It is rather rare that personalities in Swiss ice hockey make headlines nationwide. But recently it was time again.
Why? Because Florence Schelling (31) was the first woman to be named a decision-maker in a professional ice hockey club. Worldwide.
The former goalkeeper of the Swiss national team is now responsible for the fortunes of SC Bern. With an average of 16,000 spectators, it is the most popular club in Europe.
She says to BamS: “I have had positive reactions from all over the world. I was aware that I would be the first woman to trigger something in this position. But I think there was such a big echo because of the corona pandemic. There are just not too many sports news around the world. ”
Schelling came to ice hockey through her two older brothers. She wanted to play in the garage – and had to go into the gate. It was quite normal for her to play with boys early on: “For me it was never a macho sport, I started playing ice hockey when I was four. And I made the step into this men’s world. From four to 19 I played almost exclusively with boys. I only played with women in the national team. It is normal for me, I feel comfortable in this world. I don’t feel like I can’t. ”
Schelling was once the world’s best goalkeeper and won the 2014 Olympic bronze with Switzerland. She played in the United States, Canada and Sweden. Accomplished her master’s degree in business, worked in a management consultancy and as a TV expert after her career at the end of 2018.
Can she imagine a job in the Bundesliga in the future at Vita? Schelling: “It is very far away. I haven’t thought about that yet. But I recently called Ralph Krueger, the coach of the Buffalo Sabers. He dared to step into football, was club boss in the Premier League. He told me what challenges there are when you get into football from the outside. It was very exciting. “
Nor has she thought about the question of whether she goes to the cabin after playing games.
No wonder, it is not yet clear when the new season will begin in Switzerland.
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