Dear Loyal and Valued Fan,
For this second edition of the Word from the President I would like to start with the good sporting news of the week that we have announced on our website and social networks.
We are extremely excited to have reached an agreement with Noah Rod and Eliot Antionetti to extend their contracts on a long-term basis. This is a powerful sign for our team and confirms that these two young players, trained in Geneva, will continue to have a significant impact on the team’s identity and leadership. We also announced the retirement of Mike Santorelli after a long professional career. Mike has found it difficult to recover from his injury and wishes to be closer to his family. We are considering various options to replace him with a player of high skill and above all who has a character that is in keeping with the spirit and values of our team.
Concerning our organisational structure, I am delighted to announce the appointment of Ms. Agnès Chaudon as Financial and Administrative Director. Agnès will start on 1 November and will lead the office team to implement the strategy set by the Board of Directors. She will work closely with Mike Gillis and myself. Agnès has significant experience in managing financial and administrative teams.
Agnès is very enthusiastic about the club’s project and the ambitions articulated by Mike and myself. She decided to leave her current position as she wants to join us on our journey that will lead us to: winning titles, providing the best sporting experience in Geneva, becoming a more and more significant part of the daily lives of our fans, building a new rink, contributing in a meaningful way to our community and developing our charitable, social and community initiatives, encouraging education and the development of young talents from our academy through to the professional team, and living our passion for hockey to the fullest.
This week we have also celebrated the retirement of Professor Daniel Fritschy. He has been a core member of the team’s medical staff, with his colleagues Professor Jacques Menetrey and Doctor Jean-Luc Ziltener, for over 10 years. Professor Fritschy has always treated the players with the greatest of care and affection, like members of his own family. We are delighted that he has accepted our gift of season tickets so that he can remain amongst us as a member of the Genève-Servette family. On behalf of the Board, the players and their families we would like to say “thank you, Doctor”! You will now be able to relax and watch the matches!
The team is starting this new weekend of games against Bern and Zug with great passion and confidence after our recent succession of victories. We still feel we have not yet been able to fulfil our potential, as Chris has had to contend with a number of injuries to start the season. The standings are very tight from top to bottom with only 6 points separating 1st place from 9th place, which will keep the pressure on for all teams in the league.
Our Family Zone continues to develop, with activities starting outside the main entrance to the rink at 6.15pm and in the Family Zone Tribune in Sections E and F of the Main Tribune. This is just one more reason to come as a family and have fun with us during a memorable evening at the rink. Send us a message at info@gshc.ch if you would like to learn more about our Family Zone and Family Packs.