IIHF President RenÚ Fasel Expecting Thrilling Games

"I do not know whether the coming one is going to be the best Top Four Final played so far, but what I am pretty sure of, is that the spectators in Lugano will see four great games". IIHF President RenÚ Fasel is thrilled about the Skoda Auto European Hockey League Top Four Final, scheduled for February 5 and 6 in Lugano, Switzerland. The reigning EHL champions of Metallurg Magnitogorsk, the 1996/97 EHL champions of TPS Turku, HC Sparta Praha and HC Lugano will face one another in the two days tournament that will crown the 1999/2000 EHL champions. "We have four great clubs who qualified for this Grande Finale and this is witnessed also by their results in their National championships - continues Fasel. - All the four clubs are leading in their National Leagues and all the four have showed how well they can play and how determined they are when they enter an EHL game. I am thrilled because I am sure we will see fantastic games in a fantastic scenario". With still one week to go, only a few tickets are still available to attend the four games at the Resega Arena. Looking at the huge enthusiasm the Swiss fans have showed in the last 10 days, it looks very probable that the 8.000 seats arena will be sold out for the Top Four Final event. "This is the proof that the EHL is growing constantly year after year, that the interest for this competition is spreading, that the clubs are taking the EHL participation more and more seriously. If the League had been regarded at the beginning with some scepticism, now we can see that its presence has been fully accepted and that the interest for taking part in it by the different countries is growing". According to President Fasel, the growing success of the League has also to do with the revised format which was adopted at the start of this season when the EHL reduced from 24 to 16 clubs. "This was a good decision - adds Fasel. - The quality of the participating clubs improved, we have seen better games, the interest has risen and also the average number of the spectators in the Division Round has slightly increased from the past season. Last but not least, in respect to the past, this season 97% of the games have been broadcast. All these elements witness that the EHL is growing constantly and that we can look in an optimistic way at the League's future". If the ticket sales of the first days will continue also in the next ones, then for the first time in the EHL history all the EHL Top Four Final games will be sold out. "I think we have to say thank you to HC Lugano for their big contribution during their participation - ends Fasel. - They have put all their heart into the EHL, they said from the beginning they wanted to play a great tournament, they have planned carefully their campaign and now they are belonging to the top of European ice hockey. This is a special moment also for Switzerland, after HC Ambrý Piotta's triumph in the Continental Cup. I know that the entire Ticino Region is thrilled with the idea of a possible Super Cup game between Lugano and Ambrý but first Lugano will have to overcome the obstacles of Sparta Praha and, if successful, repeat themselves in the gold medal game. It won't be an easy task". For further information please contact: Paolo Ianieri EHL Media and Communication Manager Tel: +41 1 289 86 07 Mobile: +41.79 200 8829 E-Mail: ianieri@iihf.com