Hockey – debate: did it click for Genève-Servette?

UpdatedNovember 27, 2024, 11:09 am

Disappointing since the start of the season, the Eagles managed an improbable comeback on Monday against the Ticino. What, finally, to launch their championship?

Did Genève-Servette win more than one match on Monday against Ambri? The team led by Jan Cadieux, trailing by four lengths after a quarter of an hour of play, found the resources to overthrow their Levent opponent (6-5 ap) and secure two unexpected points.

Authors of a start to the championship far from expectations and stuck in the depths of the National League ranking (13th), will the Garnets rely on this completely crazy meeting to, finally, launch their season?

Two journalists from matin.ch are debating it, a few hours before the derby between the Aigles and Fribourg-Gottéron, this Wednesday evening (kick-off at 7:45 p.m.), at Les Vernets.

Over the course of a season, some victories are sometimes worth more than others. The one obtained on Monday by Genève-Servette against Ambri certainly falls into this category. Because the Eagles snatched more than two points against the Léventins: they offered themselves an incredible boost of confidence in view of their next outings.

After a first quarter of an hour of mediocre, even downright shameful play, the garnet team could have completely imploded. At 0-4, a withdrawal from the team would ultimately have only been the logical outcome. But the Geneva group, whose core has written the most beautiful pages in the history of the club (Swiss champion in 2023, European champion in 2024), showed its true face at the height of the storm.

The Servettians stood together behind their coach – Jan Cadieux emerged stronger from this game – to transform the whistles and the planned humiliation into a historic success. In a turning point in this poorly handled season.

During this crazy comeback, the Eagles proved to themselves that they had everything in their wings to (re)become the team feared by the entire league. And that, when they align character, solidarity, discipline and talent, they are simply unplayable.

It is tempting to imagine that these two points won against Ambri, after a catastrophic first quarter of an hour, could serve as a trigger. As important as it is, this success must be put into perspective. The Biancoblù are adrift in the National League (10 defeats in 12 matches) and have greatly made life easier for the Eagles.

Twice this season already, Jan Cadieux’s team has gleaned victories that felt like a good start. The first leg of the Champions Hockey League round of 16 was perfectly controlled in Lausanne (0-5) on November 12 and the improbable turnaround in Langnau (4-5 ap) on November 22.

These two results were followed respectively by a complete scuttling against Kloten at Les Vernets (4-5 ap) then a sixth consecutive defeat at home against Berne (2-3). Far from the expected trigger.

The comeback against Ambri will certainly have brought balm to the hearts of the Servettians. But in a season which curiously resembles the previous one, it will take more to create this famous trigger.

What is needed is a reference match. A solid performance for 60 minutes with three points up for grabs in an important duel. Hold! This derby against Fribourg-Gottéron seems to be the perfect opportunity.