The National League (NL) is a professional ice hockey league in Switzerland and is the top tier of the Swiss league system. Prior to the 2017–18 season, the league was known as National League A. During the 2018–19 season, the league had an average of 6,949 spectators per game which is the highest among European leagues. The capital city's club SC Bern has been ranked first of all European clubs for 18 seasons and had an average attendance of 16,290 after the regular season. The ZSC Lions are another club in the top ten of European ice hockey attendance, ranking seventh with 9,694 spectators.
Hockey Club Lugano, often abbreviated to HC Lugano or HCL, is a professional ice hockey club based in Lugano, Switzerland. The team competes in the National League (NL) and has won seven Swiss championships.
Timo Helbling is a Swiss former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National League (NL) for HC Davos, Kloten Flyers, HC Lugano, HC Fribourg-Gottéron, SC Bern, EV Zug, SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers, Oulun Kärpät of the Finish Liiga, the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL). Helbling was originally drafted 162nd overall by the Nashville Predators in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft.
Larry Robert Huras, is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and a former player. He most recently served as head coach of HC Fribourg-Gottéron of the Swiss top-flight NLA.
Schlittschuh Club Bern is a professional ice hockey team based in Bern, Switzerland. They play in the National League (NL), the top tier of the Swiss hockey league system. For the 18th year in a row, the club is the most attended ice hockey team in Europe for the 2018–19 regular season, averaging 16,290 spectators.
Renato Tosio is a retired Swiss professional ice hockey goaltender. He is popular for his energetic style of play, for his sportsmanship and also for being a great entertainer and showman.
Gaetano "Gates" Orlando is a Canadian-born Italian former ice hockey centre and coach. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Buffalo Sabres between 1984 and 1987. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1984 to 1999, was mainly spent in the Italian Serie A and Swiss Nationalliga A. Internationally Orlando played for the Italian national team at several World Championships and at the 1994 and 1998 Winter Olympics. He later coached in the minor leagues for a few years, and also worked as a scout for the New Jersey Devils of the NHL. His father's ancestry hails from Agnone, Isernia, Molise, Italy.
Gil Montandon is a Swiss former professional ice hockey centre. He played in the National League (NL) for HC Fribourg-Gottéron and SC Bern.
Patrick Howald is a Swiss former professional ice hockey winger.
Roberto Triulzi is a Swiss former professional ice hockey winger. From season 2002/03 to season 2005/06 he was sports director of the SC Bern.
Sven Leuenberger is a Swiss former professional ice hockey defenceman.
Régis Fuchs is a Swiss professional ice hockey winger.
Andreas Beutler is a retired professional ice hockey defender. He spent the majority of his career with SC Bern in the National League A and won three NLA championships with the team in 1989, 1991 and 1992. After retiring he became a coach and has coached several teams in the Swiss lower leagues.
Bill Gilligan is an American professional ice hockey coach. He is also a former professional ice hockey winger who played in 128 World Hockey Association regular season games with the Cincinnati Stingers between 1977 and 1979 before moving to Europe.
Kari Jalonen is a Finnish professional ice hockey coach and former player. Currently he is the head coach of Czech national team. He is not related to Finnish ice hockey coach Jukka Jalonen.
André Rötheli is a Swiss former professional ice hockey centre.
Trevor Meier is a retired ice hockey left winger. He has dual-citizenship with Canada and Switzerland.
Ryan Gardner is a Canadian-born Swiss former professional ice hockey forward. He last played for HC Lugano, Fribourg-Gottéron, SC Bern, ZSC Lions and HC Ambrì-Piotta in the National League (NL). He won the Swiss national championship four times. Representing the Swiss national team he captured a silver medal at the 2013 World Championships. Gardner was born in Akron, Ohio during his father's time with the Cleveland Barons, but grew up in the Switzerland in the 1980s and then Aurora, Ontario.
Calle Andersson is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently playing with HC Lugano of the National League (NL). While playing with Färjestads BK in the Swedish Elitserien he was drafted as the 119th pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Rangers. He is the son of former New York Rangers player, Peter Andersson.
The 2015–16 National League A season was the ninth ice hockey season of Switzerland's top hockey league, the National League A. Overall, it was the 78th season of Swiss professional hockey.
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