The third and fourth goal shortly before and shortly after the second intermission broke Lugano’s resistance in this playoff series. The Bianconeri were a serious and fierce opponent, who did not make it too easy for the Lions on their way to another championship title. Nevertheless: The dominance of the Lions over the course of the season with only one OT-loss in 26 games is impressive and deserves a lot of respect.
Georg Taferner’s team always made use of their broad squad. Only three players of their roster in the playoff finals were not members of a national team, all the other players are part of either the Swiss, the French or the British national teams. With the exceptional talent of Alina Müller, the Lions also had the top scorer of the regular season and the playoffs in their own ranks. Just behind Müller, there followed three other players of the ZSC Lions: Isabel and Nina Waidacher, as well as Christine Meier. In the playoffs, Angela Taylor also made her way into the Top-5.
With their sixth title – four of which the Lions won with head coach Daniela Diaz behind the boards, one each with Christof Amsler and Georg Taferner – the Lions catch up with Lugano, that has also won six championships. By winning the title three times in a row for the second time in history, the Lions have set a new record. Since the introduction of the A- and B-leagues, only the GCK Lions (1989-1991), Lyss (1995-1997), and Reinach (2001-2003) managed to win three consecutive titles.
The Champions of the past ten years:
ZSC Lions: 6 championship titles (2016-2018, 2011-2013)
HC Lugano: 4 championship titles (2014-2015, 2009-2010, 2006-2007
Last Update: 25 March 2018, 02:47 PM | tme*
