"I'm proud of Josh Holden's development as a coach"

Even after a 4-0 defeat against Davos and Zug's elimination in the play-off quarter-finals for the first time, Dan Tangnes is still the gentleman the 46-year-old Norwegian has become known as. Calm, composed and analytical, he looks back on his seven years in Switzerland. Only once does his voice falter and a few tears well up in Tangnes' eyes: when he talks about his family.

When Tangnes came to Zug from Sweden in 2018, he was a largely unknown quantity. Now, after two championship titles and a cup win, he is returning to be closer to his wife and daughter. His successor in Zug will be his former assistant Michael Liniger, while another of Tangnes' pupils, Josh Holden, will be at the helm in Davos. On Thursday evening, he talks again about various topics.

Dan Tangnes on his words to Josh Holden on the ice after the game:

"I told him I was happy for him. And that they beat us with our own game. Chapeau! And that we'll talk in more detail later. There's not really much more to say at that moment."

On the development of coaches who were his assistants:

"That's part of a coach's job. My job is to coach people. It makes me particularly happy with those who worked most closely with me and then moved on to bigger clubs, roles and more responsibility. Today, one of them has stepped out of the shadows (Holden). It makes me proud to see how his team performed and how he developed as a coach. Of course it hurts to be knocked out of the playoffs, but if I'm going to lose to someone, at least I'm going to lose to him. He's a really good friend."

His current feelings:

"It's the same feeling as every time a season comes to an end and you're eliminated. Emptiness, disappointment, frustration and a big emotional hole. It's not the ending I had planned and hoped for. At the same time, maybe it's a good thing for the organization. The time was ripe for a change. We lost to a much, much better team. It's a good time for a fresh start, for me and especially for Zug."

Reasons for the quarter-final exit:

"I think there are different reasons. Now is not the time for in-depth analysis or excuses. We've had a season with highs and big lows. That was also evident in these quarter-finals. We didn't have a strong foundation to fall back on. We lost to a hungry, disciplined team that is clearly on a mission."

The legacy he leaves behind in Switzerland:

"Difficult, that's for others to judge. The titles stand out, of course. I think I've made Zug a better team. I'm proud that we overcame the hurdle after 23 years and became champions again. We made controversial decisions such as giving up the Swiss League team and focusing on the juniors. We were pioneers, perhaps also for other clubs. I think that was not only good for Zug, but also for Swiss ice hockey."

What he learned in Switzerland:

"Oh, so much. I made a lot of connections and friendships. I got to know a new culture and had to adapt. In general, I can say that I fell in love with this country. It's like always in life: seven years is a long time. You get seven years older, wiser, with beautiful and hard experiences. But I hope it's a 'goodbye' and not a 'goodbye' and that I will return one day."

What he is most looking forward to:

"At the moment? It's hard to say. Life goes on, new challenges await me. It's hard to focus on that at the moment. (pauses and struggles with the words) My family. I'm looking forward to spending more time with them again. The last year in particular has been tough, my daughter is growing up somewhere else where I rarely see her. I'm really looking forward to being part of her daily life again."