 games in the NHL, reinforces the defence and Lugano is on the top of the league standings, but the team frequently shows a minimalist attitude, and it tends to rest on its laurels.

Before Christmas the club announces, drum's rolls, that Larry Huras won't be the technician of the future. Frankly, this wasn't an unexpected new but was argued at length, also because in the following weeks, many key men reproached a loss in the performance, however, some loud victories at Ambrì and Davos gave some illusion.

But when the important games began, nervous fragilities and scarce incisiveness emerged, principally considering the previous intense Olympic emotions, to whom seven players contributed with Finland and Switzerland with all their strength. Ambrì exploited all its resources and pushed Lugano to the edge of an unbearable blow and the direction reacted with the exemption of the technician. The supporters went mad, and some people fell in the verbal aggression, and others, strong with an indestructible faith, overwhelmed the players with inciting messages: impossible is nothing!

The new leaders, head coach Harold Kreis from partnerteam Chur and co-coach Ivano Zanatta dispatched the responsibilities and asked the players, their brains, hearts and balls. With the weapon of the poor that is humility, the team thickened. The crazy goal of Vauclair at the Valascia was a sign of the doom, and the locker room became granite, waterproof to any attempt of destabilization. Each player was aware that only with one's sacrifice to this cause the miracle could still happen. This undertaking, that never happened in Europe before (only two times in the NHL!), became reality the 19th of March 2006: from 0-3 to 4-3 in the series against Ambrì.

The anguish to lose against the "cousins" vanished, and then came the most exciting part… With the impulse Lugano knocked down Kloten (4-1 in the semifinal series), the executioner of the leader Bern; biting but unripe Kloten challenged the current champion Davos: but there was no game. Lugano brushed the competitive and aesthetic perfection, and it travelled like a train in acceleration that runs over everything and everybody. Any player sublimated all his features, but the heroes were not the single players such as the sprite Nummelin, the bomber Hentunen, the terminator Gardner, the gladiator Sannitz, the terrible Metropolit and captain Peltonen. The whole team has triumphed thanks to the unity of intents reinforced in the difficulty.

And when the 13th of April 2006, the final siren rang at the Resega, the HCL people was at the seventh heaven. The joy is much deeper and more authentic when suffering precedes victory. But this victory is also the pride of a team that has taught Ticino and the whole Switzerland what it means to honour the dress of the Hockey Club Lugano.

Season 2006-2007

After having touched to the seventh heaven, the society and the HCL fans lived very difficult months. The National Hockey League knocked at Metropolit's door, and just some time later, at Nummelin's, Peltonen's and York's too: a very tough blow on the sportive level. Never did a Swiss club lose four players in the same time, for a more prestigious scene. As that was not enough, the magistrate's investigation on the illegal payments shook the HCL direction within its very basements. A media "tsunami" that flowed towards the restructure of the board of directors that took place on the 29th of November 2006 with the resignations of Beat Kaufmann and of Fabio Gaggini from their respective functions, and with the election of Fausto Gianini as president of the Association, and above all that of the new board of the joint stock company led by the new strong man of the club, Paolo Rossi.

On the technical level, the head-coach Ivano Zanatta and the assistant-coach Glen Williamson had the task to forge the team and to mould it in the internal hierarchies and in the subdivision of the responsibilities. Inside the cage, after Ronnie Rüeger's departure to Kloten, the young Simon Züger is given full confidence. In the defence zone, the Swedish player Dick Tärnström, MVP of the 2004 world championship, just arrived from the Stanley Cup, and Jason Strudwick, a solid worker with a long NHL experience got hired. On the forward front, the new foreigners who signed with the club are the inconstant USA scorer Landon Wilson and the second Swedish man, the playmaker Rickard Wallin.

Through a waterproof resistance for what concerned the external turbulences, the group grew on the space of the regular season: and here was a team that liked to define itself as worker, and that the HCL people appreciated just for that. Sixty minutes of constant commitment, change after change, following Ivano's orders. Despite the loud accidents of Hirschi and Conne, captain Jeannin and his mates took part in this season, giving results much more satisfying than expected; the fact that the team fought to reach the first place until the very last moments and closing the season at the fourth rank, proves this.

