DAMEN HOCKEY CLUB

Information on DHC Langenthal

 

About the City and Country

Langenthal is located in central Switzerland in the canton (province) of Bern
In is about a 45 minute drive to the city of Bern which is the capital of Switzerland
Langenthal is a small city with around 14,000 inhabitants
Langenthal has one indoor hockey arena (where the team plays)
Berner Mitteland, the region in which Langenthal sits, is characterized by rolling hills, not huge mountains
However, drive about an hour from Langenthal and you would find yourself in the Alps
The country has four official languages (German, French, Italian and Romanish)
Langenthal lies in the German speaking part of Switzerland, however many people there will also be able to understand a little French, English or both
Switzerland also experiences four seasons, corresponding to those in Canada and the northern US
The country is connected by an extensive network of railways, which are easy to use and can be relatively inexpensive
Switzerland is NOT part of the European Union (EU) and therefore has and will maintain its own system of currency (Swiss Franc) and will not convert to using the Euro
Things in Switzerland are quite expensive by north American standards

About the Team and the Season

The club was founded on 26 November, 1986
Langenthal has two women’s teams; an first team (which competes in the B division) and a second team that competes in the lowest division (C)
In the 92/93, 93/94, 07/08 seasons Langenthal were the National Champions
The season consists of about 20-25 regular season games and there is a final playoff weekend in March
The team that ends up in first place at the end of the season are the Swiss Champions
The last place team in the A division switches with the first place team in the B division for the following season
The team is picked on the basis of skill level, not age (therefore team members range in age from 15-30yrs)
All teams in the A division are entitled to have three foreign players, while those in the B division may have two (Langenthal will play in the A division for the 2004/2005 season)
DHC Langenthal is very well run. They practice twice a week and play once or twice a week and also have a couple of training weekends prior to the start of the season (beginning of end of August)
All ice surfaces are Olympic size
Sometimes the rinks on which you will play are outdoors or partially covered
Games are three twenty minute periods stop time

What DHC Langenthal Offers its Foreign Players

One plane ticket (return; max. amount of SFr. 1500.--) from where you live to Switzerland
A job as an Au pair (nanny) with a family with which you will also live (salary 650SF/month)
The Au pair family provides sufficient medical and accidental insurance in accordance with Swiss legislation
All training camps and team fees will be paid for by the organization (all other players on the team must pay to play)
A monetary bonus at the end of the season based on the team’s overall finish

What to Bring

All equipment that you will think you need (including sticks and tape). The team DOES NOT supply equipment and it is extremely expensive to buy in Switzerland (i.e. 120 and more dollars a stick)
Warm clothes as it will be winter
Pictures or books from back home – people are generally very interested in where you come from
Valid passport
Driver’s license-can be international, but not necessary
Supplementary health insurance if you plan to travel abroad while you are here

Why Go?

This is an excellent opportunity for anyone who wants to see a different part of the world and play hockey at the same time
Great way to meet new people, maybe learn a new language and see how other people live

Questions/Comments

I hope this little information package has given you a better understanding about what kind of opportunities are waiting for you if you choose, or are given the opportunity to play hockey overseas. Please feel free to contact me at anytime if you would like further information about DHC, or if you have any questions about Switzerland in general. I would be more than happy to help you in any way that I can ( Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist gegen Spambots geschützt! JavaScript muss aktiviert werden, damit sie angezeigt werden kann. ).

 

The Next Step

If you are really serious about playing for this club next year please send Hans-Ulrich Jau, (club President), and I a hockey related resume that describes your career and statistics to this point. If possible we would also like to see you in action, so any video footage of you playing would also be greatly appreciated
(please send that to Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist gegen Spambots geschützt! JavaScript muss aktiviert werden, damit sie angezeigt werden kann. .)

Contacts:

Hans-Ulrich Jau, Neufeldweg 6, CH - 3373 Heimenhausen
Phone 0041 62 961 17 25 , Cellphone 0041 78 897 95 47;
E-Mail: Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist gegen Spambots geschützt! JavaScript muss aktiviert werden, damit sie angezeigt werden kann.

DHC Website: www.dhclangenthal.ch

Swiss women’s hockey website: www.frauenhockey.ch

Swiss Consolates in Canada:
This is where you would apply and pick up your visa after the club indicates that they have found you a job as an Au pair.
Toronto: (416) 593-5371
Vancouver: (604) 684-2231

Foreign Players in Langenthal

1992/93	Hunter Andria, Canada
	Chalupnik Heidi, Canada
	Hildebrandt Michaela, Deutschland
1993/94	Whyte Sandra, USA
	Forbes Mary-Ann, Canada
	Hildebrandt Michaela, Deutschland
1994/95	Robert Lynn, Canada
	Saha Sari, Finland
1995/96	Falconer Christine, Canada
	Reid Kim, USA
1996/97	Klinkosz Cora, Canada
1997/98	Hokanson Kim, USA
1998/99	Etele Christine, Canada
1999/2000	Etele Christine, Canada
	Simson Amy, USA
	Parent Stephanie, Canada
2000/2001	Moors Amanda, Canada
2001/2002	Denner Rachel, Canada
	Bobin Amber, USA
	Tichonov Tanja, Russland
2002/2003	Denner Rachel, Canada
	Pressenger Amanda, Canada
	McLeod Fiona, Canada
2003/2004	Murao Lindsay, Canada
	Sandahl Sanya, USA
2004/2005	Brooke Sharrard
	Sarah Clark
	Sanya Sandahl
2005/2006	Sara McDonald
	Andrea Patry
	Julia Ortenzio