The club still has to find a successor to Ville Peltonen, who leaves the team for Lausanne at the end of this season. According to the Berner Zeitung, the club wants to announce it in the upcoming weeks. One thing that already appears to be clear is that it will be a Finn. Whereas Kai Rautio is no option, another one of his ex-assistant coaches probably is: Mikko Haapakoski.
When it comes to the Bears' defense, their roster currently counts eight Swiss players. Another player from the Swiss League is set to join the team and apparently already has signed a yet to be announced deal in Bern. It might be Aurélien Marti, whose contract with SC Langenthal is set to expire. What about Dean Kukan? "With these salary expectations, he's not really an option for us," team manager Alex Chatelaîn says.
Regarding the Bears offensive area, according to Chatelaîn, the planning is "in all probability" over, at least when it comes to the Swiss players. There have been talks with Yannick-Lennart Albrecht (off to EV Zug), Samuel Walser (off to HC Fribourg-Gottéron), and Lausanne HC's Etienne Froidevaux in the past few months - without success. Moreover, contrary to several media reports, there was no interest in HCFG's Killian Mottet, the team manager notes.
Concerning the import-player spots, Mark Arcobello (USA) and Andrew Ebbett (CAN) will remain with the team, while Finnish forward Mika Pyörälä will return to Finland to rejoin Liiga's Oulun Kärpät. Also Canadian defender Maxim Noreau (photo) is expected to part ways with the Bears. He might either stay in Switzerland or try his luck in Russia. Whether Mayson Raymond (CAN) will have to leave is not yet clear: "He can prove himself in the playoffs. Everything's open," team manager Chatelâin notes.
Last Update: 30 January 2018, 09:21 AM | rlu
