Chaos at HC Ambri-Piotta: DiDomenico's Contract Terminated, Tapola Remains Coach

Swiss hockey club HC Ambri-Piotta has seen a spectacular and sudden end to its cooperation with a key player, while the coach responsible for the conflict has been rewarded with a long-term contract extension. The club announced the immediate termination of the contract with Canadian forward Chris DiDomenico. This decision, announced on Monday, March 3rd, is the culmination of a weeks-long conflict between the 35-year-old player and Finnish coach Jussi Tapola. DiDomenico, who was the team's top scorer in the National League, was excluded from the team in early February. The reason was alleged non-compliance with team rules and questioning of coaching decisions. The club's sporting director, Paolo Duca, admitted the situation was "difficult and painful," but emphasized that the priority is "team cohesion and respect for the coach's role."HC Ambri-Piotta is a club with a long history, founded in 1937 in the canton of Ticino. Although it has never won the Swiss championship, it is known for its loyal fan base and is nicknamed "Leoni" (Lions). For years, it has regularly fought to avoid relegation, and its management has been characterized by instability both on the coaching bench and in the player roster. In contrast to the dismissal of the key player, the club announced the next day, March 4th, the extension of coach Jussi Tapola's contract until the end of the 2028/2029 season. Tapola, who took over in December 2023, has thus received clear backing from the management for his methods. This decision is interpreted as a firm siding with the coaching staff in the conflict with the player. In a statement, the club emphasized that the Finn "has brought a new work culture and clear structures," and the contract extension is meant to ensure "stability and continuity" during a crucial period for the club's future. The situation developed dynamically over recent weeks. The first reports of the conflict emerged in late February, and a few days before the official contract termination, Swiss media, including watson.ch, described the situation at the club as "chaos and a power struggle." They pointed to a divided locker room and questioned why no one wanted to keep the talented DiDomenico. Ultimately, after attempts at mediation, the management concluded that further cooperation was impossible. The club must now face the sporting consequences of this decision during the decisive phase of the season. Ambri is currently in the lower part of the table, battling for a playoff spot or to avoid the relegation playoffs. Furthermore, other important players are on the injured list, including Swede William Strömwall, who received a suspension, and Swiss player Calvin Thürkauf. Coach Tapola will have to find a way to replace the approximately 40 points DiDomenico scored this season.