HCAP Announces Departure of Key Leadership Duo After Eight Years of Success
Ambrì-Piotta,Switzerland – The Ambrì-Piotta Hockey Club (HCAP) today announced the departure of Sports Director Paolo Duca and Head Coach Luca Cereda,marking the end of an eight-year partnership credited with revitalizing the organization. The move concludes a highly accomplished tenure for both men, who steered the club through a period of significant growth and achievement.
Duca and Cereda’s collaboration is widely recognized as instrumental in establishing HCAP as a consistent contender in the Swiss National League. Arriving at a pivotal moment for the club,they focused on building a strong sporting identity and fostering a robust advancement pipeline for young talent.
During their time at the helm, HCAP achieved several key milestones, including ending a 13-year playoff drought and securing a post-season victory. They also qualified for the Champions Hockey League and, in a historic moment for the club, won the Spengler Cup in 2023 – their frist title in 23 years.
Beyond on-ice success, Duca and Cereda prioritized strengthening the club’s organizational processes and reinforcing its core values of community, tradition, and teamwork. They also placed a strong emphasis on developing players from the club’s youth academy, successfully transitioning several young talents to professional contracts with both HCAP and other prominent teams.
“The Club expresses sincere thanks to Paolo and Luca for the commitment, professionalism and dedication shown, for the emotions they provided, for their humility and sense of duty and for having conveyed the club’s values to all fans, partners and sponsors,” a club statement read. “We send them our best wishes for their future professional paths.”
HCAP has not yet announced replacements for Duca and Cereda.