Fribourg-Gotteron made the Champions Hockey League Semi-Finals despite going into yesterday's game with Vitkovice last in their own league.

by Alain Hauert

FRIBOURG – While European success has been a welcome distraction for Fribourg-Gotteron, the reality is that they really need to turn their domestic season around – and quick. After Tuesday night's win over Vitkovice Ridera Ostrava, centre Andrei Bykov spoke of the need to carry those performances into the remainder of their NLA schedule.

"It was very important for us to get this win as we are really in a situation in the league where we have a lack of confidence, and so the positive result was our main goal today. The qualification for the Semi-Finals is really cool for us, even if we have to face some very important games in the NLA now, before the next CHL games are on schedule," he said. 

"Now we will play Frolunda Gothenburg. That means facing a strong Scandinavian team that is playing very structured with a good system. It is a really big team that awaits us in January and we will have to be even stronger against them than we were in this round facing Vitkovice."

Born in Moscow, Bykov moved to Fribourg when he was two years old when his father Viacheslav Bykov and linemate Andrei Khomutov – the younger Bykov's namesake – transferred from CSKA to the Swiss club. The two elder Russians are Gotteron legends and, now 28, Andrei Bykov has played his whole hockey-playing life with the club. In all that time, they have never won a domestic title, and have never been to the final four of a European championship – until now.

"We can't rest for very long on this victory. There is much work to do in the next days to prepare for the important games in our domestic league that are coming up," added the Swiss international forward. "But I hope we will be able to take the positive feeling with us into these next games."

Bykov scored Fribourg's opening goal and added an assist on each of their two other goals on the night.

"Of course I am happy to be able to score three points in this game, but the most important thing was the win as a team tonight," he said. "But yes, sometimes you score and then it's even better, especially when it helps to earn a victory."