Finland's HIFK and Switzerland's EV Zug are partnering for a week long training camp and exhibition series to help grow international women's hockey competition in Europe.
Finland's HIFK and Switzerland's EV Zug are partnering for a week long training camp and exhibition series to help grow international women's hockey competition in Europe.
HIFK is a dominant force in Finland's Naisten Liiga. They've opened their campaign 10-0. EV Zug is in their first ever season of competition as a women's team. They're playing in Switzerland's 'B' league and also in the EWHL Supercup.
Next month however, the two teams will collaborate in a week long camp to grow both programs, and the European game overall.
"We at HIFK want to boldly be trendsetters and pioneers - also in women's ice hockey," said HIFK CEO Markus Lindström in a translated news release.
HIFK is the reigning Naisten Liiga champions, and considered the top team in Finland. For the fledgling EV Zug, a team that saw Swiss legend Lara Stalder return this year to help guide the program, the opportunity to train and measure up against HIFK is invaluable. At their week long camp in November, the teams will practice and train together, and play an exhibition game.
"International competition is extremely important, both for men's and women's teams. On the international stage, you get a real picture of where the club is going, and with that the operations can be further developed," said EV Zug CEO Patrick Lengwiler.
"With HIFK, we not only compete on the ice, but we also get to challenge ourselves with one of the best organizations in Europe. We can only benefit from this cooperation!"
HIFK features European stars like Czechia national team member Michaela Pejzlova, French national team member Clara Rozier and Finnish national team members Sanni Vanhanen and Julia Liikala.
EV Zug has outscored their opponents 68-0 in the SWHL-B league led by Stalder's 33 points in four games, followed by Austrian national team member Annika Fazokas and Swiss U-18 star Naemi Herzig who each have 17 points in that span.
Playing in the EWHL Supercup, EV Zug has also tested themselves against teams from Germany and Hungary. The club has set an aggressive, and thorough plan to emerge as a power in European women's hockey. Playing Finland's champion is another step in that plan.
"Meeting the reigning Finnish champion is a big challenge for our young team," said EV Zug head coach Daniela Diaz. "As an organization, cooperation is a great opportunity. Both clubs pursue the same thing: the development of women's ice hockey."