Magic saves

Molina's scarlet album contains articles and photos from a hockey career spanning over 20 years, carefully cut out and collected by his wife. swissinfo.ch
Molina was 15 years old when he first played for Switzerland's national junior team. The game was against West Germany. swissinfo.ch
Craftsmen in Lugano custom made the masks that Molina wore in games. After they took a plaster imprint of his face, they constructed the masks with the same kind of resin used in the hulls of ships. swissinfo.ch
On February 6, 1980, Lugano won its first away game against Ambri. The game was held in the Valascia arena, which had just received a new roof. swissinfo.ch
A snowy 1972-73 championship game saw the team from Neuchâtel arrive late. Lugano fans threw coins onto the ice, causing Lugano to lose after the mayor of Porza turned off the outdoor arena's lights. swissinfo.ch
In his first season with the Swiss national team, Molina played a few friendlies. He found himself matched up against the great Gérald Rigolet who he said, as a young goalie, was difficult to compete against. swissinfo.ch
Molina says he was lucky to be in Lugano, where he worked. His time away from his job was unpaid but federal authorities helped offset the cost of training and playing with the national team. swissinfo.ch
Molina says his most memorable experience was walking into an Olympic opening ceremony. Surrounded by 50,000 people, he said he felt like a "lost little Ticinese". swissinfo.ch
Minor injuries like cuts and bruises required a day or two to heal. Broken fingers fortunately were an exception. swissinfo.ch
While warming up before the first game of the Spengler Cup in 1974, Molina broke his finger but still played. Shortly before the end of the game, he took a puck to the forehead and was forced to sit out for three weeks. swissinfo.ch
Molina describes a 1972 match against East Germany in Bern as a night of horrors. swissinfo.ch
It wasn't just a bad night for Molina. The whole team had a bad night and Walter Duerst, who normally played for Davos, tried to provide some consolation. swissinfo.ch
The Swiss suffered seven goals within six minutes. Molina says the devastating loss was the low point of his career but that it forced him to train harder. swissinfo.ch
Molina won his first Swiss championship with Lugano but because of a knee injury, was unable to play every game. His replacement, Thierry Andrey, provided solid back-up. swissinfo.ch
Molina agreed with Lugano that after his resignation, he would step in should his successor fail. He would return to the team for three more games. swissinfo.ch
Lugano's relegation to Switzerland's B league was Molina's "most bitter" moment and the team's ascension to the A league his greatest success. Another high point was playing at the 1972 Sapporo Olympics and at the world championship in Prague. swissinfo.ch
At the time, acrobatic saves were in fashion among goalies. Before hockey, Molina had been a gymnast. He says the experience helped him stay nimble and agile. swissinfo.ch