Release from 20.02.2024

Genève-Servette wins Champions Hockey League

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Genève-Servette became the first Swiss team to win the Champions Hockey League on Tuesday. The hosts beat Skellefteå AIK 3:2 in the final in front of a fantastic crowd thanks to three goals in the first period. HC TIWAG Innsbruck faced both finalists in this CHL campaign. On the first matchday, the Tyroleans celebrated a magnificent 5:2 home win against the new champions at the end of August.

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The 7,135 spectators in the sold-out Patinoire des Vernets were loud even before the game started and had plenty to cheer about in the first period. The home side opened the scoring after five and a half minutes through Eliot Berthon. Skellefteå tied it off the rush six minutes later when Pär Lindholm fed Martins Dzierkals, and the Latvian beat Jussi Olkinuora high to the short side from the left wing. But late in the opening frame, Genève scored twice on the same powerplay to take a two-goal lead. First it was Sakari Manninen one-timing a cross-ice pass from fellow countryman Teemu Hartikainen before the goalie could slide across to make it 2-1. Then 59 seconds later, veteran Daniel Winnik put a very nice deflection on Tim Berni’s knee-high shot from the point to make it 3-1.

The Swedes dominated the second period, but no further goals were scored. Skellefteå's pressure continued in the third period and they finally got closer. They scored their second goal with just under 11 minutes to go: Anton Heikkinen took a drop pass from Oscar Lindberg in the neutral zone, carried the puck to the high slot and scored on a high wrister. The home side held on to their narrow lead in a thrilling final phase. This makes Genève-Servette the first Swiss club to win the modern version of the Champions Hockey League.



Photo: Champions Hockey League