{{Infobox Pro hockey team | team = EVZ Academy | current = 2021–22 Swiss League season | bg_color = background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#00529B 5px solid; border-bottom:#9B8F2C 5px solid; | text_color = #000000 | logo = EVZ Academy logo.png | logo_size = 230px | city = Zug, Switzerland | league = Swiss League <br>2016–2022 | conference = | division = | founded = {{Start date|2016}} | operated = | folded = | arena = Academy Arena | colors = {{Color box|#00529B}} {{Color box|#FFFFFF}} {{Color box|#9B8F2C}} | owner = | gm = Reto Kläy | coach = Roger Hansson | captain = | affiliates = EV Zug | parentclub = | farmclub = | website = [https://www.thehockeyacademy.ch/de/ hockeyacademy.ch] <!---History---> | name1 = EVZ Academy | dates1 = 2016–present |dissolved=2022}} '''EVZ Academy''' was a Swiss professional ice hockey team who play in Zug, Switzerland. They have played since the 2016–17 season in the Swiss League (SL), the second tier of the main professional ice hockey league in Switzerland, behind the National League, it was the primary affiliate to EV Zug.
==History== The club name is derived from Zug's junior program "The Hockey Academy" and was founded with the purpose to serve as an affiliate club to shareholder and National League club, EV Zug.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.nzz.ch/sport/eishockey/ev-zug-stellt-antrag-fuer-nlb-farmteam-1.18656290| title = Zug makes application for NLB team | website = nzz.ch | language = German | date = 2 December 2015 | accessdate = 2 December 2015}}</ref> They submitted an application to play in the National League B and were permitted to play in the 2016–17 season.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.watson.ch/Sport/Eishockey/985418969-%C2%ABEVZ-Academy%C2%BB-und-%C2%ABHCB-Ticino-Rockets%C2%BB-erg%C3%A4nzen-ab-n%C3%A4chster-Saison-die-NLB | title = EVZ Academy and HCB Ticino Rockets will be joining the NLB next year |website=Watson| language = German | date = April 2, 2016 | accessdate = April 2, 2016}}</ref>
EVZ Academy plays its home games in the Zug's training rink, Academy Arena, as well as occasionally in the Bossard Arena, home to EV Zug. In their debut season, EVZ Academy collected just 10 wins in 48 games to finish in 10th place.
In the 2018–19 season, Jason O'Leary replaced inaugural head coach Stefan Hedlund, who was promoted to EV Zug's coaching staff. Having won the Swiss League in 2017 with SC Langenthal, O'Leary led Academy to their second playoff berth, claiming 8th position before losing to regular season champions HC La Chaux-de-Fonds.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.sihf.ch/de/game-center/swiss-league/#/standing/rank/asc/page/0/2019/3174/All | title = 2018-19 SL table | publisher = SIHF.com | date = 2018-05-04 | accessdate = 2018-05-04}}</ref>
At the conclusion of the season, O'Leary left to coach top flight DEL club Iserlohn Roosters, and he was replaced by Roger Hansson, as Academy's third head coach.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://swisshockeynews.ch/index.php/shn/12-swiss-ice-hockey/nlb/14546-evz-academy-has-found-their-new-head-coach-in-roger-hansson | title = EVZ Academy has found their new head coach in Roger Hansson | website = swisshockeynews.ch | date = 20 March 2019 | accessdate = 20 March 2019}}</ref>
After the 2021–22 season, EVZ Academy was dissolved, as EV Zug could not comply with the new regulations of the Swiss League AG and thus withdrew it. In the future, the EVZ will focus mainly on the U16 to U20 range. By 2022, EVZ Academy had released 50 players, 16 of whom played in the National League in the 2021/22 season and another 22 players in other Swiss League teams.
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.thehockeyacademy.ch/de/ EVZ Academy official website]
{{Nationalliga B}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:EVZ Academy}} Category:Ice hockey teams in Switzerland Category:Ice hockey clubs established in 2016 Category:Zug Category:Sport in the canton of Zug