Champion #2

The Swiss league has crowned a new champion.  This year Bern takes the crown after defeating Fribourg in six games.  Bern was led by Byron Ritchie who finished first in points during the regular season and also led the squad in playoff points.  Ritchie played over 500 games in the NHL and AHL.  Leading goal scorer, Canadian Ryan Gardner, has been playing in Switzerland since 1997.

New York Islander forward John Tavares ended up finishing in a tie for second on the team in scoring and Swiss and NHL teammate Mark Streit was the highest scoring defenseman.  Roman Josi of the Nashville Predators also joined during the lockout.  No word on if those players get championship rings (or whatever they hand out).  My guess would be they do.

Like European soccer leagues, the Swiss league has a relegation process at the end of each season that is basically the exact opposite of the standard playoffs.  The four teams who do not make the playoffs square off against each other with the loser moving on to the next round for a final series.  The loser of that then takes on the champion B league team for the final spot in the top league.

Sure enough this year top league team Raperswil lost and will be relegated.  Lausanne will be promoted.