EV Zug are a regular contender in the Swiss National Liga A and can depend on a loyal group of fans. Since their lone title win in 1998, they have been looking for that magical formula to put them back on top.

by Andreas Reiner

For the last decade or so, EV Zug have always been a candidate for the Swiss natioanal hockey championship after winning in 1998, but the playoffs' first or second rounds have been the most the fans have experienced since then. Since being introduced on the hockey map in 1967, Zug have been the lone central Swiss team in the highest league and, because of that, attract fans from the cantons surrounding Zug.

From bottom to top and back again

But let's take a step back and look at the roots of Eissportverein Zug. It was in 1953 when Baarer Schlittschuhclub (BSC) was founded and played outside of Zug. In 1967, BSC managed to qualify for the fourth-highest league. The team then decided to move to a new rink situated in Herti, a neighbourhood within the city limits of Zug and re-name the club. The official founding date of the newly-named club as 5 May 1967 and only months later the new hockey rink was opened with a tournament against EHC Arosa and SC Bern.

It didn't take long for the club to assert itself at the national level an just two years later EV Zug were promoted to the 1st League – the third-highest league in Switzerland. Without ambitions, the team took the challenge and played themselves to the top of their group, qualifying for the promotion round to the National League B (NLB), but it seemed that the club wasn't prepared to advance and didn't regret remaining in the 1st League for now. It would take another four years, during which Zug reinforced the squad with various players from the national team, before the club was promoted to the NLB after beating Chur and Uzwil in front of almost 6800 spectators.

For the 1974–75 season Reto Stuppan, who had the roles of player and coach, pushed the team further, wanting to take the ultimate step to the National League A. A year later, in the spring of 1976, EV Zug played ZSC and won the game 7–6 after trailing 5–3 to earn the promotion.

The ice rink was now transformed to a full arena, as a roof was placed over the open ice and the capacity was increased to 8,350 seats. With many new players on the squad, the team started to their first season in the National League A (NLA) but fell into a slump, losing 13 games in a row. This cost them their stay in the league, and they returned to the NLB after just one season.

We take a leap forward to the year 1982, and EV Zug were on the verge of a financial collapse but, thanks to the financial support of the new president, the club was able to survive. Unfortunately, the team finished last and was relegated to the 1st League.

EV Zug are here to stay

From here on, the rise of Zug to the NLA was a slow but steady trip. It would take a handful of transfers, good coaching and the 1990s for the team to exceed everyone's expectations. They returned to the NLA to stay in 1992 and immediately became one of the league's top teams, finishing first overall and making the finals in 1994–95 and returning to the finals in 1997. In 1998, Zug once again made the finals and faced HC Davos. In a six-game series, Zug won 4–2 to capture their first national championship title.

In the following seasons Zug would qualify for the playoffs but couldn't repeat this success. In the 2013–14 season, Zug were a the verge of being relegated, finishing the regular season in ninth place, but secured a place in the NLA for the 2014–15 season, where they finished fourth in the regular season before being eliminated in the quarter-finals.

In 2010, the club moved into the brand new Bossard Arena, which offered more comfort and space to meet today's standards. It contains luxury boxes and 4,280 seats – in total, 7,015 fans can stand or sit in the new arena.

Fondly remembered players

One of the best-known players who skated on the old Herti ice rink is Ivan Hlinka, who played for two seasons from 1983 to 1985. Zug were well known to sign North American players such as John Fritsche, Colin Muller, Ken Yaremchuk, Misko Antisin and Wes Walz. During the NHL lock-out of 2004–05 Claude Lemieux, Mike Fisher and Niko Kapanen were under contract and brought some international flair to Switzerland. In the 2012 lock-out Damien Brunner, Raphael Diaz and Swedish superstar Henrik Zetterberg played for short stints. But there have also been a handful of Swiss players to leave a mark in the old Herti-Halle. André Rötheli (GM of the Kloten Flyers today), Patrick Fischer and André Künzi are just a few to be mentioned.

Today and the future

Zug have evolved into one of the teams with a great reputation in terms of its youth player programme. Young players are educated and integrated into the flagship team. Currently Zug have a number of home-grown players.

Team facts

CHL seasons

2015-16: 3rd in Group B
2014-15: 2nd in Group H

NOTE: This article has been updated since its original publication.

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