Are the ZSC and Zug already fighting for the championship title? Image: KEYSTONE
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Eismeister Zaugg
Is it about the title in Zurich? Zug or ZSC could become “ghost masters” today
The plan is ready: if the game can be played again from March 15th, the season can be played according to the current mode. Today, EV Zug in Zurich’s Hallenstadion is still about the title. It is still possible that the playoffs will be canceled, the season will end today and finally a “ghost title” will be awarded.
The club representatives will only determine how to proceed at a meeting on Monday. But basically everyone is already in agreement: no more ghost games. Not in the playoffs. Not in the placement round. Not in the playouts. Not in the league qualification.
So the ghost games were yesterday:
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That means: If you can play from March 15th, there could be playoffs according to plan (best of seven). The rhythm is changed and played with higher cadence every other day. If the clubs do not accept this proposal, there will be shortened playoffs (“Best of Five instead of Best of Seven”. The 7th final game will be scheduled for April 23, that of the league qualification for April 24 May so there is some leeway, but postponements beyond April 23 would be very difficult because several stadiums are already occupied by other events.
If there is no release on March 15 and the lock-up period is extended, the playoffs, the placement round, the playouts and the league qualification should be completely eliminated. In this case, the 2019/20 season would probably be over and the qualification winner would be proclaimed champion. Should the SCB not qualify for the playoffs in Lausanne today, the Bernese would be spared the disgrace of having missed the playoffs in the event of a fall: you cannot miss playoffs that are not being played at all.
Today the ZSC Lions and Zug play for the qualification victory. The Zurichers need a victory after 60 minutes. If Zug scores even one point, they are qualification winners. And maybe even master. Since the founding of the National League (first season 1937/38), there has only been one champion once: 1940. Because of the mobilization (World War II). Even in the years of the “Spanish flu”, which according to the latest research in 1918, 1919 and 1920 claimed 25 million victims worldwide, a national ice hockey championship was held:
Zug or the ZSC Lions champions after 50 qualifying games? Should this variant not have to be officially announced in the event of a fall, so that Zug and Zurich know what is going on today? “That is not necessary,” says Marc Lüthi. “It is clear to everyone that this possibility must be expected.”
Train sports director Reto Kläy. Image: KEYSTONE
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Zug’s head of sport Reto Kläy says: “We’re playing for the qualification victory.” But wouldn’t his boys have another spike if they knew it might be about the title? The first since 1998. Only the second in club history. “No, we’re playing for the qualification win.” He had never seriously thought of the scenario that the qualification win could possibly bring the title. The last title, which was not awarded in playoff mode, was won by HC Davos in spring 1985.
The quarter-finals in the Swiss League have ended. Kloten, Ajoie, Langenthal and Visp have all reached the semi-finals after just five games. If there are no more games after March 15th, the championship has ended here too. It is possible that qualification winner Kloten will go straight up and the next NL season will be played with 13 teams, the last one will go down after the placement round, the playouts will be played between 11th and 12th and the loser for the league qualification against the champion entitled to promotion the Swiss League has to compete.
Pictures of the Kloteners during the 2018 descent. Image: KEYSTONE
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The clubs have to cope with the loss of revenue from the ghost games. There will be no compensation from the state as sometimes in similar situations for other industries. The ice hockey business is not the most important agriculture for national self-sufficiency.
The SC Bern has taken out insurance for such events. But Marc Lüthi says the expected payout is just 200,000 francs. “This is far from enough to cover even the loss of revenue from the Gottéron game.”
It remains to be seen whether it will return the money for tickets already purchased. Marc Lüthi says it is also possible to attend a qualifying game next season.
