Coach Jeff Tomlinson interviewed ahead of the playoffs

It is now the fourth attempt that EHC Kloten is making to return to the National League. And after 50 rounds of qualifying there is little evidence why he should not succeed this time. First place in the table with a record of 126 points, a goal difference of plus 124 and 40 wins after 60 minutes: these are numbers that leave little room for interpretation. But when the Zürcher Unterländer start the play-offs against the GCK Lions on Sunday, then all this will help them: nothing.

The memories of the failure in last year’s final series against HC Ajoie are still present. And although the league qualification is canceled again, the pressure has even increased. Because in view of the closure of the National League, which is in the room, the coming weeks could offer the last chance for sporting promotion for the foreseeable future.

It is now up to trainer Jeff Tomlinson to complete the mission. The 51-year-old German-Canadian knows exactly how that works: In 2018 he brought the SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers back to the highest league and, ironically, sealed Kloten’s relegation in the league qualification.

Jeff Tomlinson, the table suggests that EHC Kloten has encountered little resistance so far. Too little?

No. In the end, La Chaux-de-Fonds played fantastic hockey, Olten was very consistent. I could list many other clubs that have done well. Every opponent challenged us – and that generally helped us.

What do you read from the table?

That our players were able to consistently maintain a good level and that we often played very solidly as a team. We are also happy about the home field advantage in the play-offs. But with that, qualification is a thing of the past.

Did you use qualifying from the start to prepare your team for the play-offs?

We have worked very specifically towards this time. The players followed us and didn’t let themselves be thrown off track. We sometimes won games 6-2 or 7-1 – and in the end we were all dissatisfied. Because we knew that with a view to the playoffs it wasn’t enough.

The quality is right, the game system works – now only the head decides. Agreed?

Yes. How strong is the team mentally? How disciplined? How does it deal with disruptions and changes? These questions are central from now on. Our team has shown on a number of occasions that they can still turn around a game they gave up. Recently we’ve had some tough games where we’ve lost the thread. While the fans and the environment were angry, these situations came in handy for me: because I could see how the players reacted to them.

Last year Kloten lost the final series against Ajoie as the big favourite. Have you discussed this with the team?

That is snow from yesterday. As a coach, I would never raise this issue. On the one hand, many new people have joined, on the other hand, everyone has perceived this situation differently. There is absolutely no point in addressing this collectively.

You are now in a very similar situation as in 2018 in Rapperswil-Jona.

No, the starting points are different: In Rapperswil-Jona, I worked with the club for three years on this goal. I came here in Kloten last summer and am benefiting from the work that others have already done. In addition, individuals are always very different. I agree with you that, like back then, we’re going into the play-offs as qualifiers and favorites, and each of us is expecting promotion.

Does the experience of having successfully mastered the situation before help you now?

Experience is always an advantage. In such a situation, everyone talks about pressure. I know we can’t let that pressure into the dressing room. The players are excited enough, they know what they want and what they have to do to get it. We have to make sure that they also feel the fun of ice hockey.

And how do you prepare the players for the really important games?

As a coach, you run the risk of exaggerating and overreacting in such situations. But the players themselves are in an exceptional situation: highly motivated, focused and full of the will to win. If you then stand in front of them and yell, it is difficult for them to cope. On the other hand, I try to consciously take the pressure off, encourage the fun factor and thus direct the energy in the right direction.

You have been struggling with health problems since your kidney transplant in 2019. What about your own energy management?

Fine, thanks for asking. I still get to do the job I love the most. I try to keep my energy in a circle in the team: I give my energy to the group, which in turn gives me energy. That works wonderfully.