Meanwhile, in January 2007 the HCL family lived another unforgettable international experience. More than two hundred fans followed the team to Saint Petersburg for the Super Six tournament with the National champion teams of the six strongest European nations. Lugano climbed on a fully deserved podium by defeating Färjestad (3-0), before bowing, with the same result, in front of Ak Bars Kazan, the Russian team with a financial potential worthy of the National Hockey league. For those who lived them, these were five unforgettable days, in which the warmth and the affection towards the players and the club turned out to be strengthened. On the other hand, the club too proved its willingness to be more dynamic and more instinctive by offering the free entrance to the game against Basel, that was followed by 6283 persons.

Then the team got to the playoff where the quarter finals' adversary was Eldebrink's Kloten, with Hollenstein on the bench and Rintanen, Pittis and Hamr on the rink. Lugano offered its adversary the first victory by losing "game 1" through an unforeseeable distance collapse. Defeating the Schluefweg then became an obligation. The team brushed the enterprise but the flyers won the game during the overtime. An incredible 8-1 waked up the HCL ambitions once more, but thanks to their implacable powerplay, the flyers won back at home. After a new Lugano's success at the Resega, "game 6" decided its elimination. And the coup de grace was carried by the clamorous mistake made by the referee Prugger who whistled while the puck was still in movement, just when Jeannin was about to score 32 seconds before the final siren, what would have been the 2-2 goal.

A conclusion that leaves some bitterness, even though this has been a constructive season, particularly on a future perspective. The Ladies Team winning once more the Swiss champion title has to be underlined as well, so should be the promotion of Ceresio/Lugano, a team composed in particular by Juniores Elite HCL and by ex players of the HCL family, in the first league.

Season 2007-2008

The approach of the 2007-2008 season is positive, and the media Lugano as a challenging team. The departures, back to the NHL, of Tärnström and Strudwick seem well compensated by the arrival of the experienced Canadian defenseman Yannick Tremblay and by the come back, after some years in Northern America, of Timo Helbling.

In the forward zone, with Ryan Gardner attracted by the financial mermaids of ZSC Lions, loses one of its best elements, replaced by the Swiss player Thierry Paterlini and by the athletic Kostovic and Knoepfli. In order to hold the first center role of Rickard Wallin, considered to be lacking in personality by the technical staff, the Canadian playmaker Marty Murray is recruited. The championship begins shyly even though the team does not appear very much inclined to be creative in the offensive phase. The 18th of October 2007, Jukka Hentunen, HCL top scorer, leaves Lugano after being confronted with the extraordinary occasion of an extremely lucrative contract with the Russian team of the Ak Bars Kazan. The unexpected departure of the Finnish player will be loud in consequences. The collision strength in the forward front falls dramatically; Tremblay and Murray cannot achieve in dragging their mates; Wilson and some other are hurt and insecurity winds even in the back way, also due to the extended absence of Hirschi and to the inconsistency of the goal keeper. Towards middle November, managers and fans have the illusion to find a solution.

The ex NHL star (674 games, 421 points) Anson Carter lands at Agno and starts with three goals in three games. He is immediately appreciated for his attitude towards hockey and life. After repeated accidents, delay in the physical condition and some doubts concerning his real motivations, Carter gradually disappears from the scene. The society invests the proceeds of Hentunen's transfer by bringing David Aebischer at the Resega with a four years contract. The latter is the first Swiss player having made a successful start in the NHL (214 games), winner of the Stanley Cup, goalkeeper with great talent, nevertheless put aside in the northern American scene. Simon Züger is handed to Basel. Between November and December, Lugano faces a new crisis.

209 minutes without a single goal, a psychological fragility and a clear incapacity to react to the negative episodes, force Ivano Zanatta out of the team. In order to give a new motivation to the team, Kent Ruhnke, with his reputation of an iron leader is called. This move does not bring the expected changes. Ruhnke toils in finding the right feeling with the players, does not achieve in imposing his credo of an aggressive hockey, and finally is not very well accepted by Jeannin and mates. After eleven consecutive games in which the team did not achieve in realizing more than two goals, after an embarrassing 0-5 home game against Langnau Tigers and with the playoff line growing apart, the 9th of January John Slettvoll makes a clamorous come back.

