Continuing an affiliation with the region that stretches back to 1885, the Cambridge University Ice Hockey Club (CUIHC) travelled to Switzerland for their annual pre-Varsity training week and tournament at the Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz, an elite Swiss boarding school with a gorgeous outdoor rink surrounded by the Alps.

In addition to the breathtaking scenery, the experience offered total immersion in the sport with on-ice sessions two or three times a day, high altitude training and expert coaching led by Professor Bill Harris and Franz Strum, the former coach of the Austrian junior national side. An outstanding week in terms of team bonding, developing individual skills and solidifying team systems, it culminated in a second place finish in the tournament for the Blues, losing out in a shootout against Le Pliaf, a Swiss men’s team. 

There were notable performances from Kyle Maggard, who scored in every game, and Jaason Geerts, playing through a serious elbow injury to score twice in his first game. Goaltender Carl Mazurek was a stellar influence throughout, while there were other important contributions from Jake Harris and the captain, Thor Richardson.

As the Blues strive to build on their pre-Christmas mauling of the Cardiff Redhawks, the camp was a timely mid-season intervention that has served them well in building momentum towards the Varsity match.  Resuming a fierce rivalry of 128 years when the teams first met in St Moritz, they will be keen to avoid a repeat of the narrow early-season loss to Oxford when the sides meet in Peterborough on March 9th.

The Blues are next in action against the London Dragons at the Lee Valley Ice Centre, on Saturday 2nd February.