ZSC Lions

The Zürcher Schlittschuh Club Lions are a professional ice hockey team located in Zürich, Switzerland, playing in the National League A.

:Founded: 1930:Home arena: Hallenstadion (capacity 10,700)::Former home arenas: Dolder-Kunsteisbahn (1930-1950):Swiss Championships won: 6 (1936, 1949, 1961, 2000, 2001, 2008):Continental Cups won: 2 (2001, 2002):Spengler Cups won: 2 (1945, 1946)

History

Locally nicknamed "Z", the team was formed in 1997 as a result of the merger of the two local teams Zürcher Schlittschuh Club (German for "Zurich Skating Club") and Grasshoppers Club (GC), the ice hockey section of Grasshopper-Club Zürich. ZSC played in the National League A, was clearly the fan favourite of the city but in constant financial trouble. Grasshoppers, meanwhile, was playing in the Nationalliga B, failed to qualify for promotion several years in a row and had a small fan base, but was backed by a very wealthy man.

ZSC was the first Swiss team to play in an indoor arena (Hallenstadion). They won the Swiss championship in the years 1936, 1949 and 1961 and the prestigious Spengler Cup in 1944 and 1945. After the merger, the ZSC Lions won the Swiss Championship in 2000, 2001 and 2008 and the IIHF Continental Cup in 2001 and 2002.

External links

* [http://www.zsc-lions.ch/ ZSC Lions official site]
* [http://www.zscweb.ch/ ZSC fan site; big ZSC forum]
* [http://www.zscfans.ch/ ZSC fan site]
* [http://www.zsc.ch/ ZSC Youngsters]
* [http://www.zscblog.ch ZSC Lions Blog]