As always since 2011; with one sole exception the final was played between the Oberwil Rebells and the SHC Belpa 1107.
Now we look back at the teams, asking if the season 2017/18 was indeed business as usual.
Oberwil Rebells Swiss Champion again~!
The result of the final series of the Swiss championship 2017/18 looked like an easy walk-through for the Rebells. The old and new Swiss champion decided the best off tree series vs the Scorpions from Belp with two clean wins (10 to 1 and 7 to 1). However the difference between the two teams was not as big as the results indicated. In the first game in Zug, the first period was pretty much equal, but the Scorpions got an awful start to the second period. Nothing worked for them, but for the Rebells who scored not less than six goals in the first six minutes. With this, game one was decided. Game two in Belp was pretty much equal again. The Rebells were up two after two periods. The Scorpions had their chances to come back into the game. But the Rebells scored next and broke the hopes of Belp. Oberwil celebrated a well-deserved title, the fifth in a row and the twelfth in the past 13 years!
Oberwil celebrates the Swiss Elite League title, their fifth in a row and the twelfth in the past 13 years!
3rd and 4th place, Grenchen and Sierre
Looking at the Whales and the Lions, it seems that the current season was indeed like the seasons before. Both teams reached the semifinals but the had to fight more then expected. Grenchen won its first game vs the Bees from La Chaux-de-Fonds but lost the second. In the third decisive game they were at the edge of loosing, but turned the fate in the closing minutes. In the semifinal the Whales lost in two close games vs the Scorpions.
The Lions played their provincial rivals from Martigny in quarterfinals. They lost their first game and were at the edge of loosing the second as well. But with a furious comeback and two shorthanded goals they tuned this game and the series. In the semifinals, the Lions lost twice against the Rebells without much discussion.
5th and 6th place, Martigny and La Chaux-de-Fonds
The two newcomers in the national league A were the reason, why 2017/18 was not business as usual. Both teams played a strong round robin. They both caused problems to the Rebells, the Scorpions, the Whales and the Lions during the round robin and in the playoffs. At the end it might just have been a lack of experience that stood in the way of a big surprise in the quarterfinals. Both teams played an excellent first season in the national league A.
7th to 9th place, Bonstetten, Bettlach and Kernenried.
It is not exactly a big surprise to find these three teams at the bottom of the standings. All three are, in different stages of a – delayed – process to rejuvenate the team. In an interesting fight for the last two playoff spots, Bonstetten and Bettlach made the race.
