What do HC Ajoie and HC Sierre have in common? In addition to a sluggish start to the season – even downright nightmarish for Vouivre – in their respective championships, the two French-speaking teams have a cohort of fans who do not lack imagination. In less than 24 hours, Jura and Valais supporters deployed banners which had an effect.
Honor, to begin with, to the elite: Friday evening in Porrentruy, the HCA hosted EHC Kloten in a tense climate. Beaten in its first seven outings of the season, the National League’s bottom team was forced to react if it did not want to see its coach, Christian Wohlwend, take a knock.
As the players entered, just before kick-off, the Jura ultras sent their message on a giant tarpaulin crossed out with the following text: “Forget that you have no chance, go ahead, go for it!” A tasty statement, full of irony, which paid tribute to the passage to Michel Blanc, alias Jean-Claude Dusse in “Les Bronzés sont du ski”, whose death was announced the morning of the match.
It is difficult to know to what extent the Ajoulot players were affected in their pride, the fact remains that they immediately signed their first victory of the year (convincing 5-2 success).
The next day, at the lower level, the Graben ice rink was the (decrepit) scene of the poster between HC Sierre and EHC Olten. A part marked by the return of Guillaume Asselin to central Valais.
The Canadian striker, who passed through the Cité du Soleil between 2019 and 2021, was approached at HC Sierre when his contract with HC Ajoie ended last spring. The Quebecer, who wondered before the duel if he was going to be “whistled or applauded” by the Graben public, had finally decided to join the Solothurn Souris.
The answer to his question was quite clear: “A$$elin, words only have one value and money has no smell”, was written on a banner displayed by Valais fans . If this did not prevent the 32-year-old winger from providing an assist, it was HC Sierre who pocketed the three points and continued their recovery in the Swiss League.
The question on everyone’s lips now is: where will the next banner be raised?
