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2017–18 National League (ice hockey) season

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}

{{more citations needed|date=July 2017}}

{{Infobox sports season

| title = 2017–18 National League season

| league = National League

| sport = Ice hockey

| duration = September 7, 2017 – March 5, 2018

| no_of_games = 50

| no_of_teams = 12

| attendance =

| season = Regular season

| season_champ_name = Best record

| season_champs = SC Bern

| second_place = EV Zug

| MVP = Andrew Ebbett
(SC Bern)

| MVP_link =

| top_scorer = Dustin Jeffrey
(Lausanne HC)

| top_scorer_link =

| playoffs = Playoffs

| playoffs_link =

| conf1 = Semi-Final

| conf1_link =

| conf1_champ = ZSC Lions

| conf1_runner-up = SC Bern

| conf2 = Semi-Final

| conf2_link =

| conf2_champ = HC Lugano

| conf2_runner-up = EHC Biel

| finals = Swiss champion NLA

| finals_link =

| finals_champ = ZSC Lions

| finals_runner-up = HC Lugano

| playoffs_MVP =

| playoffs_MVP_link =

| seasonslistnames = National League

| prevseason_link = 2016–17 NLA season

| prevseason_year = 2016–17

| nextseason_link = 2018–19 NL season

| nextseason_year = 2018–19

}}

The 2017–18 National League season is the 80th season of Swiss professional ice hockey and the first season as the National League (NL). The change from National League A to National League was made at the end of the 2016–17 season.

ZSC Lions won their 9th NL title, defeating HC Lugano in game 7 of the finals. SC Bern won the regular season for the second consecutive year. EHC Kloten were relegated to the Swiss League, while SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers won promotion to the NL for 2018–19.

Teams

{{Location map+ |Switzerland |width=385 |float=right |caption=NL teams for the 2017–18 season|places=

{{Location map~ |Switzerland |lat=46.511111 |long=8.700556 |label=HC Ambrì-Piotta |position=right}}

{{Location map~ |Switzerland |lat=46.95 |long=7.45 |label=SC Bern |position=left}}

{{Location map~ |Switzerland |lat=47.133333 |long=7.25 |label=EHC Biel |position=right}}

{{Location map~ |Switzerland |lat=46.8 |long=9.833333 |label=HC Davos |position=bottom}}

{{Location map~ |Switzerland |lat=46.8 |long=7.15 |label=Fribourg-Gottéron |position=right}}

{{Location map~ |Switzerland |lat=46.2 |long=6.15 |label=Genève-Servette HC |position=right}}

{{Location map~ |Switzerland |lat=47.45 |long=8.583333 |label=EHC Kloten |position=right}}

{{Location map~ |Switzerland |lat=46.519833 |long=6.6335 |label=Lausanne HC |position=right}}

{{Location map~ |Switzerland |lat=46 |long=8.95 |label=HC Lugano |position=right}}

{{Location map~ |Switzerland |lat=46.95 |long=7.783333 |label=SCL Tigers |position=right}}

{{Location map~ |Switzerland |lat=47.366667 |long=8.55 |label=ZSC Lions |position=left}}

{{Location map~ |Switzerland |lat=47.166667 |long=8.516667 |label=EV Zug |position=right}}

}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:left" width=60%
Team

! City

! Arena

! Capacity

HC Ambrì-Piotta

| Ambrì

| Valascia

| 6,500

SC Bern

| Bern

| PostFinance-Arena

| 17,031

EHC Biel

| Biel/Bienne

| Tissot Arena

| 6,521

HC Davos

| Davos

| Vaillant Arena

| 6,800

Fribourg-Gottéron

| Fribourg

| BCF Arena

| 6,500

Genève-Servette HC

| Geneva

| Patinoire des Vernets

| 7,135

EHC Kloten

| Kloten

| Swiss Arena

| 7,719

Lausanne HC

| Lausanne

| Temporary Arena

| 6,700

HC Lugano

| Lugano

| Pista La Resega

| 7,800

SCL Tigers

| Langnau im Emmental

| Ilfis Stadium

| 6,000

ZSC Lions

| Zürich

| Hallenstadion

| 11,200

EV Zug

| Zug

| Bossard Arena

| 7,200

Coaching changes

=Off-season=

Luca Cereda replaced Gordie Dwyer as head coach of HC Ambrì-Piotta for the 2017-18 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.swisshockeynews.ch/index.php/shn/11-swiss-ice-hockey/nla/9328-luca-cereda-to-be-introduced-as-new-head-coach-of-hc-ambri-piotta|title=Confirmed - Luca Cereda is HC Ambri-Piotta's new head coach |website=swisshockeynews.ch |date=2017-04-28 |access-date=2017-07-22}}

