EVZ striker Fabian Schnyder ends career

Now it's definite: EVZ striker Fabian Schnyder has decided to retire after 17 seasons in the Zug kit.

On September 21, 2019, Fabian Schnyder played his last National League game for the EVZ. Afterwards, he had to have his hip joint operated on a second time and end the 2019/20 season prematurely. Now the long-time EVZ captain (2012 to 2016) has decided not to extend the contract that expired at the end of last season and end his active career. The recovery from hip surgery has been successful, but the risk of further exposure to top-level sports would have been too great. Health is more important to the 34-year-old striker than a possible extension of his career.

Fabian Schnyder joined the EVZ in 1996 from Küssnacht SC. As a junior player, he won two championship titles with the EVZ Elite Juniors (2003 and 2004), and in 2004 he took part in the World Championships in Finland with the Swiss U20 national team. In the 2003/04 season, he made the jump from the elite juniors to the Zug National League team, with which he celebrated the runner-up title in 2017 and 2019 and the Cup victory in 2019. In 17 seasons and 873 championship appearances, he scored 125 goals, 151 assists and 276 scorer points for his EVZ, which he remained loyal to until his retirement. With his exemplary attitude and his above-average running and fighting qualities, the power winger was one of the top performers until the end. Thanks to his open and modest manner, he was also a figurehead and likeable ambassador for the club off the ice.

Fabian Schnyder speaks of a farewell with a crying and a laughing eye.

"I will certainly miss the daily contact with the EVZ family, the dressing room and the competition atmosphere. But the many good contacts and friendships will remain and the EVZ will forever keep a place in my heart."

He is looking forward to a break of one or two months to gain some distance and wants to start an internship as a pain therapist in October. During his field hockey career, Fabian Schnyder earned a diploma in finance and then completed training in basic medicine. For quite some time he has been working in the physiotherapy practice of his brother Adrian, where he does commercial work and carries out treatments recognized by the health insurance. In addition, he assists Mike Renggli, the president of Hockey Innerschweiz, as vice president in an advisory capacity and thus remains connected to ice hockey and junior training, which is particularly close to his heart. Fabian can also look forward to the upcoming time in his private life: Fabian and Nicole Schnyder are expecting family offspring for the first time in September.

CEO Patrick Lengwiler thanks the deserving athlete on behalf of the entire EVZ family for his tireless commitment to the EVZ and wishes him nothing but the best for the future: "With Fabian, we are losing a long-standing role model and a model professional who always put himself at the service of the team and the club with exemplary passion and sacrifice. He has earned our sincere respect and greatest thanks!"

The official farewell will take place at the beginning of the upcoming season during a championship home game at the BOSSARD Arena. More information will follow at a later date.