To try and save a year that seemed lost, the club played the emotive note and entrusted the team to this charismatic leader that is considered to best embody the glorious history of the Hockey Club Lugano. Only thirteen games to the end of the regular season, and the task of the sixty-three years old trainer is really difficult: to rebuild the moral, to give back the desire of playing to a team losing its hopes, to a team harshly criticized by the media and by the fans. This is true for most of the players apart from some single ones such as Julien Vauclair and his brother Tristan. John, who came back to help the club, entirely devoted his presence to the team. To complete the foreigners' group, the Swedish scorer Jonas Höglund and the Finnish center Toni Häppölä are integrated.

But the playoff chase, starting with four successes, was not carried out, and for the first time after twenty-two years, Lugano had to take part in the playout: an experience that was nightmarish. The anxiety to win, the fear to lose against such a weak team as Basel and the numerous hurt players converted these five games into pure suffering for more than two thousand supports who remained faithful to the team and to the club. At the end Lugano won the series thanks to a very loud goal realized by the young Chiesa and to Landon Wilson regained mood. The darker thoughts vanished and the last evening finished happily with John Stettvoll being applauded as a hero by the grateful public of the Resega. This season is indeed a lesson of humility on all the levels, and will be needed to draw the right teaching to set the future.

Season 2008-2009

Continuity, at least at the balustrade, was the key word of the season 2008/2009 with John Slettvoll renewing his contract with the HCL and convincing the society to placing two young compatriots as assistants: Jesper Jäger and Christian Lechtaler.

The players' purchasing campaign has been very important this year. The club faced Jeannin's goodbye, joining Pelletier's team over the Sarine, Wirz' and Knoepfli's departures with Romano Lemm's hiring – even though a serious shoulder accident compromised half of his season – and especially with Domenichelli's arrival. The Canadian forward, leader at Ambrì for several years, married to a Swiss woman and therefore waiting for his Swiss passport, started with a serious handicap due to the breaking of the right knee's collateral ligament, happened in December 2008. But in August he was already on the ice, confirming his scorer's skills realizing some twenty goals, before being stopped again by a new problem at the same knee... certainly less important but clearly enough to losing the playoff train. However, the scoop was Petteri Nummelin's come back at the Resega after two seasons in the NHL. The Finnish player didn't lose anything from his talent: his genius, goals and assists are always valuable and spectacular assets!

In a championship balanced towards the height – Del Curto's Davos standing out, Bern leaving the competition at the quarter finals even though having dominated the regular season, ZSC Lions winning the Champions league but also leaving the playoff scene against Fribourg without even winning a single match – Slettvoll's Lugano showed a wavering behaviour. Good performances crossed incomprehensible defeats.

Individually speaking, apart from Nummelin, the excellent Aebischer and the sniper Brady Murray (son of Andy Murray), the twenty-four years old Norwegian player Patrick Thoresen stood out. The Aries from Philadelphia was able to combining physical strength and quality: he is a leader. On the other hand, Randy Robitaille's performance was disappointing. The Canadian centre, arriving at Lugano at end of August and bringing many expectations (top scorer in Switzerland during the lockout season and more than 10 seasons in the NHL) had to overcome a cardiac problem, but, apart from rare exceptions, he never managed to engage the game. A whole chapter was written by John Pohl alone. The American player, convincing during the preparation phase and good at the beginning of the championship, was then left on the bench by the technical staff, with probably unconvincing arguments too. But the player's reactions were bad and his behaviour during the training sessions indeed unacceptable. He was released at the end of January to making more space to the young Swedish forward Johan Fransson.

