Before the playoff start on Wednesday, the pursuers of series champion Kadetten Schaffhausen smell morning air. “We need nine more victories, then we’ll be Swiss champions,” said Suhr trainer Misha Kaufmann in the “Aargauer Zeitung”. And Kriens coach Goran Perkovac speaks in the “Luzerner Zeitung” of a “winning gene” that he instilled in his team.
Both statements may be true, and yet qualifying winner Pfadi Winterthur starts as the first cadet challenger in the playoffs. The traditional club was still fighting for financial survival two years ago when a hole of 400,000 francs had to be filled at short notice.
New dimension in attack
The sporting ambitions remained high despite the slightly reduced budget even after the rescue: Aleksandar Radovanovic, one of the better left-handers in the league, was signed from Kriens, and national player Roman Sidorowicz returned from the Bundesliga.
In January, the Serb Rastko Stojkovic joined the group, who with his water displacement (110 kilos) and experience (39 years old) can make the difference in the district. “He gives us a dimension in attack that we haven’t had in this way before,” explains coach Adrian Brüngger.
This season, Pfadi has a core formation that does not have to hide from that of the Cadets, as the victories in two of three qualifying duels have shown. “I still don’t see us as favorites. For us everything has to fit together, especially when it comes to injuries, ”says Brüngger, who, with Sidorowicz, Marvin Lier and Kevin Jud, is expecting three ailing top performers in the course of the playoffs.
First championship title since 2004?
The coach would agree that after three defeats in the final between 2017 and 2019, the coach is ready for the first championship title since 2004. All the more so because the title window in Winterthur could be closed again next season. Brüngger leaves board after more than 13 years as a scout coach, cover chief Michal Svajlen ends his career and top scorer Lier moves to Schaffhausen. All outflows that have not yet been replaced with the same value. (cmü)
Pfadi Winterthur (1) – RTV Basel (8)
Cadets Schaffhausen (2) – BSV Bern (7)
HC Kriens-Luzern (3) – Wacker Thun (6)
HSC Suhr Aarau (4) – TSV St. Otmar St. Gallen (5)