Mark French took over the helm of HC Fribourg-Gottéron for the 2017-18 season, replacing Larry Huras.{{cite web|url=https://www.swisshockeynews.ch/index.php/shn/11-swiss-ice-hockey/nla/9483-mark-french-takes-over-behind-hc-fribourg-gotteron-s-bench|title=Mark French takes over behind HC Fribourg-Gottéron's bench |website=swisshockeynews.ch |date=2017-05-28 |access-date=2017-07-22}}

Craig Woodcroft was named head coach of Genève-Servette HC after Chris McSorley stepped down of the position and was named general manager of the team.{{cite web|url=https://www.swisshockeynews.ch/index.php/shn/11-swiss-ice-hockey/nla/9595-it-is-craig-woodcroft-after-all-gshc-signs-new-head-coach|title=It is Craig Woodcroft after all - GSHC signs new head coach |website=swisshockeynews.ch |date=2017-06-26 |access-date=2017-07-22}}

=In-season=

Dan Ratushny was fired by Lausanne on October 11, 2017, after posting a 3-0-3-4 record through 10 games this season. He led Lausanne to the playoffs at the conclusion of the 2016-17 regular season, his only season at the helm of this team. Yves Sarault, who was serving as head coach of Lausanne HC's junior team at the time, stepped in to fill the spot as interim head coach, before being named head coach through the end of the current season.{{cite web|url=https://www.swisshockeynews.ch/index.php/shn/11-swiss-ice-hockey/nla/10166-dan-ratushny-is-no-longer-lausanne-hc-s-head-coach|title=Dan Ratushny is no longer Lausanne HC's head coach |website=swisshockeynews.ch |date=2017-10-11 |access-date=2017-10-11}}

Pekka Tirkkonen was fired by EHC Kloten on October 16, 2017, following a five-game losing streak and after posting a 2-0-0-11 record through 13 games this season, sitting dead last in the National League. Niklas Gaellstedt who was serving as an assistant coach at the time, replaced Tirkkonen as head coach of the team for the time being.{{cite web|url=https://www.swisshockeynews.ch/index.php/shn/11-swiss-ice-hockey/nla/10221-pekka-tirkkonen-and-pascal-mueller-relieved-of-their-duties|title=Pekka Tirkkonen and Pascal Mueller relieved of their duties |website=swisshockeynews.ch |date=2017-10-16 |access-date=2017-10-16}} On October 24, 2017, Kevin Schlaepfer was named head coach of the team for the remainder of the season and through the 2019-20 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.swisshockeynews.ch/index.php/shn/11-swiss-ice-hockey/nla/10307-faster-than-anticipated-ehc-kloten-and-kevin-schlaepfer-agree-to-terms|title=Faster than anticipated - EHC Kloten and Kevin Schlaepfer agree to terms |website=swisshockeynews.ch |date=2017-10-24 |access-date=2017-10-24}}

Mike McNamara was fired by EHC Biel on November 25, 2017, after a 3-0 loss to the last team in the standings, EHC Kloten, the previous day. McNamara posted an 8-2-2-12 record through 24 games this season, sitting 7th in the standings at the time. Martin Steinegger, the general manager of the organization, took over the helm of the team as interim head coach.{{cite web|url=https://www.swisshockeynews.ch/index.php/shn/11-swiss-ice-hockey/nla/10634-mike-mcnamara-no-longer-ehc-biel-s-head-coach-steinegger-takes-over-ad-interim|title=Mike McNamara no longer EHC Biel's head coach, Steinegger takes over ad interim |website=swisshockeynews.ch |date=2017-11-25 |access-date=2017-11-25}}

Arenas

HC Ambrì-Piotta is playing its final years in the old Valascia, as construction for their new building are set to begin in the spring of 2018 and should be ready in time for the 2020/21 NL season. The new Valascia will seat 7,000 people and will be located in the same area as the current one.{{Cite web |url=http://valasciaimmobiliare.ch/?lang=en |title=Valascia |access-date=5 September 2017 |archive-date=25 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925040411/http://valasciaimmobiliare.ch/?lang=en |url-status=dead }}

HC Davos' Vaillant Arena is set to undergo major renovation at the end of the season to upgrade most of the stands, the concourse and the locker rooms. The total capacity will not change and renovation will cost about CHF 22 million.{{cite web|url=https://www.swisshockeynews.ch/index.php/shn/11-swiss-ice-hockey/nla/9547-davos-presents-final-project-on-reconstruction-of-the-vaillant-arena|title=Davos presents final project on reconstruction of the Vaillant Arena |website=swisshockeynews.ch |date=2017-06-15 |access-date=2017-07-23}}

HC Fribourg-Gottéron's plans to rebuild the BCF Arena at the end of the 2016-17 season were postponed to after the current season. Construction which will cost about CHF 70 million will start in March 2018 and the arena's capacity will be increased from 6,500 to 8,500.{{cite web|url=https://swisshockeynews.ch/index.php/shn/11-swiss-ice-hockey/nla/9642-a-loss-of-almost-chf-130-000-for-hc-fribourg-gotteron-in-the-2016-17-season|title=A loss of almost CHF 130,000 for Gottéron in the 2016-17 season |website=swisshockeynews.ch |date=2017-07-05 |access-date=2017-07-23}} Renovation will last 2 years and should be over in the summer of 2020.

The Patinoire des Vernets in Geneva is set to undergo minor renovation during the first national team break in November. The VIP area will be expanded to add an additional 170 seats and standing room on the north side will be brought closer to the ice rink.{{cite news|url=http://www.tdg.ch/geneve/actu-genevoise/ville-geneve-dote-vernets-170-places-supplementaires/story/31066752|title=The city of Geneva provides the Vernets with 170 additional seats |newspaper=Tribune de Genève |date=2017-06-28 |access-date=2017-07-23 |language=fr}}

This is Lausanne HC's first of two seasons playing in a temporary arena. The arena seats 6,700 people and cost CHF 11 million for the two seasons.{{cite web|url=https://swisshockeynews.ch/index.php/shn/11-swiss-ice-hockey/nla/8517-capacity-of-6-700-spectators-for-lausanne-hc-s-provisional-rink-but-no-guest-sector|title=Capacity of 6,700 spectators for Lausanne HC's provisional rink, but no guest sector |website=swisshockeynews.ch |date=2017-02-01 |access-date=2017-07-23}} The new arena will be ready for the 2019/20 season with a seating capacity of 10,000.

Due to popular demand, EV Zug had to increase the Bossard Arena's total capacity to 7,200. These seats are located against the boards, next to the penalty boxes and at ice level.{{cite web|url=https://www.swisshockeynews.ch/index.php/shn/11-swiss-ice-hockey/nla/9748-ev-zug-enlarges-the-bossard-arena-and-installs-new-boards|title=EV Zug enlarges the Bossard Arena and installs new boards |website=swisshockeynews.ch |date=2017-08-07 |access-date=2017-08-10}}

Regular season

{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WL OT

|update= complete

|source= [http://www.sihf.ch/de/game-center/#/standing/rank/asc/page/0/2017/1/2158 NLA]

|OTwin_header={{Abbr|OTW|Won in overtime or shootout}} |OTloss_header={{Abbr|OTL|Lost in overtime or shootout}}

|team1=SCB |team2=EVZ |team3=EHC |team4=LUG |team5=FIG |team6=HCD |team7=ZSC |team8=GEN |team9=SCL |team10=LAU |team11=ABP |team12=KLO

|win_ABP=14 |OTwin_ABP=5 |OTloss_ABP=5 |loss_ABP=26 |gf_ABP=136 |ga_ABP=168

|win_SCB=27 |OTwin_SCB=8 |OTloss_SCB=5 |loss_SCB=10 |gf_SCB=167 |ga_SCB=112

|win_EHC=24 |OTwin_EHC=5 |OTloss_EHC=7 |loss_EHC=14 |gf_EHC=150 |ga_EHC=124

|win_HCD=21 |OTwin_HCD=3 |OTloss_HCD=6 |loss_HCD=20 |gf_HCD=134 |ga_HCD=156

|win_FIG=20 |OTwin_FIG=5 |OTloss_FIG=7 |loss_FIG=18 |gf_FIG=133 |ga_FIG=139

|win_GEN=16 |OTwin_GEN=8 |OTloss_GEN=7 |loss_GEN=19 |gf_GEN=132 |ga_GEN=153

|win_KLO=9 |OTwin_KLO=6 |OTloss_KLO=8 |loss_KLO=27 |gf_KLO=120 |ga_KLO=157

|win_LAU=15 |OTwin_LAU=4 |OTloss_LAU=10 |loss_LAU=21 |gf_LAU=149 |ga_LAU=169

|win_LUG=26 |OTwin_LUG=3 |OTloss_LUG=2 |loss_LUG=19 |gf_LUG=159 |ga_LUG=130

|win_SCL=17 |OTwin_SCL=6 |OTloss_SCL=4 |loss_SCL=23 |gf_SCL=120 |ga_SCL=134

|win_EVZ=23 |OTwin_EVZ=10 |OTloss_EVZ=2 |loss_EVZ=15 |gf_EVZ=153 |ga_EVZ=122

|win_ZSC=19 |OTwin_ZSC=6 |OTloss_ZSC=6 |loss_ZSC=19 |gf_ZSC=144 |ga_ZSC=133

|name_ABP=HC Ambrì-Piotta

|name_SCB=SC Bern

|name_EHC=EHC Biel

|name_HCD=HC Davos

|name_FIG=Fribourg-Gottéron

|name_GEN=Genève-Servette HC

|name_KLO=EHC Kloten

|name_LAU=Lausanne HC

|name_LUG=HC Lugano

|name_SCL=SCL Tigers

|name_EVZ=EV Zug

|name_ZSC=ZSC Lions

|class_rules = 1) points; 2) a higher number of wins in the regular time; 3) a higher number of wins in overtime and shootouts; 4) goal difference; 5) number of goals scored; 6) drawing of lots.

|result1=A |result2=A |result3=A |result4=A |result5=A |result6=A |result7=A |result8=A |result9=D |result10=D |result11=D |result12=D

|res_col_header=Q

|col_A=green1 |text_A=Advance to Playoffs

|col_D=red1 |text_D=Advance to Playouts |note_res_D=Relegation Playoffs

}}

Player statistics

=Scoring leaders=

class="wikitable sortable"
style="width: 12em;" | Player

! style="width: 13em;" | Team

! style="width: 4em;" | {{abbr|GP|Games played}}

! style="width: 4em;" | {{abbr|G|Goals}}

! style="width: 4em;" | {{abbr|A|Assists}}

! style="width: 4em;" | {{abbr|Pts|Points}}

! data-sort-type="number" style="width: 4em;" | {{abbr|+/–|Plus/minus}}

! style="width: 4em;" | {{abbr|PIM|Penalties in minutes}}

style="text-align:center;"

| style="text-align:left;"|{{sortname|Dustin|Jeffrey}}

style="text-align:left;"| Lausanne HC50134457+74
style="text-align:center;"

| style="text-align:left;"|{{sortname|Fredrik|Pettersson}}

style="text-align:left;"| ZSC Lions46262450+1458
style="text-align:center;"

| style="text-align:left;"|{{sortname|Viktor|Stalberg}}

style="text-align:left;"| EV Zug46222850+1418
style="text-align:center;"

| style="text-align:left;"|{{sortname|Nicklas|Danielsson}}

style="text-align:left;"| Lausanne HC49252550+1164
style="text-align:center;"

| style="text-align:left;"|{{sortname|Garrett|Roe}}

style="text-align:left;"| EV Zug44123749+2432
style="text-align:center;"

| style="text-align:left;"|{{sortname|Andrew|Ebbett}}

style="text-align:left;"| SC Bern48143448+1310
style="text-align:center;"

| style="text-align:left;"|{{sortname|Mark|Arcobello}}

style="text-align:left;"| SC Bern46182947+1039
style="text-align:center;"

| style="text-align:left;"|{{sortname|Marc-Antoine|Pouliot}}

style="text-align:left;"| EHC Biel47132942+2289
style="text-align:center;"

| style="text-align:left;"|{{sortname|Luca|Fazzini}}

style="text-align:left;"| HC Lugano48192342+36
style="text-align:center;"

| style="text-align:left;"|{{sortname|Matt|D'Agostini}}

style="text-align:left;"| HC Ambrì-Piotta47192241-686

=Leading goaltenders=

The following goaltenders led the league in goals against average, provided that they have played at least 40% of their team's minutes.

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center"
style="width: 15em;" | Player

! style="width: 12em;" | Team

! style="width: 3.5em;" | {{Tooltip|GP|Games played}}

! style="width: 6em;" | {{Tooltip|TOI|Time on ice}}

! style="width: 3.5em;" | {{Tooltip|W|Wins}}

! style="width: 3.5em;" | {{Tooltip|T|Ties after 65 minutes, including overtime}}

! style="width: 3.5em;" | {{Tooltip|L|Losses}}

! style="width: 4em;" | {{Tooltip|GA|Goals allowed}}

! style="width: 3.5em;" | {{Tooltip|SO|Shutouts}}

! style="width: 4em;" | {{Tooltip|Sv%|Save percentage}}

! style="width: 4em;" | {{Tooltip|GAA|Goals against average}}

style="text-align:left;"| {{sortname|Leonardo|Genoni}}

|style="text-align:left;"| SC Bern

| 46

| 2776

| 33

| 0

| 13

| 94

| 8

| .929

! 2.03

style="text-align:left;"| {{sortname|Lukas|Flüeler}}

|style="text-align:left;"| ZSC Lions

| 32

| 1872

| 16

| 0

| 15

| 66

| 2

| .919

! 2.12

style="text-align:left;"| {{sortname|Tobias|Stephan}}

|style="text-align:left;"| EV Zug

| 47

| 2858

| 31

| 0

| 16

| 109

| 5

| .927

! 2.29

style="text-align:left;"| {{sortname|Barry|Brust}}

|style="text-align:left;"| Fribourg-Gottéron

| 38

| 2308

| 21

| 0

| 17

| 89

| 2

| .926

! 2.29

style="text-align:left;"| {{sortname|Jonas|Hiller}}

|style="text-align:left;"| EHC Biel

| 47

| 2805

| 27

| 0

| 20

| 109

| 2

| .926

! 2.33

style="text-align:left;"| {{sortname|Ivars|Punnenovs}}

|style="text-align:left;"| SC Langnau Tigers

| 39

| 2198

| 19

| 0

| 20

| 90

| 1

| .918

! 2.46

style="text-align:left;"| {{sortname|Luca|Boltshauser}}

|style="text-align:left;"| EHC Kloten

| 41

| 2381

| 14

| 0

| 27

| 104

| 1

| .918

! 2.62

style="text-align:left;"| {{sortname|Elvis|Merzlikins}}

|style="text-align:left;"| HC Lugano

| 42

| 2431

| 22

| 0

| 18

| 110

| 4

| .921

! 2.72

style="text-align:left;"| {{sortname|Robert|Mayer|Robert Mayer (ice hockey)}}

|style="text-align:left;"| Genève-Servette HC

| 32

| 1832

| 14

| 0

| 17

| 86

| 2

| .909

! 2.81

style="text-align:left;"| {{sortname|Niklas|Schlegel}}

|style="text-align:left;"| ZSC Lions

| 20

| 1150

| 9

| 0

| 10

| 53

| 1

| .897

! 2.77

Playoffs

{{8TeamBracket-Re-seeds

| RD1 = Quarter-Finals

| RD2 = Semi-Finals

| RD3 = Finals

| RD1-seed1 = 1

| RD1-team1 = SC Bern

| RD1-score1 = 4

| RD1-seed2 = 8

| RD1-team2 = Genève-Servette HC

| RD1-score2 = 1

| RD1-seed3 = 2

| RD1-team3 = EV Zug

| RD1-score3 = 1

| RD1-seed4 = 7

| RD1-team4 = ZSC Lions

| RD1-score4 = 4

| RD1-seed5 = 3

| RD1-team5 = EHC Biel

| RD1-score5 = 4

| RD1-seed6 = 6

| RD1-team6 = HC Davos

| RD1-score6 = 2

| RD1-seed7 = 4

| RD1-team7 = HC Lugano

| RD1-score7 = 4

| RD1-seed8 = 5

| RD1-team8 = HC Fribourg-Gottéron

| RD1-score8 = 1

| RD2-seed1 = 1

| RD2-team1 = SC Bern

| RD2-score1 = 2

| RD2-seed2 = 7

| RD2-team2 = ZSC Lions

| RD2-score2 = 4

| RD2-seed3 = 3

| RD2-team3 = EHC Biel

| RD2-score3 = 2

| RD2-seed4 = 4

| RD2-team4 = HC Lugano

| RD2-score4 = 4

| RD3-seed1 = 7

| RD3-team1 = ZSC Lions

| RD3-score1 = 4

| RD3-seed2 = 4

| RD3-team2 = HC Lugano

| RD3-score2 = 3

}}

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • {{official website|http://www.sihf.ch/de/national-league}} {{in lang|de}}
  • {{official website|http://www.sihf.ch/fr/national-league}} {{in lang|fr}}

{{2017–18 in men's ice hockey}}

{{NLA seasons|2017}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2017-18 NL season}}

1

Swiss

Category:National League (ice hockey) seasons