John Slettvoll was unable to manage the situation properly, increasing bad mood and the press falling on the society sum up the five foreigners' torment that ruined the locker room's atmosphere. Those were the first frailty signals from Umea's man who, around Christmas couldn't accept the society's communication concerning the wish not to continue with him as technical guide. Slettvoll's boundless ego prevailed on the team and on the club's good and on the 7th of January 2009, at a derby's eve, he abandoned everything and everybody accusing of betrayal the club and all its components.

With a team floating in the league standing's slack middle, after the interim and the won derby with Ruben Fontana, Hannu Virta, ex coach of TPS Turku was called from Finland to direct captain Näser and his mates. Sandro Bertaggia, mature with some years of experience with the youthful section, was put by his side. The players couldn't manage to win before the sixtieth minute and played an impressive number of overtime and penalty's series.

The quarter finals match was then Davos-Lugano: a spectacular series with emotions, crazy rhythm and enthusiasm back to the HCL people.

With Conne's most generous goal at the additional time, Lugano stood on the edge of the precipice but won the sixth game at the Resega at the penalties and went to the Vaillant Arena for the final one. A total disaster (7-1) that marked the fans' collective imaginary and stained all the good things built during all these months. From the explosion of the promising Matteo Nodari and Mauro Jörg to the highest level to the come back of Steve Hirschi… this season shows that professionalism will have to be a key word, and Hirschi, the hero of the season who has been able to exit the tunnel, is certainly to be applauded and an example to be followed.

Season 2009-2010

During the 2009 summer the club's presidency changed. After Paolo Rossi's choice not to continue for professional and personal reasons, the Searching Commission, designed for this aim, identified Silvio Laurenti for the club's guidance. Laurenti brought impressive managing skills with experiences as BIC Suisse and BIC Graphic Europe General Director and as Caran d'Ache CEO. To be also noted that he cumulated an experience as sportive leader of Viganello and of FV Lugano during the golden days of basketball in Ticino, followed by the vice-presidency of FC Lugano. The second important new is that of Johansson on the bench as head coach supported by Sandro Bertaggia. Among the best quoted technicians of his Country where he conquered the HV 71 title, the task of building a middle term group has been given to Kenta.

In the market session, Thoresen's departure for the lucrative Russian championship at Ufa is to be noted. In his stead came Jeff Hamilton that confirmed his scorer skills but who showed poor inclination to play with the team. Johansson brought to the Resega one of his pupils, Johan Akerman for the defence who, actually, didn't give much impulse. With Krister Cantoni's departure and Paterlini leaving for Rapperswil, the young Roman Schlagenhauf came from Kloten. The season started badly. A series of nine consecutive defeats between mid September and mid October lead Lugano under the line. But the team reacted and at least concerning the results, but not revealing marvellous aspects, gave a good yielding. The league standings' points come thanks to the creativity of the first forward trio composed by Domenichelli, Hamilton and by Randy Robitaille, newly inspired, but also by Boyd Devereaux, a very useful player who arrived during the season. His season unfortunately finished at the Spengler Cup with Team Canada when Forster's back charge gave him a serious problem to a cervical vertebra.

Robitaille, the talented Canadian player was Top Scorer during the regular season but sensationally missed the playoff moment. During the whole season, the true Achilles' heel was the defensive game. A certain inconsistency shown by Aebischer was highlighted by the insufficient cover of the goal keeper by his team mates, and conveyed the image of the HCL rearguard as one of the most porous of the championship. Around mid November, the HCL society was shaken within its technical sector. Roland Habisreutinger took the role of Head of Sport & Competition. He is a man of character and lived, with the same role, the lost playoff with Kloten Flyers until the very seventh game. And Jörg Eberle took another path: that of formation.

The month of December allowed the team to regain the playoff zone. Far from being solved, the weak points highlighted in every single game, lead Näser and his mates to another black whole by badly losing five consecutive games between the 10th and the 23rd of January. The society realized that Kent Johansson, his talents not being doubted, was not the right person for the Swiss hockey environment. His bashful and introverted character didn't help the dialogue with the players and the club: the effect was that of a disoriented group. To give the classic emotive shock and not to risk the playout, the choice was made to change the bench director by giving its confidence to the unforgettable gladiator Philippe Bozon within his first experience among the professionals. The new technical staff, with Bertaggia confirmed as assistant-coach, conquered the necessary points to reach the playoff.

