Everything will be different in Zug, everything will remain the same…

Donnis is authentic

Dan Tangnes is one of the greatest coaches ever. In Zug since 2018, one cup winner, two championships. Downes possesses one quality that all great coaches share: He is authentic. He said what he thought was right. In victory and defeat.

Over the past six years, the chroniclers have never heard a single cheap excuse from his mouth, and almost none of the empty talk (=empty talk) common in the industry. No real person can fake it. Not even if he was a good actor.

A decision worthy of respect

It was simply impossible for the Norwegian to keep such a fundamental decision to terminate his employment early until the end of the season. “We work intensively together every day, and I try to energize the team,” he said. “I would no longer be able to do my job if I had to keep decisions that affect us all a secret.” Or, to put it more colloquially: Players soon There will be a sense and suspicion that something about their boss is no longer the same. They'd say, “Hey Dan, what's wrong with you?”

As for excuses: Dan Tannis has never been one to make cheap excuses, and he never will be one to make cheap excuses. Speaking of family (Dan Tanis has a daughter), when someone decides to return to their adopted home in Sweden and spend more time with their family, that decision deserves only one thing: full respect. point of view.

Tangnes 2021 lifts the championship trophy.Image: trapezoid

But wouldn't the certainty of the manager leaving at the end of the season have an impact on performance? “Change is part of everyday life in this industry and teams know how to deal with it,” Tangnes said. What he didn't say: In Zug, the relationship between coach and team is intact. No one is dancing on the tables because they are walking. If it is already known that he will say goodbye at the end of the season, the effect is more positive than negative: especially once again giving everything to give the boss a good farewell.

“Everything is still far away”

What role does Dan Tangnes play outside of the day-to-day business? Is he still involved in the sporting decision-making process – which players should we bring in next season? What players do we need? – include? Will he help find a successor? “No. But if someone asks me for information or an assessment, I can say something. But it's all very far away,” he said.

Finally, the question remains: Why did the ZSC Lions fail silently? First, every team had a bad night during the qualifiers. Secondly, the ZSC Lions are one of the best teams in Europe, they don't play the best hockey, but they play the most efficient. But even Zurich, who won so confidently and so naturally in Zug, were beaten 2-1 by bottom side Ajoy a week ago.

Dan Tangers will be leaving at the end of the season and everything will be different in Zug. But for now everything remains the same. Zug is a master's candidate. But only if Leonardo Genoni is in goal.

• 7

  A leader who can decide games and make his team better on and off the ice.

• 6-7

  A talented player who can decide a game on a good night and is a leader.

• 5-6

  A good NL player: usually a rainbow butterfly of talent, sometimes a serious worker who brings out a lot of talent.

• 4-5

  Players on the third or fourth block, veterans or newcomers.

• 3-4

  The future is still ahead of you, or the future is already behind you.

• The rating is based on the North American Hockey Grading Scale, ranging from 1 (lowest) to 7 (highest). There are no levels below level 3, because those who play in the top leagues are at least barely adequate.