Since Switzerland joined the European elite in 2022 following Russian aggression in Ukraine, results have been difficult to come by. Facing Sweden, Finland and the Czech Republic, the Swiss took a long time to understand how to win against these regulars in the top 6 in the world.
And even more on Swiss soil since in six matches, Switzerland has… six defeats. So obviously, after the silver medal won in Prague, Patrick Fischer and his staff want to offer a victory to the Swiss public.
“We had a good week in Finland in November, apart from the last match which was not good, explains the national coach. It was our wish to have a solid home team to be able to win matches in front of our public. Because until now, we have never won a match during these Swiss Ice Hockey Games, but I am confident with this team which has experience.”
Play well, win, be motivated. It is with these three principles that Switzerland awaits its opponents at the BCF Arena. A Switzerland with solid outlines, made up of players who know the environment, but where Fischer must deal with certain specialties of the calendar such as the Champions League for Geneva and Zurich, or the Spengler Cup at the end of the year for Davos and Fribourg.
“Unfortunately we will not be able to count on Tristan Scherwey who suffered a concussion, specifies Fischer. And Romain Loeffel has a private matter to settle. It will also be a matter of properly managing the ice time of the players who are still involved in the Champions League We also spoke with Friborg and Davos who will play the Spengler Cup at the end of the year.” We know, for example, that Roger Karrer will not play Sunday’s match so as not to be too tired before GSHC travels to Bremerhaven for the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final.
The absence of Romain Loeffel does not help Fischer’s affairs regarding power play. Because we have clearly seen this season in the National League that few Swiss defenders have major responsibilities in the numerical advantage. “It’s a difficult role to lead a power play, comments the coach. We are happy with Loeffel, Kukan and Dominik Egli who know how to do it, even more Roman Josi and Janis Moser in the NHL, but yes, we see that “In Switzerland these situations are often played out by foreigners. So we hope that there will be young people who will succeed in asserting themselves.”
In full preparation for the World Championship in Herning next May, the Swiss vision still goes further today. Director of national teams, Lars Weibel has a longer-term vision. The Zougois is also thinking about 2026 and the World Cup in Zurich and Fribourg: “With Patrick, we are trying to give ice time to the next generation, so that they have ice time against great nations.”
At the staff level too, Switzerland will try some experiments, since the main assistant of “Fischi”, the Swede Tommy Albelin, is today assistant to Patrick Roy within the New York Islanders in the NHL. In the event of early elimination or non-qualification for the play-offs, Albelin would join the Swiss team in Denmark.
“We miss Tommy, that’s for sure,” admits Patrick Fischer. “We’re happy that he has this opportunity to be part of an NHL organization. We stay in touch, but we don’t know if he’ll be able to come. We has a plan B, we know who will come if he’s not there It’s certain that Marcel Jenni will be there Same thing for Michael Liniger And we’ll see how it goes for Tommy. having to juggle NHL players, now we have to do it with an NHL coach (he smiles).”
