Sierre took on Ticino Rockets in a club friendly match on Thursday evening. The hosts won 5:3 after ninety minutes of play. It was the latest in a series of warm-up games for both sides ahead of the new campaign.
Things came to a head early enough for Sierre to establish rhythm. They worked a short corner in the opening exchanges and pressed forward. Ticino Rockets did not travel to make up the numbers in terms of defensive solidity, and paid for it.
By then the score was moving in one direction. Sierre kept finding space between the lines, while the visitors struggled to string passes together. The game opened up further as the half progressed.
To be fair, Ticino Rockets showed flashes of intent. They won the second period and looked more organised when they had the puck. But they were left exposed at the back when Sierre broke quickly.
The final period saw both sides trade chances. Sierre added two more goals to put the result beyond doubt, though Ticino Rockets pulled one back late on. The clean-sheet run came to an end for the hosts, but the three-goal margin told the story.
Looking at the recent record, Sierre have been mixed in form. They beat Laj-Szo-de-Fon 5:0 on April fourth before losing 3:4 to Olten on August fourteenth. Ticino Rockets have struggled more heavily, losing 8:3 to Olten on August eighteenth and 6:2 to Visp thirteen days ago.
And here's the thing about friendlies: the table does not move, but patterns emerge. Sierre looked sharper in transition, while Ticino Rockets still have work to do in their own half. The scoreline was not close, even if the second period was competitive.