La Chaux-de-Fonds vs Bern

HCC opened the scoring through Gilian Kohler at 7:00 of the first period, converting after Emilien Molin and Luka Burkhalter worked the puck through the neutral zone. Bern levelled three minutes later when Patrick Mottard beat the goaltender unassisted.

Teodors Andersons restored the home side's lead at 15:00 with help from Joshua Loosli and Chris Pinana, only for Simon Kindschi to equalise for Bern at 18:00 off a Miro Aaltonen assist, sending the teams to the break level at 2-2.

Bern took their first lead 18 minutes into the second period when Leevi Moser scored from Fabio Ritzmann's pass. But HCC hit back inside 60 seconds — Mattia Loosli capitalised on a loose puck to make it 3-3 at 19:00 heading into the second intermission.

Robin Damiani put La Chaux-de-Fonds ahead for the third time at 52:00 (13:00 of P3), assisted by Andersons. The lead held until the 55th minute, when Dionicio tied it at 4-4 with help from Dario Serkins and Mischa Alge.

With regulation ending 4-4, overtime lasted barely one shift. Dionicio carried the puck through centre ice and fed Aaltonen, who snapped a shot past the HCC goalie just 40 seconds into the extra period.

Dionicio's tying goal at 54:00 of the third period. La Chaux-de-Fonds had led three separate times — 1-0, 2-1 and 4-3 — and were nine minutes from a notable scalp. Dionicio's blast from the blue line not only erased HCC's final lead but allowed Bern to carry momentum into overtime, where the same combination decided it.

Raphaël Dionicio (Bern) — The most influential player on the ice. Assisted Kindschi's first-period equaliser, scored the crucial 4-4 leveller in the third, and set up Aaltonen's overtime winner. A goal and two assists in a pre-season performance that underscored why Bern invested in him.

Miro Aaltonen (Bern) — One goal (the OT winner) plus an assist on Kindschi's goal. His chemistry with Dionicio decided the game in extra time.

Teodors Andersons (La Chaux-de-Fonds) — A goal and an assist for the Latvian forward, who was involved in HCC's second and third tallies.

Robin Damiani (La Chaux-de-Fonds) — Scored HCC's fourth goal that briefly restored their lead in the third period. His finish from Andersons' feed was the cleanest strike of the night.

The page-level stats show each period finished level (2-2, 1-1, 1-1) before overtime. This pattern reflects a genuinely even contest: neither side ever held a two-goal cushion. HCC led three times but could not shake a Bern side that, despite being early in their pre-season buildup, showed the deeper roster's ability to respond. Bern's first period featured goals inside four minutes of each HCC strike, underscoring their refusal to let the underdogs build momentum.

Bern had already played once — a 3-1 win at EHC Olten on 11 August — giving them slightly sharper game fitness. La Chaux-de-Fonds were playing their first pre-season fixture.

For SC Bern, two wins from two pre-season games — 3-1 vs Olten and 5-4 in OT here — with the offence generating eight goals across 80-plus minutes. They face the SCL Tigers next on 20 August at Campus Perspektiven in Huttwil.

For HC La Chaux-de-Fonds, the reigning Swiss League champions, an encouraging showing against top-tier opposition. Their Swiss League regular season opens on 18 September at HC Sierre. Next up: a pre-season trip to EHC Visp on 18 August.

A statement pre-season performance from La Chaux-de-Fonds, who matched a National League side for 60 minutes and were undone only by an early-overtime strike from one of Bern's most experienced imports. Bern's resilience — equalising three times before winning it — will please head coach Jussi Tapola more than the final scoreline itself.

This match was played at Patinoire des Mélèzes, La Chaux-de-Fonds. Overtime was 3-on-3.