NLA - 3rd place secured

Belp wins 6 to 3 in Sierre and moves up to the third place.

Time permitting; some of the articles on the website will be translated to English, as always when a Canadian player wears the colors of the scorpions.

It had already been a rather tough weekend for the majority of Belps players, when they faced the Sierre Lions on this Sunday afternoon. Friday evening, the team had plaid in Zug against the Oberwil Rebells. The national team players then stayed in Zug. They had an intense training of team Switzerland on the next day. Stefan Zürcher plaid with Belps U15 on Saturday and most of the U18 players, including Zürcher, had plaid on Sunday morning against the Lions' U18.

 

The game started even and speedy, with both teams creating scoring opportunities. But there was no scoring until the 12th minute, when Stevie Alvo opened the score for the scorpions on power play. The home squad was not much impressed, stayed calm and was waiting for its chance to come. And they were right doing so. Soon the home team got a power play opportunity. Alex Mermoud scored the merited equalizer for the Lions, 16 minutes were plaid. The defense of the Bernese was not fully focused quite often. Repeatedly the center of the home team was forgotten in the slot. The Lions again and again managed it to distract the scorpion responsible to cover the slot. While he was focused too much on the ball, the center of the home team sneaked away. With this, the Lions created a few dangerous scoring opportunities. However, they didn't score.

 

In the second period, the Lions had their best moments. The guests from the Gürbe Valley seemed not concentrated. Plenty of room was traded away to the home team. A rather early goal by Mario Paulik in the 26th minute was the logical consequence of Belps performance. The yellow Lions kept their pressure; the black scorpions kept being always two steps to late. The 3 to 1 seemed just a question of time. But it came different. And this had two reasons. One was Nick Leuenberger who kept Belp in the game with some great saves. The other reason was Marc Müller. In the 28th minute he speared onto the Lions net. An opponent tried to stop him. Müller didn't go around but more or less right straight through the other player and equalized the game. But the game of the Blacks didn't improve much. Still the home team was making the game. The Lions pressed hard to get the lead back. But it came different. And this had two reasons. One was Leuenberger who kept Belp in the game with some additional great saves. The other reason was Marc Müller. In the 39th minute he ruptured the Lions lines and scored to give Belp a 3 to 2 lead. Now Belp was back on track and was just starting to get the control over the game back, when the Bernese were stopped by a sudden penalty. The home squad got the chance to tie the game. But it came different. I just say: Leuenberger, Müller, 4 to 2. After two periods, the visitors were two goals ahead. The Lions had failed to use their superior performance to score and to decide the game.

 

The third period was more equal again. In the 44th minute Belp rose the score. The way the goal was made, was quite special. The blacks were attacking. Gaylor Beaupin stood at the edge of his crease. A defender of the home squade checked a scorpion in front of the net in the way that he bumped into Beaupin. Both went to the ground. Beaupin couldn't get up quick enough. Somehow Alessio Faina managed it to get the ball by the Lions' keeper into the net. The home squad complained, the players saw interference against their keeper. But there had been no irregularity, as Beaupin had left his crease and Belps player had been propelled into Beaupin by a play of the Lions.

But the home team quickly recovered from this setback. At the same time Belp probably felt a little bit too secure. Whatever it was, in the 50th minute, Mathieu Schildknecht reduced the gap to two goals. Would the scorpions now trade the win away in the closing minutes? Fabian Bohnenblust answered this question only 16 seconds later with a clear "No" scoring the 6 to 3. With this, the game was pretty much decided. Belp kept the game in its hands and brought the three goals advantage home.

 

With this win Belp definitively moves on the third place. The scorpions will face the SHC Bonstetten-Wettswil in the quarterfinals. The first game will take place on the 19th March at 2pm in Belp. But until then two other events will take place. Next weekend the national team players will travel to Plzen where the last preparation tournament before the WC in Pardubice will take place. And pn Friday, 17th March at 8pm Belp will face in the last round robin game the Lions again. On this evening the traditional reception for Belps sponsors will take place.

 

Christoph Curchod, 07.03.2017

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