For the Genevans, the National League days follow one another and are similar. This weekend, they will play their sixth and seventh away match: Friday in Ambri and Saturday in Kloten. Can’t wait for them on October 18 and the return to Vernets.
On the ice at the Gottardo Arena, the visitors took a while to get into the game. Aside from an opportunity from Alessio Bertaggia, they rather left possession of the puck to the Ticinese. However, this did not prevent them from opening the score… against the run of play. It was Eric Schneller who found the opening in the 18th minute. He thus scored the first goal of his career in the first division. The 19-year-old “offensive” defender, trained at GCK Lions, created two other chances in the second third.
This middle period, however, revealed certain flaws in the defense of Genève-Servette. Initially, she did well in box play, only to panic between the 25th and 28th minute. The score went from 0-1 to 2-1 in the space of 159 seconds. The goals were scored by Inti Pestoni and André Heim. It should also be noted that Servette had all the difficulty in the world to ensure his exits from the zone, increasing the number of prohibited clearances. Despite this, Tanner Richard was able to serve Tim Berni in the 32nd minute for the equalizer (2-2). And it’s a new defender who transformed into a scorer, his first success of the season.
Before the break, the score would change again. Following a foul by Vincent Praplan, it only took 10 seconds for the Leventins to score in a power play by Manix Eric Landry (39th).
At the start of the last period (43rd), another first for a Genève-Servette player. This time, it was Josh Jooris who opened his goal counter for this 2024-2025 season. He signed the 3-3, while his team returned to the ice with much better intentions.
Everything happened in the final seconds of the match. Ambri managed to score 4-3 1’08” from the final siren. But Genève-Servette, even then, did not want to abdicate. He returned to 4-4 in power play (6 against 4) five seconds from time.
The Visitors therefore saved a point, since they ended up giving in in overtime on a goal from Dominik Kubalik after 61’31.
Ambri – GE Servette ap 5-4 (0-1 3-1 1-2)
Gottardo Arena, 6210 spectators.
Referees: MM Borga, Hungerbühler, Meusy et Bürgy.
Buts: 18e Schneller (Hartikainen) 0-1, 25e Pestoni (Virtanen) 1-1, 28e Heim (De Luca, Heed) 2-1, 32e Berni (Richard) 2-2, 39e Landry (Virtanen, Zwerger/5 c 4) 3-2, 43e Jooris (Maillard) 3-3, 59e Kubalik (Virtanen, Zwerger) 4-3, 60e Granlund (Hartikainen, Richard/6 c 4) 4-4, 62e Kubalik (Zwerger, Virtanen) 5-4.
Amber: Senn; Heed, Curran; Virtanen, Zgraggen; Wüthrich, Dotti; Terraneo; Pestoni, Heim, De Luca; Bürgler, Maillet, Lilja; Zwerger, Landry, Kubalik; Grassi, Müller, Douay. Entrepreneur: Luca Cereda.
GE Servette: Mayer; Jacquemet Lennström; Schneller, Bernie; Le Coultre, Chanton; Vouardoux; Miranda, Richard, Hischier; Hartikainen, Manninen, Granlund; Praplan, Spacek, Bertaggia; Loosli, Jooris, Maillard. Coach: Jan Cadieux.
Notes: Napkin without Carrer, Rod, Cavalleri, Descloux, Vatanen or Pouliot.
Penalties: 2 x 2′ against Ambri; 3 x 2′ against GE Servette.
