National League: Haas showed the way in Biel to overthrow Friborg Gottéron

UpdatedDecember 7, 2022, 10:37 PM

Ice Hockey: Haas showed HC Biel the way to overthrow Gottéron

The Biennois turned things around against Fribourg-Gottéron (4-2) thanks to a brace from their captain Gaëtan Haas. Fourth defeat in a row for the Fribourgeois, third success for the Biel.

The joy of the people of Biel and their fans after the victory.

Pascal Muller/freshfocus

For HC Bienne, this start to the match against Fribourg-Gottéron is to be classified in the category of horrors: no juice, no ideas, a very small goal opportunity (Haas, 19^e). The Friborg residents took the opportunity to take a two-step lead thanks to Mauro Jörg (8^e0-1) et Ryan Gunderson (11^e, 0-2). HC Bienne, finally victorious 4-2 after turning the tide, was next to their skates in the first period and can also consider themselves lucky not to have joined the locker room at the break only two goals behind the people of Fribourg. The Dragons, they must have certainly blamed themselves for not having succeeded in further sinking the team of Antti Törmänen.

Back from the locker room? A HC Biel who had regained his senses and who once again felt capable of racing a match: a first goal from Yannick Rathgeb on a direct recovery in power play (25^e1-2), then a second, a minute and 50 seconds later, on a cannon shot by Toni Rajala (27^e, 2-2). Twenty catastrophic minutes erased in 110 seconds.

Haas maybe with Switzerland in Friborg

The Biennois took over Fribourg-Gottéron after a victorious overflow from captain Gaëtan Haas after five minutes of play in the third period (45^e, 3-2). The captain of the Seelanders crowned his match (three points) by offering himself a double in the empty cage (60^e, 4-2). Bothered by injury lately, Haas, who was not included in the national team’s initial selection for the international tournament in Friborg next week, could still join the Swiss team. The player was due to speak on Wednesday evening with coach Patrick Fischer before a decision is made on his possible participation in the tournament with Switzerland.

For Dragons (8^es), this is the fourth consecutive defeat in the league. The Seelanders (2^es), carried out a very good operation. This third victory in a row allows them to come back to within three points of the leader, Genève-Servette. The Biennois travel to Langnau on Friday, the Fribourgeois will play again on Saturday at home against Bern.

Biel – FR Gottéron 4-2 (0-2 2-0 2-0)

Tissot Arena. 6284 spectators. Arbitrator: MM. Wiegand, Stolc (Slq), Steenstra and Hughuet.

Buts: 8^e Jörg (Walser, Marchon) 0-1, 11^e Gunderson (Jörg) 0-2, 25^e Rathgeb (Olofsson, Haas/5 c 4) 1-2, 27^e Rajala (Delémont) 2-2, 45^e Haas (Hofer) 3-2, 60^e Haas (Rajala/5 c 6, cage vide) 4-2.

Bee: Säteri; Rathgeb, Lööv; Stampfli, Grossmann; Delémont, Forster; Christians; Kessler, Sallinen, Rajala; Hofer, Haas, Olofsson; Brunner, Cunti, Künzle; Froidevaux, Schläpfer, Hischier; Tanner. Coach: Törmänen.

FR Gottéron: Hughes; Diaz, Vainio; Jecker, Gunderson; Sutter, Dufner; Chavaillaz; Jörg, Walser, Bykov; Bertschy, Desharnais, De la Rose; Marchon, Rask, Kuokkanen; Sprunger, Schmid, Mottet; Rossi. Coach: Dubé.

Penalties: 1 x 2′ against Biel; 5 x 2′ against FR Gottéron.

Notes: Biel without Schneeberger, Reinhard (injured), Yakovenko (ill), Riley (not yet qualified), Bärtschi nor Christen (Swiss League). FR Gottéron without Berra (injured), Seiler, Sörensen (supernumeraries) or Jobin (Swiss League). Shot on the crossbar: Walser (14^e). Time out requested by Friborg (59’06). Friborg takes out its goalkeeper in favor of a sixth outfield player (from 58’39 to 59’24).

Rapperswil wins in Zurich

Rapperswil, fifth, gave himself some air in the top six of the National League by going to win at the third in the standings, Zurich, 3-2. The Saint-Gallois opened the scoring in power-play, in the 7th minute, thanks to Tyler Moy. They even took a two-goal lead in the second period when Maxim Noreau scored his goal, also in power-play, in the 26th minute. But the Lions came back in the third third following a double from Alexandre Texier (45th and 55th). Carrying it was the visitor who had the last word, 35 seconds from the end of the match, after a goal from Nico Dünner (60th). This victory allows Rapperswil (43 points) to take three lengths ahead of the sixth, Zug. Zurich, with its 50 points, loose ground behind Geneva (59) and Biel (56).