Lausanne HC
Professional ice hockey club based in Lausanne, Switzerland, competing in the National League.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Lausanne HC, also known as Lausanne Hockey Club or LHC, is a professional ice hockey club based in Lausanne in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland. The team competes in the National League, the country's top-level professional ice hockey competition, and plays its home games at the Vaudoise Aréna. The club is one of Switzerland's older hockey organizations, having been established in 1922. The club's history has been defined by repeated movement between Switzerland's top division and its second tier, periods of financial uncertainty, and a long-term effort to establish itself among the country's leading professional teams. During its early years, Lausanne played at Chalet-à-Gobet in the hills above the city. In 1938 it moved to Montchoisi, and in 1941 it merged with Star HC to form Montchoisi Hockey Club. The organization restored the Lausanne Hockey Club name in 1949, shortly before entering the national league structure under its original identity. Lausanne first experienced promotion to the top division in the 1950s. It reached the highest level in 1957 after a period in Nationalliga B, but remained there only until 1961. The club then spent much of the following two decades in the second tier. A notable return to the top flight came in 1978, when Lausanne defeated HC Davos in front of more than 7,000 spectators to secure promotion. That spell lasted three seasons. Following relegation in 1981, the club eventually dropped to the Swiss first league and moved its home operations to the International Ice Center at Malley, commonly known as CIG de Malley. The late 1980s and 1990s brought renewed sporting ambition but also serious institutional pressure. Lausanne reached the second-tier finals in 1989 and regained promotion to Nationalliga B. In 1992 its survival was threatened by bankruptcy, although the club avoided relegation to the first league. It repeatedly contested promotion campaigns during the 1990s. In 1995, Lausanne defeated the GCK Lions 8–0 in the decisive game of the promotion final, but the club was relegated again after the 1995–96 season. A sustained second-tier rebuilding period culminated in the 2000–01 season, when Lausanne won the Nationalliga B championship and defeated HC La Chaux-de-Fonds in six promotion matches to return to the top division for 2001–02. The club was relegated again after the 2004–05 season. During the following years it made several unsuccessful attempts to return to the top level, including promotion-series defeats against EHC Biel in 2008–09 and 2009–10. Ownership and financing became important parts of the club's development. In 2007, Barry Alter and Ken Lockett were presented as majority owners during a period of financial difficulty. The ownership group was also associated with former coach Jim Koleff and businessman Hugh Quennec. In 2016, American businessman Ken Stickney acquired a majority stake from Quennec. Lausanne's next major sporting breakthrough came in 2012–13. After a slow start, the team won its seventh second-tier championship by defeating EHC Olten in the playoff final, then beat the SCL Tigers in six promotion matches. The result restored Lausanne to the top division for the 2013–14 season. In its second season back in the National League A, the club averaged 6,711 spectators per game, placing third in league attendance and demonstrating the strength of its local following. The team has also undergone several coaching changes during its modern top-flight era. Heinz Ehlers was dismissed in April 2016 after Lausanne missed the playoffs, and Daniel Ratushny succeeded him. Ratushny guided the team to fourth place in the 2016–17 regular season, although Lausanne was swept by HC Davos in the quarter-finals. After a difficult beginning to 2017–18, Ratushny was dismissed in October 2017. Yves Sarault initially took over on an interim basis, before John Fust replaced him in February 2018. Venue development has accompanied the club's sporting growth. Lausanne played at CIG de Malley from 1984 to 2017. During construction of a replacement facility, it used the temporary 2.0 Malley arena in 2017–18, a 6,700-seat venue described as the world's largest temporary ice hockey arena. The new arena opened in September 2019 and was named Vaudoise Aréna through a sponsorship arrangement with Swiss insurer Vaudoise. In the 2024–25 season, Lausanne finished first in the National League regular-season standings for the first time in its history. Although it did not win the subsequent playoffs, the regular-season result represented a significant competitive milestone for the club.
