EHC OLTEN BORN TO WIN - A partnership on the road to success

EHC Olten is the most important ice hockey club between the major centres in the Mittelland and plays successfully in the Swiss League. The traditional club celebrated its 85th anniversary last year, and EHCO has been represented in Switzerland's top two leagues without interruption since 1970. And acts as a regional ambassador with supra-regional appeal. EHC Olten moves people - and is proud of its hockey-loving region. On average, over 3,500 spectators attend the 30 or so home games, including playoffs. At weekend games, the Kleinholz stadium is the largest youth meeting place in the Mittelland. At the same time, Eishockey Club Olten AG has grown into an SME with around 50 permanent employees in recent years, as well as employing just as many helpers and freelancers.

For many years, EHC Olten has relied on its car partner BORN Reisen when travelling away from home. Whether travelling to Langenthal or Biasca, Pruntrut or Weinfelden: The team and the two coaches travel in the specially painted and labelled EHCO car from BORN Reisen. Just how fitting this partnership is can be seen on both sides of the car: ‘EHC Olten BORN to Win’ is written in capital letters on one side, BORN 1934 on the other - referring to the year the ice hockey club was founded. In addition to the large Powermouse logo, the car also carries the following message out into Switzerland: ‘E Stadt - e Verein - e Liebi’ In addition, the EHCO, together with BORN, also offers its supporters away fan trips in the car. At very attractive prices, Olten fans can follow their favourite team to away games all over the country. Depending on the outcome of the game, the return journey will be more or less legendary...

But the best place to be is still at home: in the case of EHC Olten, the Kleinholz stadium. The home ground was completely renovated in 2014 and since then has welcomed the numerous spectators with a successful mix of cosy stadium charm with a wooden roof and modern infrastructure, including a large video cube and various catering options and VIP boxes. For example, you can combine attending a game with enjoying a delicious fondue on the EHCO fondue stand with a direct view of the ice rink.

EHCO Auswärtsfahrten

Road trip through Switzerland with Fredrik Söderström

As EHCO head coach, Swede Fredrik Söderström spends a lot of time travelling throughout Switzerland in the BORN Reisen team bus. Here he provides a few insights into his little ‘travel diary’.

In August 2019, we went on a wonderful team outing to Grindelwald and the Jungfraujoch. Top of Europe, what beautiful views! The coach trip alone was great, I got to know a few smaller places along the way - and travelling together is a good way to grow together as a team.

Pictures from my first trip to Ticino, we played in Biasca. Approaching the south of Switzerland step by step, kilometre by kilometre, and then crossing the Gotthard was a special experience.

I always ask a lot of questions on our bus journeys: Where are we? How big is this lake? How high is this mountain? Where exactly in Switzerland does ABBA singer Anni-Frid live? The more you know, the more interesting life is!

Fredrik Söderström, 42, has been head coach at EHC Olten since 2019. It is his first position outside of Scandinavia. He previously worked as a coach in Norway and in his native Sweden. In 2018, Söderström received the ‘European Coach of the Year’ award.

Before the start of the season, we took the club on a visit to EHCO beverage partner Feldschlösschen. At the brewery, we learnt how to brew fine beer and enjoyed a delicious meal. To be successful, a team has to be close. Such excursions make us stronger.

Here we are en route to a game in Visp in Valais. We stopped at this lake for a snack. It was still pleasantly warm here, but the first snow fell that day in my home country of Sweden.