HC Lugano
Seven-time Swiss champion based in Lugano, Switzerland.
HC Lugano (also known as HCL) is a professional ice hockey team from Lugano, Switzerland. They play in the National League (NL), the country's top division, and have won the Swiss championship seven times.
The club was founded on 11 February 1941, playing its first games on Muzzano Lake against Ambrì, Muzzano, Massagno, and Paradiso. On 1 December 1957, the first artificial ice rink, Pista La Resega, opened. Among those present was engineer Geo Mantegazza, who had done the rink's static calculations. Thirty years later, Mantegazza would lead the club to the top of Swiss and international hockey. The team's Italian-speaking heritage earned them the nickname "Bianconeri."
Lugano moved up to National League B in the 1963–64 season, thanks largely to national players and former Swiss champions Elwyn Friedrich and Roland Bernasconi. They first reached the top-flight National League A in the 1970–71 season but stayed only two seasons before dropping back to NLB. The club returned to NLA in the 1981–82 season alongside Ambrì. The following season, Mantegazza hired Swedish coach John Slettvoll, who would go on to win multiple championships.
The team's home arena, Pista La Resega, was built in 1995 after the old one was demolished. It holds 8,000 spectators and is also used by HC Lugano-Ceresio and HC Porza.
HC Lugano has won the NL championship seven times (1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1999, 2003, 2006) and the SL championship once (1982). They have been NL runners-up eight times (1985, 1989, 1991, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2016, 2018) and Spengler Cup runners-up three times (1991, 2015, 2016).
The HC Lugano Ladies Team, a semi-professional women's side founded on 22 May 1990, competes in the Swiss Women's A League. They won the Swiss championship in 2006, 2007, 2009, and 2010. In 2007, they reached the final round of the IIHF European Women's Champions Cup, and they earned a bronze medal in 2010.
- Founded
- 11 February 1941
- Home arena
- Pista La Resega
- Arena capacity
- 8000
- Nl championships
- 7
- Nl championship years
- 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1999, 2003, 2006
- Sl championships
- 1
- Sl championship year
- 1982
Lore & Background
HC Lugano was founded on 11 February 1941, playing its first games on Muzzano Lake against Ambrì, Muzzano, Massagno and Paradiso. On 1 December 1957, the first artificial ice rink was opened at the Pista La Resega. Among those present was Geo Mantegazza, an engineer who had done the static calculations of the Resega and later took HC Lugano to the top of Swiss and international hockey. The club earned the nickname 'Bianconeri' acknowledging their Italian speaking heritage.
In 1963–64, Lugano rose to the National League B, notably through contributions of defender Elwyn Friedrich and forward Roland Bernasconi, both national players and Swiss champions with Villars. In the 1970–71 season, the Bianconeri achieved promotion to the top-flight National League A for the first time, playing two seasons before returning to the NLB. In the 1981–82 season, Lugano returned to the NLA together with Ambrì. In the 1982–83 season, Mantegazza hired Swedish coach John Slettvoll, who won numerous championships in his tenure.
The current Pista La Resega arena was built in 1995 after the demolition of the previous one, and holds 8,000 people. It is also home to HC Lugano-Ceresio and HC Porza.
Reader's Guide
HC Lugano is notable as a seven-time Swiss champion, with NL titles in 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1999, 2003, and 2006, and an SL championship in 1982. The club has also been NL runners-up eight times (1985, 1989, 1991, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2016, 2018) and Spengler Cup runners-up three times (1991, 2015, 2016). The club's history is closely tied to Geo Mantegazza, an engineer present at the opening of the first artificial rink who later led the team to success. The hiring of Swedish coach John Slettvoll in 1982–83 marked a period of numerous championships. The HC Lugano Ladies Team, founded on 22 May 1990, won Swiss championships in 2006, 2007, 2009, and 2010, and earned a bronze medal in the IIHF European Women's Champions Cup in 2010.
Did You Know?
- HC Lugano was founded on 11 February 1941 and played its first games on Muzzano Lake.
- The club's nickname 'Bianconeri' acknowledges its Italian-speaking heritage.
- Geo Mantegazza, an engineer, did the static calculations for the original Resega rink and later led the club to success.
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