Lugano win ice hockey championships (standby)

Lugano ice hockey club have clinched their sixth Swiss championship title, after completing a 4-1 series triumph over last year's winners, the Zurich Lions.

Jim Koleff’s team wrapped up the series with a x-x home win on Tuesday with goals from xxxxxx xxxxxxxx, xxxxxxx xxxxxxx and xxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx.

Lugano’s six championship titles have all been won since the introduction of the playoff system in 1985/86, making the Ticinese team by far the most successful team in the last 15 years.

This season’s success was particularly well-deserved with Koleff’s men having already topped the table at the end of the regular season, despite suffering more injury problems than any other team. November was an especially tough month, with the side missing up to four key players in every game.

Tuesday’s triumph over their arch-rivals also enhanced Koleff’s reputation as one of the most successful managers in recent Swiss history. The 47-year old Swiss-Canadian has managed to reach the championship finals in four of the last five years.

As Zug coach, Koleff narrowly lost the 1997 finals to Bern, but made a triumphant return with Lugano two years later, beating Ambri-Piotta 4-1. Last season, Koleff saw his Lugano side beaten 4-2 by the Lions with a goal ten seconds from the end of the final match.

Memories of that defeat 12 months ago will now only serve to heighten Lugano’s euphoria at gaining swift revenge over their Zurich rivals.

swissinfo with agencies