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Second outing, second victory for Fribourg-Gottéron. Friday evening at Le Sentier, the Dragons dominated Lausanne HC 4-3 after overtime during the 29th edition of the Hockeyades. Kevin Nicolet secured the win for his team after 1 minute 43 seconds in the extra period, confirming promising preparation beginnings for Ward's squad.
A derby decided by Nicolet
In front of 2,000 spectators at the Centre Sportif de la Vallée de Joux ice rink, the Romandy derby kept everyone on edge for a long time.
In front of 2,000 spectators at the Centre Sportif de la Vallée de Joux ice rink, the Romandy derby kept everyone on edge for a long time. Tied during regulation time, the two rivals parted ways with a 3-3 score before heading into overtime. It took only a handful of seconds for Kevin Nicolet to break the deadlock and seal the Fribourg success. A happy outcome for the Dragons, who the day before had already overturned Genève-Servette on the same ice, a sign of a well-established collective despite the resumption period.
Two evenings, two successes to kick off the summer
After weeks of summer break, this Vallée de Joux tournament is a tradition for National League clubs, who reconnect with competition in a relaxed atmosphere, far from the pressure of the championship. A breath of fresh air in the middle of summer, which the Dragons fully savor. For Fribourg-Gottéron, the start is ideal: two games, two wins, including one against a direct rival. Coach Ward can draw a first encouraging assessment, even if these pre-season matches remain primarily tests of pace, conditioning, and automatisms. At this stage, lessons matter more than raw results, and the staff will have plenty to feed their next video sessions. It's also an opportunity to give playing time to the young prospects and integrate new recruits into the collective.
A rivalry waiting to be reawakened
This lakeside derby has already delivered tight scenarios. In spring 2025, the two teams had met in the National League playoff semi-finals, and a 4-3 Fribourg victory at the end of a tense overtime had brought the Dragons to 3-1 in the series. On Friday, the scenario repeated itself on the scale of a preparation match, like a summer echo of those spring evenings. This reminds us that this fixture retains a special flavor for both camps, even without stakes. The two clubs maintain one of the most followed rivalries in Romandy hockey, fueled by regular confrontations in both the championship and the playoffs.
The Hockeyades, an event opening up to women
This 29th edition, closed on Friday by this Swiss elite matchup, will also be marked by a first. The organization indeed hosted for the first time a women's match, opposing the Lausanne Hockey Club Féminin against the Fribourg-Gottéron Ladies. An opening welcomed by Romandy hockey stakeholders, who see it as a sign of the discipline's development beyond the men's elite. This further broadens the aura of an event firmly anchored in the region's summer calendar.
Preparation now continues for both teams, who will return to the rinks in the coming weeks. For Gottéron, the goal will be to confirm these good dispositions once the regular season begins, when points will really count. The National League will only resume in September, leaving the Dragons time to fine-tune the final adjustments.