After five years in Sweden and the SDHL (two seasons in Linköping and two in Brynäs), Swiss superstar Lara Stalder chose to move home to Switzerland.
This is to fulfill the dream of helping home club EV Zug up from the second to the first division.
– I have always wanted to support Swiss women’s hockey and I got this chance to build something with a big club from my hometown that has the same ambitions as me to invest in women’s hockey, says Stalder.
“Won the matches by at least 10-15 goals”
The team immediately succeeded in its goal, to advance to the top division. Stalder was involved, to say the least, where she supported 129 points (63+66) in 17 games in the regular season and then 56 new sticks (28+28) in seven games in the playoffs.
Zug’s goal differential in the regular season stood at 317-7.
– I don’t value it very highly (scoring) and it’s not the most important thing for me. We started this journey in the second division and we knew we would be better than many of the teams there. We have won the games by at least 10-15 goals.
Could be a top team
Stalder – who is under contract with Zug for another two seasons – says there is only one plan going forward.
– I signed a three-year contract when I moved home. I came here to be on a journey with the club and it won’t stop after just one year. I want to stay and deliver, help the younger players and build the organization, says Stalder, who also works 60 percent for the club off the ice.
How good do you think you can be in the top division?
– I think we can be a top team even in the top division. We faced some of them during the season in the cup game and did well. Now we have grown as a team and it has been a journey where we have learned a lot.
Hear Lara Stalder talk about the American professional league PWHL in the player above.
Tags: Ice hockey Lara Stalder scored points games helped Zug top league
