It shouldn’t stop at this cup: After the Swiss championship, Servette also wants to win the Champions Hockey League.Image: KEYSTONE
Swiss champion Servette will contest the Champions League final against Skelleftea from Sweden in the Les Vernets ice rink. “The players,” said coach Cadieux, “should enjoy this big final.”
It’s the game of the year! The venerable hall was sold out within a few minutes (7,135 spectators). The Swiss championship, which was so disappointing for the people of Geneva, can be ignored for eight days. “Now it’s just about winning a title again,” says coach Jan Cadieux. «Servette hardly won anything until a year ago. Then we won the playoff final and became champions. And now we have the next chance to win something big.”
All season long, Cadieux tried to clear the minds of the players. Winning the title should get out of the players’ minds. Before the final against Skelleftea, the memories should now return: “The attitude has to be the same as in the playoff final against Biel a year ago. We have to be hungry and humble.”
Jan Cadieux with his captain Noah Rod and the CHL trophy. Image: keystone
With seven mercenaries
And the team should show its Champions League face again and deliver a high-class performance for over 60 minutes. Cadieux: “The Champions League was one of the most important goals this season from the start. We didn’t just want to play along. We wanted to be good. Of course we wanted that in the championship too. But we haven’t been able to do that all season in the National League. In the Champions League, however, it does.”
In terms of personnel, the starting position for Geneva is not bad. The season is over for captain Noah Rod (shoulder injury), but only the appearances of Marco Miranda and Tanner Richard, who both missed the debacle against Davos on Friday (1:6), are questionable. Richard averaged one scorer point per game in the Champions League this season (12 games, 2 goals, 10 assists).
The Genève-Servette Hockey Club has an advantage among foreigners. Unlike in the National League, Servette can use all seven foreigners against Skelleftea. Jussi Olkinuora will guard the goal, Theodor Lennström and Sami Vatanen will defend, and Valtteri Filppula, Teemu Hartikainen, Sakari Manninen and Daniel Winnik will rotate up front. AIK Skelleftea only has two imports: the Canadian Dylan Sikura and the Latvian Martins Dzierkals.
7
A leader who can decide a game and make his team better on and off the ice.
6-7
A player with so much talent that on a good evening he can decide a game and is a leader.
5-6
A good NL player: Often talented Iridescent butterflies, sometimes serious workers who make a lot of their talent.
4-5
A player for the 3rd or 4th block, a veteran warrior or a newcomer.
3-4
The future still ahead of you or the future already behind you.
The rating is the North American hockey grading scale, which goes from 1 (minimum) to 7 (maximum). There are no grades below 3, because those who play in the top league are at least barely enough.
Olkinuora’s second chance
The main role in Servette will be played by a 33-year-old Finn who started the Champions League with the Lahti Pelicans and was only transferred to Geneva before the quarter-final second leg in Växjö: goalkeeper Jussi Olkinuora. With Lahti, Olkinuora was eliminated in the round of 16 – primarily because the first leg in Finland was lost 0-3 forfeit due to ice problems against Vitkovice.
With Servette, Olkinuora has a second chance. And although the Finnish world champion and Olympic champion has only been living in Switzerland and Geneva for a good two months, he is well aware of the seriousness of the situation: “This final is a game that young players dream of,” he says. Olkinuora has already experienced such extreme situations in finals. «The most important thing is to be aware of the importance of the situation. In principle, the whole season is at stake – it couldn’t be better.”
Jussi Olkinuora has been guarding the Geneva goal since December.Image: keystone
Olkinuora’s point is clear: If Servette wins the Champions League, then the season will be a success – no matter what else happens in the National League. In addition, a sense of success in the Champions League could become a key experience so that Servette can do better again in the National League. “The potential is there anyway. The team has a lot of character. And many of our players are world class when it comes to handling the puck.” (nih/sda)
These clubs won the Champions Hockey League
1 / 7
These clubs won the Champions Hockey League
Frölunda HC Gothenburg – 4 Title: 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2020
“Say his name” – U2 pays tribute to Alexei Navalny at a concert in Las Vegas
Video: twitter
This might also interest you: