ZSC Lions
| ZSC Lions | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Zürich,Switzerland |
| League | National League |
| Founded | 1930 |
| Home arena | Swiss Life Arena |
| Colors | |
| General manager | Sven Leuenberger |
| Head coach | Marc Crawford |
| Captain | Patrick Geering |
| Affiliate | GCK Lions |
| Website | www |
| Franchise history | |
| 1930–1997 | ZSC |
| 1997–present | ZSC Lions |
 Current season | |
ZSC are a professionalice hockeyteam located inZürich,Switzerland,playing in theNational League(NL). Their home arena is the 12,000-seatSwiss Life Arena.The team was founded in 1930 and played at theDolder-Kunsteisbahnfrom its establishment until 1950.[1]
History
[edit]ZSC Lions were formed in 1997 as a result of the merger of the two local teams: the highly popular ZSC -Zürcher Schlittschuh Club(Germanfor "Zürich Skating Club" ), who were struggling financially inNational League A,and the ice hockey section ofGrasshopper Club Zürichof theNational League B,backed by entrepreneur and billionaire Walter Frey.[2]
ZSC was the first Swiss team to play in an indoor arena (Hallenstadion). They won the Swiss championship in the years 1936, 1949 and 1961 and the prestigiousSpengler Cupin 1944 and 1945. After the merger, the ZSC Lions won the Swiss Championship in 2000, 2001, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2018 and 2024, and moreover won theIIHF Continental Cupin 2001 and 2002.
Champions Hockey League and Victoria Cup
[edit]
During the 2008–09 Season, the ZSC Lions participated in the first everChampions Hockey League.For the group stage, they were placed in group D withHC Slavia PrahaandLinköpings HC.The Lions qualified for the semi-finals with a 3–1 record, first place in the group. With their defeats of the FinnishEspoo Blues,6–3 and 4–1 respectively, they qualified for the tournament final. The first leg of the final was held on January 21, 2009 in theMagnitogorsk Arenawhere the Lions came back from a 0–2 deficit toMetallurg Magnitogorskto end with a 2–2 tie.[3]The second leg was played a week later, on January 28, 2009, in theDiners Club ArenainRapperswil-Jona,Switzerland. ZSC Lions won the game and theSilver Stone Trophywith a 5–0 victory.
With their victory in the Champions Hockey League, the ZSC Lions qualified to play theChicago Blackhawksof theNational Hockey Leaguefor the2009 editionof theVictoria Cupchallenge. Playing at their home arena, the Lions upset the Blackhawks with a 2–1 victory, winning the trophy.[4]It was the first time since 1991 that the Blackhawks had lost to a club in Europe.
Honors
[edit]- Swiss Champions(10):1936, 1949, 1961, 2000, 2001, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2024
- Victoria Cup(1):2009
- Champions Hockey League/Silver Stone Trophy(1):2009
- IIHF Continental Cup(2):2001, 2002
- Swiss Cup(3):1960, 1961, 2016
- Spengler Cup(3):1944, 1945
Players
[edit]Current roster
[edit]Updated 5 July 2024.[5]
References
[edit]- ^"1930 bis heute | ZSC Lions".www.zsclions.ch.Retrieved2016-05-29.
- ^"ZSC-Lions Brochure"(PDF)(in German). zsclions.ch. 2021-07-13.Retrieved2022-09-27.
- ^"Game Summary"(PDF).IIHF.Retrieved2009-01-21.
- ^"Blackhawks suffer first loss to European club since '91".ESPN.com. 2009-09-29. Archived fromthe originalon November 29, 2020.Retrieved2011-08-12.
- ^"ZSC Lions: Kader"(in German). www.zsclions.ch.Retrieved2024-01-08.
External links
[edit]
- ZSC Lions official website(in German)
