Hockey: Should Reto Berra be sanctioned by Fribourg-Gottéron?

The crisis is brewing in Fribourg-Gottéron. Logically beaten by CP Berne (6-3) in the Zähringen derby, the Dragons conceded their sixth defeat in eight outings since the start of the new championship on Friday evening.

In the capital, the team coached by Pat Emond, now penultimate in the National League standings, sank at the start of the final straight, conceding three successes from Marco Lehmann and Victor Ejdsell (twice) in 169 seconds. , between the 50th and 53rd minutes.

The second goal from the Swedish Bears striker completely sent Reto Berra spinning. Mad with rage, the Friborg goalkeeper smashed his cane, before leaving the ice on his own. An abandonment of post which his replacement, Bryan Rüegger, then had to compensate for.

Does this reaction from the 37-year-old Swiss international goalkeeper, who watched the end of the debates from the Gottéron bench with his helmet screwed on his head, deserve an internal sanction?

“It would be completely counterproductive,” believes Laurent Perroton. Because by showing everyone that the group did not defend together and that they did not form a team, Reto Berra put himself in a position where it is now up to him to set an example.

Starting this Saturday evening (kick-off at 7:45 p.m.) during the reception at the BCF Arena at HC Davos. “If he is lined up, I am convinced that he will have a huge match and that his teammates, vis-à-vis Reto, will also get moving,” continues the consultant from Léman Bleu and Planète Hockey.

Former coach of Forward Morges and HCV Martigny, would the French technician really have appreciated such behavior from one of his goalkeepers?

“We still have to recontextualize: Reto Berra has the status of an international player who has played in the NHL,” he emphasizes. If he lost his temper, it’s because he conceded goals due to a lack of defensive involvement. He did his job, but he was not helped by his partners. Result of the races: he arrived on the bench, stirred everyone up by asking if the circus was going to continue for much longer. Behind, there was a reaction and Friborg scored twice.

Laurent Perroton, who recalls that Reto Berra joined the BCF Arena in the summer of 2018 to win titles rather than to play the last roles, sees in the reaction of the Friborg goalkeeper a real form of leadership.

“He can no longer see his team being soft and purring,” says the French coach. He made this decision to leave the ice because he was no longer in the mental state to play because he was so angry, but also because nothing was happening on the bench. He wanted to wake up the team and the coaching staff for the rest of the season. From the outside, it may be a terrible signal for Pat Emond, but it may also have saved him.

First elements of response this Saturday evening against the “Rekordmeister”. With or without Reto Berra in front of the Friborg nets?