Grasshoppers Zurich won the Swiss men’s championship as they dethroned Rotweiss Wettingen, earning them a first ever ticket to EHL Men’s KO16 next October.
They will become just the third Swiss side to qualify for the EHL following Luzerner SC in 2007/08 and Rotweiss in 2009/10, 2011/12, 2022/23 and 2023/24.
In a topsy-turvy final, Grasshoppers took the lead early in the second half via Arthur von Ruffer but Wettingen turned things around early in the fourth quarter.
Erio Bachofen and Michel Morard’s penalty corner gave the holders a vital 2-1 lead going into the last 10 minutes.
The advantage was only held, however, for 30 seconds as Lucas Harte equalised for the Zurich outfit, sending then game to a shoot-out.
The initial set of five efforts ended 3-3 but Grasshoppers snagged two more in sudden death to eventually prevail 5-4.
On Saturday, Grasshoppers had won their semi-final 2-1 against HC Olten while Rotweiss defeated Servette on the same scoreline.
On the women’s side, Rotweiss won their national title with a 3-1 victory over Olten.
** PIcture: Alfred Waelti
