Club Friendly· Season 2026
EHC Biel-Bienne scored twice in the final 51 seconds — a Mark Sever power-play winner and a Dominic Zwerger empty-netter — to beat Olten 5-3 in a pre-season friendly at Eisbahn Kleinholz.
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow It Unfolded
First period — Olten rallies from early deficit
Biel struck first. Captain Gaëtan Haas slipped behind the Olten defence and beat Phileas Lachat just 89 seconds in, assisted by Dario Trutmann (1:29). Olten responded through Guillaume Asselin, who finished a counter-attack set up by Jayce Hawryluk to level at 6:45. Stanislav Horansky then tipped the game in Olten's favour with a power-play goal at 10:08, redirecting a Gian Janett feed after Hawryluk drew a second assist. Olten led 2-1 at the first break.
Second period — Biel equalises, Olten retakes lead
Biel started the middle frame stronger. Jérémie Bärtschi equalised at 28:16, converting a play from Guillaume Kaser and Nolan Cattin. Lachat made several sharp saves to keep the scores level. Olten regained the lead at 32:48 when Fadri Riatsch deflected Dominic Weder's point shot past Viktor Östlund, with Joel Kurt adding the secondary assist. The period ended 3-2 to the hosts.
Third period — Biel's late surge
Biel's Jonah Neuenschwander set up Dario Trutmann 26 seconds into the third (40:26) to make it 3-3. Both teams pushed for a winner. Olten's Dominic Weder took a hooking penalty at 55:47, and Jayce Hawryluk was called for tripping at 57:26, handing Biel a two-man advantage. Mark Sever — who played for Olten in the 2024-25 season — made them pay, wiring a one-timer from the right circle past Lachat at 59:09 with assists from Bärtschi and Trutmann. Lachat was pulled for the extra skater, and Zwerger iced the game with an empty-net goal at 59:50, set up by Haas and Bärtschi.
The Turning Point
Biel's 5-on-3 power-play with 2:34 remaining. After killing a first penalty, Olten could not survive the second. Sever's goal from a Bärtschi feed was the decisive blow — the first time Biel had led since the opening minute. Olten's inability to stay disciplined in the final five minutes proved costly after a gritty performance.
Key Performers
Dario Trutmann (Biel) — One goal (40:26) and two primary assists (Haas's opener, Sever's GWG). Involved in three of Biel's five goals. Player of the match.
Mark Sever (Biel) — Scored the game-winner on the 5-on-3 power-play with a clinical finish top-corner at 59:09. His second goal of the 2026 pre-season.
Phileas Lachat (Olten) — Made several point-blank saves to keep Olten ahead in the second period. Finished with no chance on Sever's one-timer but could not prevent the defeat.
Guillaume Asselin (Olten) — Scored the equaliser and helped spark Olten's first-period turnaround after a slow start.
By the Numbers — Interpreted
Biel outscored Olten 3-0 in the third period despite the period being the most evenly contested in terms of open play. Olten led for nearly 30 minutes of game time but managed only one shot on goal in the final five minutes of regulation. Biel converted 1 of 3 power-play opportunities (33.3%) while Olten scored once on four chances (25%). Shots on goal are not available from the official game centre, but Biel's sustained third-period pressure — culminating in the 5-on-3 winner — tells the story of a National League side imposing its depth on a short-handed Swiss League opponent.
What It Means
Biel extended their pre-season winning streak to three matches following their 6-2 Red Bulls Salute final victory over EC Red Bull Salzburg on 22 August. Olten, playing their sixth pre-season fixture with a depleted roster, fell to 4-2 in exhibition play. Olten's next friendly is at home against EHC Arosa on Saturday 29 August (19:00). Biel continue their build-up with further pre-season fixtures ahead of the 2026-27 National League campaign.
Verdict
Biel's superior power-play depth and third-period composure decided a game Olten had controlled for long stretches. The Swiss League hosts, missing half a dozen regulars, pushed a top-flight side to the wire and will take confidence from the performance. For Biel, Sever's late winner and Trutmann's all-round display suggest their forward group is rounding into form ahead of the season proper.
Match Events
Olten and Biel have met 3 times — Olten won 1, Biel won 2, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2017. Biel leads the head-to-head with 2 victories from 3 meetings. A combined 23 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 7.67 per match (10 for the home side, 13 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 3 matches (100%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 3 games (100%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. The highest-scoring encounter finished 3–6 in 2025.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 27 Aug 2026