Story Summary
The ZSC Lions have set a new National League record for the longest winning run at the start of a season, defeating HC Fribourg-Gottéron 5-4 in overtime for their tenth consecutive victory.
Juho Lammikko secured the result in overtime, completing a win that moved the Lions clear of the previous mark of nine opening victories. HC Davos achieved that total in 2025, while Genève-Servette HC did so in 2012.
The record was established against the previous season’s champion, adding weight to a result that kept Zürich perfect through their first 10 games.
Key Facts
- The ZSC Lions defeated HC Fribourg-Gottéron 5-4 in overtime.
- Juho Lammikko scored the overtime winner for the Lions.
- The victory gave the ZSC Lions 10 straight wins to open the National League season.
- The previous record was nine opening-season victories.
- HC Davos reached nine consecutive wins at the start of a season in 2025, and Genève-Servette HC did so in 2012.
- HC Fribourg-Gottéron were the previous season’s champion.
IHM Discussion
A record start is built first on consistency, and the Lions have now sustained that standard across 10 fixtures. The overtime finish against Fribourg-Gottéron shows that the run has not depended solely on comfortable results: Zürich found the decisive goal after a game that remained level through regulation.
Lammikko’s winner is the defining individual moment, but the broader significance lies with the team. The Lions have moved beyond a shared historical mark and now stand alone with the best opening winning streak recorded in the National League.
Why It Matters
The result gives the ZSC Lions a place in National League history and establishes a clear benchmark for the opening phase of the season. Beating the previous campaign’s champion also makes this more than a statistical milestone, as the Lions maintained their unbeaten start against a leading opponent.