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Thumbs up: Coach Marc Crawford and Lions boss Walter Frey after winning the 2014 championship in Kloten.
Stephen RothDeputy Head of Ice Hockey
After winning the chasing duel against Biel on New Year’s Day, ZSC returnee Marc Crawford is relaxed. He smiles, jokes and raves about the new Swiss Life Arena. You can tell he’s enjoying being the center of attention again after six years in the NHL as an assistant coach. “It wasn’t perfect. But we won 2-1 and stayed tuned,” he says.
He emphasizes how happy he is to be back in Zurich and says that in 2019, when Rikard Grönborg was signed, he also had an interview with Lions boss Walter Frey (78). “At the time I was head coach in Ottawa at the end of the season and the Senators hadn’t decided how to proceed. Mr. Frey asked me, ‘Will you take the job in Ottawa if it’s offered to you?’ I said yes. It must have been a mistake…”
«Mr Frey asked me: ‘Will you take the job in Ottawa if it’s offered to you?’ I said yes. It must have been a mistake…”ZSC returnee Marc Crawford
The fact that the Lions master coach from 2014 mentioned the conversation with the Lions boss is also a signal: his point of reference in the club’s hierarchy was and is President Frey – and not sports director Sven Leuenberger or CEO Peter Zahner.
The players want plain text
Those who know him from his early days in Zurich know that the 61-year-old can be anything but charming and nice. In the past, he needed time to cool down after defeats in order to be able to have a normal conversation.
Even if he says that he has become “milder”, he should let his players know if he is not satisfied. They had missed this under Grönborg. “We wanted us to be held accountable for our performance. That it is said when you play badly and that there are consequences. That makes you better, »says Captain Patrick Geering (32), who was there for Crawford’s first debut twelve years ago (3-1 against the SCL Tigers). “It can’t really be the case that we as a team aren’t satisfied and are longing for more.”
Grönborg was very cool and analytical. “I’m old school. I don’t really have a clue about all the advanced stats. Sometimes the numbers spoke for us, although I felt like they didn’t at all. He didn’t get through to us anymore.”
ZSC Lions – EHC Biel 2: 1: Azevedo deflects the puck unsustainably to ZSC victory(04:32)
Crawford: «The players feel guilty»
When asked if he needs a raging coach, he says: “I have the feeling that emotions are part of the game. At the same time, I learned a lot in these four years. Also that you don’t have to react too emotionally and make decisions.” Geering continues: “I have the utmost respect for Grönborg. He has his philosophy and sticks to it. He doesn’t have to pretend. I’ve also had coaches come into the dressing room and do the monkey business, although you couldn’t believe it. That’s a thousand times worse.”
Crawford says: “The players liked Rikard. And they feel guilty because they didn’t play well enough. They know they are the ones responsible.”
National League 22/23
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