| Ice hockey in Switzerland | |
|---|---|
 Bern Arena in Switzerland | |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Governing body | Swiss Ice Hockey Federation |
| National team(s) | |
| Registered players | 30,655 [1] |
National competitions | |
International competitions | |
Ice hockey in Switzerland is one of the most popular team sports in the country rivaling football in terms of attendances and TV ratings. [2] [3] [4]
In September 1908, the Swiss Ice Hockey Association became a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. [5] Bellerive would go on to win the first national championship just one year later. Within a decade, the Swiss Ice Hockey Association expanded to 23 distinguished clubs.
In 1922, the Ice Hockey European Championships was hosted in St. Moritz and, two years later, Davos held the first Spengler Cup.
In 1924, the Switzerland men's national ice hockey team participated in the first ice hockey tournament at the 1924 Winter Olympics in Chamonix. Four years later, they won Olympic bronze in the ice hockey tournament at the 1928 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz. The national team also won the 1926 Ice Hockey European Championship and were silver medalists at the 1935 Ice Hockey World Championships and bronze medalists at the 1939 Ice Hockey World Championships.
The Swiss Ice Hockey Federation organizes amateur and professional ice hockey in the country. [6] The Spengler Cup is one of the biggest ice hockey tournaments in all of Switzerland and holds the title of oldest invitational ice hockey tournament in the world, capturing the attention of millions of hockey fans throughout the nation annually. [7]
National League (NL) is the highest professional tier in Swiss men's hockey, called the National League A until 2017. [8] [9] [10] Below the National League are the professional Swiss League, previously called the National League B, followed by the third-tier MySports League. The amateur Regio League comprises the 1. Liga, 2. Liga, 3. Liga, and 4. Liga, which make up the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th levels of Swiss men’s ice hockey respectively. The National League regularly holds the record for highest average attendances of any league outside of North America. During the 2022/23 regular season, the 14 teams achieved an average attendance of more than 7000 spectators per game. [11]
The top women’s hockey league in Switzerland was founded in 1986 as the Leistungsklasse A (LKA; 'Performance Class A'), officially known in French as the Ligue nationale A (LNA) and in Italian as the Lega Nazionale A (LNA). It was renamed as the Swiss Women's Hockey League A (SWHL A) in 2014. In 2019, the league name was shortened to Women's League, the name currently in use, though SWHL A continues to be used for abbreviation by many sources. The EHC Kloten Specials were named the first Swiss Champions in women's ice hockey after winning the inaugural season of the league in 1986–87.
As ice hockey grew in popularity among young women throughout the nation, a second-tier league called the Leistungsklasse B (LKB), was formed in 1988. Additional lower-level leagues were created over time and eventually adopted designations as parts of the SWHL league system. As of 2021 [update] , three national leagues exist below the Women's League: SWHL B, SWHL C, and SWHL D. [12]
The Swiss national team badge is based on the coat of arms of Switzerland and is used on the player jerseys.
Overall International Record: 519-619-125
They have 67 IIHF Championships appearances dating back to 1930. This includes three distinguished second place finishes in 1935, 2013, and 2018. Additionally, they have made eight European Championship appearances, including a first place gold finish in 1921.
The men’s national team boasts a respected twenty Olympic appearances, including bronze medal finishes in 1928 and 1948. [13] [14] [15]
The women's national team has participated in every iteration of the IIHF Women's World Championship since the tournament was officially established in 1990 and have played exclusively in the Top Division since 2007. They have appeared in every women's ice hockey tournament at the Winter Olympics since 2006. In addition, they participated in all six IIHF European Women Championships before the tournament was discontinued after 1995.
The Swiss women's national team boasts a bronze medal from each major international tournament. They won a bronze medal at the 1995 IIHF European Women Championships, the 2012 IIHF Women's World Championship, and in the women's ice hockey tournament at the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Switzerland has produced several global iconic hockey talents that have made it to the NHL level. While not a traditional hockey powerhouse, Switzerland continues to aggressively enforce a continued & growing presence in the NHL, as well as international competition.
Aebischer was a goaltender drafted in the 6th round by the Colorado Avalanche. Although mostly relegated to backup duties for most of his career he was a member of the Stanley Cup winning Avalanche in the 2001 finals. This was notable as he was the first player from Switzerland to win the Stanley Cup. Aebischer also later played for the Montreal Canadiens and the Phoenix Coyotes along with various Swiss teams. [16]
Streit was named the 13th captain in New York Islanders franchise history. This was a major milestone for hockey in Switzerland as Streit was the first Swiss player to be named the captain of an NHL franchise. He has also served as the captain of Team Switzerland at the Winter Olympic Games. [17] Streit was drafted in the ninth round of the 2004 NHL Draft. He also later played with the Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Montreal Canadiens. [18]
Although Hiller went undrafted he was able to have a successful NHL career in which he played in over 400 games. Hiller started his career in Anaheim with the Ducks in 2007. He played in Anaheim for seven years before spending the final two years of his career with the Calgary Flames. [19] [20]
Nino Niederreiter is an NHL forward currently playing for the Winnipeg Jets. Niederreiter made history in the 2010 NHL draft when he was selected fifth overall by the New York Islanders. [21] Although not initially finding much success initially with the Islanders, Niederreiter hit his stride after being traded to the Minnesota Wild for Cal Clutterbuck in 2013 scoring a career high 25 goals in the 2016-2017. [22]
After being drafted in the second round of the 2008 NHL draft by Nashville he made his debut in 2011. Josi made some history in the 2013 World Championships by becoming the first player to win MVP and Best Defenseman for Switzerland in the history of this tournament in route to helping Switzerland earn a Silver Medal. Josi has since played in two NHL All Star games and been named captain of the Predators. [23]
Meier is among the emerging young group of highly touted Swiss to enter the NHL in recent years. Meier was the ninth overall pick in the 2015 NHL draft by the San Jose Sharks. He was able to crack the NHL in the 2016 season and scored a career high 30 goals and 66 points in the 2018-2019 season. [24]
After being a major success playing in the QMJHL for Halifax, Hischier was considered a top prospect in his draft class and was ranked number two out of North American Skaters. However, Hischier was considered the best overall player by many top NHL scouts, so it wasn’t too surprising when New Jersey selected him first overall in the 2017 NHL Draft.