History
Lausanne Hockey Club was founded in 1922 and developed into one of Switzerland's established ice hockey organizations. Its first sixteen years were spent at Chalet-à-Gobet, after which the club moved to Montchoisi in 1938. A merger with Star HC in 1941 produced Montchoisi Hockey Club. On 6 November 1949, the organization adopted the Lausanne Hockey Club name again, establishing the identity under which it entered national competition. Lausanne's early competitive history alternated between the two principal levels of Swiss hockey. The team was relegated to Nationalliga B in 1954, returned to Nationalliga A in 1957, and remained in the top division until 1961. It then spent approximately seventeen years in the second tier before earning promotion again in 1978. The promotion was secured with an 8–4 victory over HC Davos before more than 7,000 spectators. Lausanne spent three seasons at the highest level but was relegated in 1981 after the death of a player in a car accident affected the organization. It remained in Nationalliga B from 1981 to 1984, then fell to the first league. The move to the International Ice Center at Malley accompanied this lower point in the club's history. Lausanne returned briefly to Nationalliga B in 1985–86, dropped back to the first league, reached the second-tier final in 1989, and regained Nationalliga B status. The club's finances became a major concern in 1992, when bankruptcy threatened its continued existence and the team narrowly avoided a further sporting relegation. Lausanne continued to pursue promotion during the 1990s. It lost a 1993–94 promotion final to Rapperswil, then defeated the GCK Lions 8–0 in the decisive game of the 1994–95 promotion series. The return to the top division was short-lived, however, and the club went back to Nationalliga B after the 1995–96 campaign. A longer rebuilding phase eventually produced the 2000–01 second-tier title. Lausanne led much of the regular season, won the championship, and defeated HC La Chaux-de-Fonds in six promotion games. The club therefore returned to the top division for 2001–02, but another relegation followed in 2004–05. Lausanne then lost two promotion series to EHC Biel, in 2008–09 and 2009–10, each decided in seven games. In April 2007, Barry Alter and Ken Lockett were introduced as new majority owners as the club sought to address financial difficulties. The ownership group also included former coach Jim Koleff and had links to Hugh Quennec, who was involved with Genève-Servette HC. In February 2016, Stickney acquired the majority stake from Quennec. The club's successful 2012–13 campaign marked a decisive modern turning point. Lausanne won its seventh Nationalliga B championship by defeating EHC Olten in the playoff final. It then beat the SCL Tigers in six games to gain promotion, returning to the top division for 2013–14. The team's popularity was evident in 2014–15, when it averaged 6,711 spectators per game and ranked third in league attendance. Coaching changes shaped the following seasons. Heinz Ehlers was released in April 2016 after the team missed the playoffs, and Daniel Ratushny became head coach. His team finished fourth in 2016–17 but was swept by HC Davos in the quarter-finals. Ratushny was dismissed on 11 October 2017 after Lausanne collected 12 points in its first ten games. Former youth coach Yves Sarault initially replaced him and was retained for the season, but John Fust took over on 8 February 2018 when the team remained near the bottom of the standings. Venue changes have been central to Lausanne's modern development. CIG de Malley served as the home rink from 1984 to 2017. While a new arena was being built, Lausanne played in the temporary 2.0 Malley facility during 2017–18. The new arena opened in September 2019 under the sponsored name Vaudoise Aréna. In 2024–25, Lausanne achieved its strongest regular-season result by finishing first in the National League standings for the first time. The club fell short in the playoffs, but the campaign confirmed its progression from a historically fluctuating lower-division organization into a sustained top-level Swiss hockey competitor.
- 2025
First regular-season National League finish
[1]Lausanne finished first in the National League regular-season standings for the first time.
- 2019
Vaudoise Aréna opens
[1]Lausanne moved into the new arena, which opened in September under the Vaudoise Aréna name.
- 2017
Temporary 2.0 Malley arena
[1]The club used the temporary 2.0 Malley venue while its permanent arena was under construction.
- 2016
Change in majority ownership
[1]Ken Stickney acquired the majority of Lausanne's shares from Hugh Quennec.
- 2013
Return to the top division
[1]The club won its seventh second-tier championship and defeated the SCL Tigers to gain promotion.
- 2007
New majority ownership announced
[1]Barry Alter and Ken Lockett were presented as majority owners during a period of financial restructuring.
- 2001
Second-tier championship and promotion
[1]Lausanne won the Nationalliga B championship and defeated HC La Chaux-de-Fonds in the promotion series.
- 1992
Financial crisis
[1]The club faced a bankruptcy threat but avoided relegation to the first league.
- 1984
Move to Malley
[1]After dropping to the first league, the club moved its home base to the International Ice Center at Malley.
- 1978
Promotion after victory over HC Davos
[1]Lausanne defeated HC Davos 8–4 to earn promotion in front of more than 7,000 spectators.
Products and positioning
A leading professional ice hockey club representing Lausanne and the canton of Vaud, with a strong local supporter base and ambitions to compete consistently at the top of Swiss hockey.
Professional ice hockey
National League team
Lausanne HC's principal offering is its professional men's ice hockey team, which competes in the National League, Switzerland's highest domestic division. The team represents Lausanne in league and playoff competition and is the central sporting and commercial expression of the club.
Sports entertainment · 2019
Matchday experience
Home fixtures at Vaudoise Aréna combine professional ice hockey with ticketed live entertainment, supporter culture, hospitality, and arena-based sponsorship exposure. The matchday product is aimed primarily at residents of Lausanne, the canton of Vaud, and surrounding French-speaking Swiss communities.
Sports merchandise
Official merchandise
The club's branded merchandise expresses Lausanne HC's visual identity and gives supporters a way to identify with the team beyond the rink. Typical professional-club merchandise includes jerseys, apparel, accessories, and other supporter items, although a detailed current product catalogue is not specified in the supplied sources.
Brand decisions
2019
Move to Vaudoise ArénaStrategyBackground
The club had used the temporary 2.0 Malley arena while a new permanent facility was being developed.
Action taken
Lausanne moved into the new arena when it opened in September 2019; the facility adopted the Vaudoise Aréna sponsorship name.
Aftermath
The move provided the club with a modern permanent home and strengthened its matchday and commercial platform.
2016
Ken Stickney acquires majority stakeM&ABackground
A change in control followed Lausanne's return to the top division and its continuing effort to consolidate its professional structure.
Action taken
Ken Stickney acquired the majority of Lausanne HC shares from Hugh Quennec.
Aftermath
The club continued in the National League while also changing its head coach later in the year.
2007
Majority ownership restructuringM&ABackground
Lausanne was experiencing financial difficulty and needed support to maintain its professional operations.
Action taken
Barry Alter and Ken Lockett were introduced as majority owners, with the broader ownership group also associated with Jim Koleff and Hugh Quennec.
Aftermath
The club continued competing in the second tier and later pursued multiple promotion campaigns.
Sources2 sources
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