Goaltender Stéphane Charlin has been voted the best player in Switzerland’s National League this season, as voted by the captains and coaches of all 14 teams. The vote is conducted by media outlets 24 heures, Tribune de Genève, Tages-Anzeiger and Berner Zeitung. Charlin, a 24-year-old goalie for the SCL Tigers of Langnau, had a goals-against average of 1.80, a save percentage of .946, five shutouts and record of 20-10-2 in 34 games for the eighth-place Tigers. This despite a knee injury that has kept him out of the lineup since early February. Geoff Ward coaching the Calgary Flames in 2021. © John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/bce65e61-bf0e-471a-ac5c-03640c184eb2.jpeg] Geoff Ward coaching the Calgary Flames in 2021. © John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images It is unlikely he will see any more action for the Tigers unless the team goes deep into the playoffs. Charlin has already signed a contract to play for Genève-Servette next season. Charlin received 15 out of 28 MVP votes, with American center Austin Czarnik [https://thehockeynews.com/international/players/sc-bern-signs-ex-nhler] of SC Bern receiving eight, Czech winger Dominik Kubalík [https://thehockeynews.com/international/players/opt-out-deadline-passes-no-nhl-for-kubal%C3%ADk-this-season] of HC Ambrì-Piotta and Swiss center and Champions Hockey League MVP Sven Andrighetto [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/zurich-lions-win-champions-hockey-league-final-back-to-back-titles-for-switzerland] of the ZSC Lions each receiving two, and Lausanne HC goalie Kevin Pasche receiving one. Charlin was, logically, also voted top goalie in the league, receiving 21 votes. Czarnik was also a runaway winner for top forward with 20 votes, while Romain Loeffel of SC Bern edged out Dean Kukan of the ZSC Lions 8-6 for top defenseman. Geoff Ward of Lausanne HC was voted top coach for the second year in a row with 20 votes. Last season, Lausanne finished third in the National League regular season and extended the ZSC Lions to a seventh game in the finals. This season, Lausanne finished first with an overall record of 34-18. Ward is in his third season coaching in Switzerland. Previously, he had a lengthy career in North America, serving as an NHL assistant coach for the Boston Bruins, New Jersey Devils and Anaheim Ducks. He was also the head coach of the Calgary Flames from November 2019 until March 2021. NATIONAL LEAGUE ALL-STAR TEAM G: Stéphane Charlin (SCL Tigers) D: Romain Loeffel (SC Bern) D: Dean Kukan (ZSC Lions) F: Austin Czarnik (SC Bern) F: Dominik Kubalík (HC Ambrì-Piotta) F: Lino Martschini (EV Zug) NATIONAL LEAGUE ALL-SWISS TEAM G: Stéphane Charlin (SCL Tigers) D: Romain Loeffel (SC Bern) D: Dean Kukan (ZSC Lions) F: Sven Andrighetto (ZSC Lions) F: Denis Malgin (ZSC Lions) F: Lino Martschini (EV Zug) Detailed voting results are available at 24heures.ch. [https://www.24heures.ch/hockey-awards-ward-et-charlin-plebiscites-691328577962] Zurich Lions Win Champions Hockey League Final – Back-To-Back Titles For Switzerland [https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/7VECN7tA/poster.jpg?width=720] Zurich Lions Win Champions Hockey League Final – Back-To-Back Titles For Switzerland For the second year in a row, a Swiss team has defeated a Swedish team in the Champions Hockey League final. On their home ice, the ZSC Lions defeated visiting Färjestad 2-1 before a sell-out crowd of 12,000 at Swiss Life Arena in Zurich. [https://thehockeynews.com/international/zurich-lions-win-champions-hockey-league-final-back-to-back-titles-for-switzerland]
