Swiss Hockey Junior League U12

Season 2022/2023

On September 3rd, 2022 the time had come: the U12 of the HCH (HCH Teamgeist) competed in the Swiss Hockey Junior League U12. The first tournament was against GC, RedSox, ZSHT and HC Lugano - established teams with a lot of experience. The HCHers therefore went into the games with a lot of respect.

The HCHers were particularly cautious against RedSox, after all they had lost the Höfe Turf Cup on home soil against the same team (even if only just in a shoot-out). In the first half, the Schwarz-Weiss Höfner were under massive pressure from StadZürcher. Only a penalty corner brought the redeeming lead goal (Sofian). But RedSox didn't let that deter them and pushed for an equalizer. With a counterattack and the subsequent 2:0 (Marusia, final score), the HCH was able to win the game.

After a short break, feared opponents Lugano were on the other half of the pitch. And here, too, the motto was: defend, just don't concede a goal. It was thanks to our goalkeeper's first-class performance that the team from Ticino didn't score a goal in the first half - despite numerous chances. In the second half, a penalty corner made it 1-0 for the HCHers, Leif from the U10s scored this surprise goal. Lugano then looked for an equaliser, but whether it was the rain, the solid defense or our excellent goalkeeper - in the end it was a happy 1-0 for the Höfners.

After the lunch break we went against the ZSHT - a team that we knew from earlier matches, so a win like in the past should be no problem. The early goal by Finn therefore quickly brought confidence. However, the ZSHT kids were not impressed by the early deficit and carried one attack after the other in front of the HCH goal. In the second half, the HCH didn't manage a 'liberating' goal either and so the Höfners were happy to have won this game 1-0. Whether it was the tactics of the trainer (there were two U10s on the field with Olivia and Leif) or the fighting spirit of the ZSHT - more was not possible for the HCH.

The last game was scheduled against GC - also a feared opponent since the HCH was founded. Whether it was the U8, the U10 or the U12 - so far you had only lost against GC. But the match turned out differently. From the start, the Höfner played forward with clever combinations and precise passes. The defense with Mia & Leandro also stopped the efforts of the GCers early on, so that Nati had quite a lot of time to enjoy the sun as a goalkeeper. His colleague from GC, on the other hand, was more than busy fending off shots on goal from Marusia, Leif, Sofian and Finn - but four of Marusia's shots on goal found their way behind the goal line, so that the Höfners won the game 4-0.

What a debut of the HCH team spirit. Four matches, four wins, eight goals, zero goals conceded - means winning the tournament and placing in the top 5 of 18 teams throughout Switzerland! Joy of playing, team spirit, commitment.