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Host: Lara Stalder, EVZTarget not accessible

Marmi discovers the ice hockey stadium in Zug. He slips inside quickly. The women are training there. Marmi is startled when a player gets body-checked. Doesn’t that hurt?

Lara Stalder laughs. The forward for EV Zug and the women’s national team is one of the best in the world. Marmi wants to play, too, but Lara turns him down. They don’t have any protective gear that is small enough for him. And ice hockey is far too dangerous without it. Ice hockey is a tough sport. The protective gear weighs 5 to 8 kg. Even more for a goalie. She stands between the puck and the goal wearing 20 kg of armour.

Women’s ice hockey is still overshadowed by the men’s game. But the Olympic bronze of ten years ago still has an impact. EV Zug has made it into the PostFinance Women’s League. This means, from next season, six out of eight clubs in the top division will be integrated into the structure of a professional club.

As an 18-year-old, Lara Stalder had to train with the men. Today, things are different. Head coach Colin Muller has put together a squad of experienced and young players for the World Cup currently underway in the USA. The average age is 22. Will the Swiss women pull off another coup?

What makes ice hockey so fascinating? The game is cool, fast and tough. Tactics, team spirit, elegance on the blades and with the stick – and the games are all presented as events. Marmi is also caught up in all the excitement. He wishes Lara Stalder the best of luck and plenty of goals in the World Cup and in the league!