EHC Biel

EHC Biel-Bienne is a professional ice hockey club based in the bilingual city of Biel/Bienne, Switzerland and plays in the National League (NL). Since the city of Biel is completely bilingual, alongside the German name EHC Biel (Abbr: EHCB) the team also has a French name, HC Bienne (Abbr: HCB). The team plays its home games in the 6,521-seat Tissot Arena.

EHC Biel
2019–20 NL season
CityBiel, Switzerland
LeagueNational League
Founded1939
Home arenaTissot Arena
Colors              
General managerUeli Schwarz
Head coachAntti Törmänen
CaptainMathieu Tschantré
AffiliatesHC Ajoie
Websitewww.ehcb.ch
Franchise history
1939–47EHC Biel/Bienne
1947–48EHC Tornado Biel
1948–presentEHC Biel

History

EHC Biel played in lower Swiss ice hockey leagues until they got promoted in the second-tier Swiss League in 1960. In 1975 EHC Biel won the Swiss League-title and got promoted to the first level, the National League. During the 20 years between 1975 and 1995 the club won three national championships in 1978, 1981 and 1983 under three coaches (František Vanek, Ed Reigle, Kent Ruhnke). After the relegation in 1995 EHC Biel had to wait 13 years until their return to the NL. After three consecutive championship victories in the second-tier Swiss League, EHC Biel was reinstated into the NL, winning the promotion/relegation best of 7 series against EHC Basel 4-0 in 2008.

A strong local rivalry exists with the SCL Tigers, SC Bern, EHC Olten, and HC Ajoie. Games between these teams often attract sell-out crowds.

During the 2012–13 NHL lockout, Biel were strengthen by the acquisitions of NHL All-Stars Tyler Seguin and Patrick Kane. They were joined by future NHL players, goalkeeper Reto Berra and winger Nikolaj Ehlers.

Honors

Champions

Players

Current roster

Updated 4 July 2019.[1]

# Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace
96 Damien Brunner RW R 34 2018 Kloten, Switzerland
10 Luca Cunti C L 30 2019 Zürich, Switzerland
4 Kevin Fey (A) D L 29 2013 Bern, Switzerland
29 Beat Forster D L 37 2017 Bütschwil-Ganterschwil, Switzerland
21 Jason Fuchs C L 24 2017 Bern, Switzerland
58 Anton Gustafsson C L 30 2019 Karlskoga, Sweden
1 Jonas Hiller G R 38 2016 Felben Wellhausen, Switzerland
61 Michael Hügli RW R 24 2018 Seedorf, Switzerland
44 Samuel Kreis D L 26 2017 Egnach, Switzerland
73 Mike Künzle LW R 26 2018 Zürich, Switzerland
8 Fabian Lüthi LW L 30 2015 Lützelflüh, Switzerland
90 Janis Jérôme Moser D L 20 2017 Biel, Switzerland
40 Jan Neuenschwander (A) C L 27 2016 Davos, Switzerland
41 Elien Paupe G L 24 2014 Delémont, Switzerland
78 Marc-Antoine Pouliot C/RW R 35 2016 Quebec, Quebec, Canada
25 Toni Rajala LW L 29 2016 Parkano, Finland
27 Yannick Rathgeb D R 24 2019 Langenthal, Switzerland
9 Damien Riat RW/C L 23 2018 Genève, Switzerland
13 Anssi Salmela D L 35 2018 Nokia, Finland
22 Rajan Sataric D L 28 2018 Solothurn, Switzerland
3 Peter Schneider RW R 29 2019 Klosterneuburg, Austria
17 Ramon Tanner C L 20 2018 Appenzell, Switzerland
12 Mathieu Tschantré (C) C L 36 2001 Biel, Switzerland
33 Stefan Ulmer D R 29 2019 Dornbirn, Austria

Notable alumni

References
  1. "EHC Biel team roster". www.ehcb.ch (in German). Retrieved 2019-07-05.
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