HC Fribourg-Gottéron
Swiss club that won its first NL title in 2026.
HC Fribourg-Gottéron is a professional ice hockey club from Fribourg, Switzerland, playing in the National League (NL), the country's top division. During the 2015–16 season, it ranked sixth in Swiss attendance, averaging 6,156 spectators per game.
The club began in 1938 as HC Gottéron, founded by residents of the Auge district. Early games were played on outdoor ice, notably at Les Augustins, until the Patinoire St-Léonard opened in 1982. Upon promotion to the National League in 1980, the team adopted its current name. Despite persistent financial difficulties throughout much of its NL tenure, the club reached the league championship finals three consecutive seasons from 1992 to 1994.
In 2006, the team was rescued from bankruptcy. This marked a turning point: HC Fribourg-Gottéron evolved from a club constantly battling relegation and insolvency into a stable top-tier side, regularly qualifying for the playoffs and making multiple semifinal and final appearances. This upward trajectory culminated in the 2020s with a Spengler Cup victory in 2024 and the club’s first Swiss championship title in April 2026.
The BCF Arena underwent renovation and expansion from 2019 to 2020. Since the 2020–21 season, it holds 9,000 seats and is frequently sold out.
**Honours** - Champions: Spengler Cup (2024), National League (2026) - Runner-up: National League (1983, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2013)
**Current roster** Updated 30 July 2026.
**References**
**External links** Official website (in French and German)
Quick Facts
- Team
- Fribourg-Gottéron
- Text Color
- #000000
- Founded
- 1938
- City
- Fribourg, Switzerland
- Arena
- BCF Arena
- League
- National League / NL / 1980–present / SL / 1953–1980
- Gm
- Gerd Zenhausern
- Coach
- Roger Rönnberg
- Captain
- Julien Sprunger
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The club was originally started as HC Gottéron by the citizens of the town of Auge in 1938. They competed on an outdoor rink, most notably at Les Augustins, until 1982 when Patinoire St-Léonard was constructed. In 1980, the name HC Fribourg-Gottéron was adopted upon promotion into the National League. Despite financial struggles for the better part of their existence in the NL, they managed to reach the league's championship finals three years in a row (1992–94). The team was saved from bankruptcy in 2006. Subsequently, HC Fribourg-Gottéron developed from a club that repeatedly had to fight for survival both on the ice and financially into a stable top team in the National League that regularly reaches the playoffs, has made several appearances in semifinals and finals, and ultimately crowned this development in the 2020s by winning the Spengler Cup in 2024 and securing the first Swiss championship title in the club’s history in April 2026. From 2019 to 2020, the BCF Arena was renovated and expanded. Since the 2020/21 season, the stadium has had a capacity of 9,000 seats and is regularly sold out.
Reader's Guide
HC Fribourg-Gottéron's significance lies in its transformation from a financially struggling club into a stable top team in the National League. The club's history is marked by early outdoor play, a name change upon promotion in 1980, and three consecutive finals appearances from 1992 to 1994. After being saved from bankruptcy in 2006, the team steadily improved, regularly reaching playoffs and semifinals. Its legacy was cemented in the 2020s with two major achievements: winning the Spengler Cup in 2024 and securing its first Swiss championship title in April 2026. The renovation and expansion of the BCF Arena (capacity 9,000 since 2020/21) and regular sellouts reflect the club's strong fan support, which was already evident in the 2015–16 season when it was the sixth most attended team in Switzerland.
Did You Know?
- HC Fribourg-Gottéron adopted its current name in 1980 upon promotion to the National League.
- The BCF Arena was renovated and expanded from 2019 to 2020, reaching a capacity of 9,000 seats.
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