Season is almost over sadly, semi-finals being played now (plus the relegation playouts and promotion playoffs in second division), should be all over by early april.

If you are moving to Lausanne, the local team, LHC, is now in the second division and blows out and cold, playing in that big freezer that Malley is. Capacity is about 10000 and if the team does well, it fills up nicely and the atmosphere will be unlike anything you experienced in NHL. The main supporters club, the ultras from Section Ouest, are amongst the best in the country. The hockey won't be brilliant though, probably on par with the UK Elite League.

If you want to watch LNA hockey (top division), you can either go to Geneva, Fribourg or Bern, all about an hour from Lausanne. Fribourg have been rubbish for a few year now but Geneva has been doing well in the last 5 seasons, with the 6700 Vernets arena filling up for most games and the atmosphere can be electric. Our manager ought to ring a bell, he is Marty McSorley's brother, Chris... Bern is the big one in Switzerland and Europe, biggest rink in the country, 16700, bigest average of season ticket holders, capped to 14000, highest in Europe and the highest crowd average in Europe too, just below 16000. It is a fantastic rink, very old style, only 4000 seats (all sold out) and the rest is standing. When it gets noisy, you feel it, particularly when you are in the away fans sector.

The level of hockey in the LNA is quite high, not up to NHL standards but it's one of the best league outside of it, crowds are good and, generally, much more noisy (the North American playing in Switz just love the buzz they get from the fans) than in the NHL, very much like the soccer scene in Europe, with ultras groups displaying flags, banners and blokes with loudspeakers leading the singing.

Finally, something for those here who think the Swiss are nothing but dull and unimaginative people

Pictures on page 1 and 7 of this thread:
http://www.onetouchfootball.com/cgi-...0124;p=0&r=nfx

Pictures on page 6, 7, 8:
http://www.onetouchfootball.com/cgi-...0524;p=6&r=nfx

And a little hommage to Zug, things going a bit hot under the collar at promotion final between Zug and Zurich, on and off the ice....
http://www.blick.ch/sport/eishockey/artikel56542