In November, the Swiss Floorball Association’s Task Force decided to extend the season break until the beginning of January. The season now resumes in the top league NLA on the upcoming weekend.
Men’s NLA
One of the games played on the weekend is the men’s top match between SV Wiler-Ersigen and GC Unihockey. The teams will face each other in the championship after more than a year. Wiler-Ersigen leads the table and has not give up a point in the previous five rounds. GC lost once against Zug United in overtime. The restart will be definitely special for one player: Patrick Mendelin. The national team forward actually plays for Unihockey Basel Regio in the NLB. But because the season continues only in the NLA at the moment, he temporarily plays for his former club SV Wiler-Ersigen. This is possible because Swiss Floorball Association has introduced temporary double eligibility in the lower leagues during the break in the season.
– I am extremely happy that it starts again and that I can play. I have definitely missed the games and emotions, says Mendelin in Swiss Floorball Association’s press release.
Many interesting matches take place during the weekend. Alligator Malans will play against Chur Unihockey and Floorball Köniz against Zug United. Köniz and Zug showcased exciting games in the play-off quarter-finals last season before the season was canceled. Tigers Langnau currently holds the third place and will play against HC Rychenberg Winterthur on Saturday and against Wiler-Ersigen on Sunday. Can the Tigers continue their winning streak after the break and maintain their position at the top of the table?
Women’s NLA
The women are playing rounds eight and nine and these are the last matches of the first half of the season, followed by the Master and Challenge Round. These take place this season instead of the second half of the season. In the women’s, five best teams qualify for the play-offs and play in the Master Round for home and voting rights. The teams placed 6th-10th continue to Challenge Round and play to qualify for the play-offs. In the men’s, the six best teams continue to Master Round and the rest to Challenge Round.
The same teams are at the top of the table as well as last season: Piranha Chur and Kloten-Dietlikon Jets. For Piranha Chur, there are two duels against Bernese teams at the weekend: against Unihockey Berner Oberland and Wizards Bern Burgdorf. Two Zurich derbies are waiting for the Jets: on Saturday against Red Ants Rychenberg Winterthur and on Sunday against UHC Laupen. A victory would be extremely important for both Laupen and Rychenberg, since they are fifth and sixth in the table. Whoever finishes fifth at the end of the weekend can play in the Master Round and the team in sixth place has to go to the Challenge Round.
Wizards Bern Burgdorf and Skorpion Emmental Zollbrück have one game less in their books. The third round game had to be postponed due to a corona case and will now be played on Thursday 7th of January. The first games of the two double rounds will follow on Friday.
Health continues to be the first priority
All matches take place under strict hygiene measures. After the restart, the protection concept was supplemented with quick tests. The players, staff members and referees must carry out a quick test every week. In addition, no spectators are allowed. The men’s NLA and individual women’s NLA games are broadcasted live on www.swissunihockey.tv.
Source: Swiss Floorball Association