Due to the long Vancouver Olympic Break, he didn't have the time to change the face of the team, in particular to give his mark to a gifted team but deprived of hierarchy and leadership presence, that are basic elements of a winning team. During the playoff, Bern, who conquered the title after a tough fight in the final against Geneva, easily won against Lugano. The most awaited players of Lugano literally disappeared against Larry Huras' men who won the series in four games only. The worst HCL result in all its playoff history.

The 6th of April 2010, the HCL family cried for a tragic death: the body of the athletic trainer Tiziano Muzio was found at Monte Bar. A special man who crossed the HCL history during thirty years and who gained the esteem and respect of all for his competence and above all for his sensitivity and generosity.

Season 2010-2011

The 2010-2011 season coincides with the seventieth birthday of the Hockey Club Lugano's foundation. Several events mark this celebration within the year and the birthday culminates on the 29th of January 2011 with the home game against Bern with a vintage dress and with the presence of many players who once wore the prestigious “C” dress. The technical guidance is given to Philippe Bozon, head coach and to Sandro Bertaggia, assistant coach. There are several departures as well and for different reasons: Romano Lemm, Alessandro Chiesa, Jeff Hamilton, Johan Akerman, Evgeni Chiriajev.

During the traditional maccheroni meeting at the end of August, Captain Andy Näser's dress number 44 is withdrawn: the latter took part in thirteen HCL championships. Randy Robitaille is also out of the roster: even though he is still under contract, the society doesn't want him any more because of character problems already highlighted during the previous season. Timo Helbling too will be leaving during the course of the year for having physically attacked a mate and the head coach during a training. Among the new players, Sébastien Reuille is back to Lugano and the young defenders Lorenz Kienzle and Stefan Ulmer are part of the team. Moreover, a group of foreign players arrive to Lugano, among them, many are very young. Those are the goalkeeper Sébastien Caron (alternating with the David Aebischer's inconsistency), Petteri Nummelin (often hurt), the defender Mark Popovic and the forwards Josh Hennessy, Chris Bourque (son of the famous Ray Bourque) and Colby Genoway.

During September, October and November Lugano toils in finding its cruising speed. The team doesn't manage to win two consecutive games, the difensive game doesn't persuade and the so-called Swiss leaders miss in the game apart from some exceptions (Julien Vauclair, Steve Hirschi, Hnat Domenichelli). The foreign players don't give the expected impulses and fall too often into anonymity. The line for the playoff qualification drifts away and the 29th of November 2010 Philippe Bozon and Sandro Bertaggia are dismissed and replaced ad interim, actually until the end of the regular season, by Mike Mc Namara and Patrick Fischer, the brilliant head and assistant coach of the Juniores Elite.

With the new bench duo, the team seems to benefit from this positive shake. Some successes deceives on the possibility to climb the ranking but two defeats before Christmas against the direct rivals (Lakers and Ambrì) compromise the recovery. For the first time within its history, Lugano is forced to the playout already at Christmas. The general ongoing improves during January and February but it is too late to come back. Lugano finishes the season at the tenth place and the Rapperswil's Lakers, a team against which Lugano lost the four season's games, are the playout first adversaries.

There is apprehension towards the playout and three days before the start, the society decides to insert a new face within the technical staff. Mc Namara and Fischer are the assistants of the forty-six years old Canadian Greg Ireland, who has a significant AHL experience. The shake is definitely correctly guessed since Lugano indeed liquidated the feared playout with four deserved and consecutive victories against the Lakers. The right attitude, a simple and efficient game, the growth of several game elements compared to the colorless season's performance and Lugano reaches the safety on the overtime's fourth game on capitan Vauclair's slapshot.

So finishes the year with too few satisfactions and a worrying and progressive public's lower affection for the team. Among the few positive notes is Alessio Bertaggia and Andrea Grassi's nice integration within the first team.

References

1. ↑ "Hockey Club Lugano - History". www.hclugano.ch. Retrieved 2011-08-08.