[25] Hischier broke the record for highest drafted Swiss player previously held by Niederreiter when he was selected first overall by the Devils in the 2017 NHL draft. [26]
There have been other hockey players of Swiss nationality to have played in the NHL recently and in the past. Some of these include Martin Gerber, Raphael Diaz, Yannick Weber, Luca Sbisa, Reto Berra, Sven Andrighetto, Kevin Fiala, Denis Malgin, Sven Bärtschi, Gaëtan Haas, Dean Kukan, Joel Vermin, Christoph Bertschy, Mirco Müller, Gilles Senn, Calvin Thürkauf and Jonas Siegenthaler. [27] [28] [29] [30]
David Aebischer is a Swiss former professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League with the Colorado Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens and the Phoenix Coyotes. He was a member of the 2001 Stanley Cup champion Avalanche team, becoming the first Swiss native to achieve the feat. Aebischer also played several seasons in his native Switzerland with HC Fribourg-Gottéron, HC Lugano and the Rapperswil-Jona Lakers of the National League (NL).
Mark Thomas Streit is a Swiss former professional ice hockey defenceman. He was formerly the captain of both the New York Islanders and the Swiss national team. Streit was one of the few swingmen in the NHL who could play both as a defenceman and as a forward. He was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2020.
Schlittschuh Club Bern is a professional ice hockey team based in Bern, Switzerland. They play in the National League (NL), the top tier of the Swiss hockey league system. For the 18th year in a row, the club is the most attended ice hockey team in Europe for the 2018–19 regular season, averaging 16,290 spectators.
Nino Niederreiter is a Swiss professional ice hockey winger for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected fifth overall by the New York Islanders in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, making him the highest-drafted Swiss hockey player in NHL history at the time. Niederreiter made his NHL debut with the Islanders early in the 2010–11 season before being returned to his junior club, the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Prior to coming to North America, Niederreiter had played in the junior system of the Swiss team HC Davos and appeared in three playoff games for the senior club in 2010.
Roman Josi is a Swiss professional ice hockey defenceman and captain of the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL). Josi was drafted 38th overall by the Predators in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.
Benjamin Conz is a Swiss professional ice hockey goaltender who currently plays for HC Ambrì-Piotta of the National League (NL). He was eligible for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft and 2010 NHL Entry Draft, but went undrafted, being drafted 185th overall in the 2010 KHL Junior Draft by SKA St. Petersburg instead.
The 2010–11 New York Islanders season was the 39th season in franchise history.
Michaela Matejová is a Slovak retired ice hockey defenseman and former member of the Slovak national ice hockey team.
Phoebe Stänz is a Swiss ice hockey forward and member of the Swiss national ice hockey team, currently playing with Leksands IF Dam of the Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL). She played college ice hockey with the Yale Bulldogs and her senior career has been played in the SDHL and Swiss Women's League.
Sarah Forster is a Swiss ice hockey player and member of the Swiss national team who played in the now defunct Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) with the Metropolitan Riveters. A three-time Olympian, she won a bronze medal with Switzerland in the women’s ice hockey tournament at the 2014 Winter Olympics and competed in the women’s ice hockey tournament at the 2018 Winter Olympics and the women’s ice hockey tournament at the 2022 Winter Olympics. Forster has participated in seven IIHF Women's World Championships during 2012 to 2021, and won a bronze medal at the 2012 tournament.
Anna Kilponen is a Finnish ice hockey defenceman, currently playing in the Naisten Liiga (NSML) with the Ilves Tampere. She played four seasons of college ice hockey in the NCAA Division I, two seasons with the North Dakota Fighting Hawks and two seasons with the Quinnipiac Bobcats. Following her college career, she has played in the Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL) with Linköping HC, in the Zhenskaya Hockey League (ZhHL) with the KRS Vanke Rays, in the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) with the Metropolitan Riveters, and in the Swiss Women's League with the ZSC Lions Frauen.
Fanny Victoria Camia Rask is a Swedish ice hockey forward and member of the Swedish national team, currently playing in the Swiss Women's League with HC Ambrì-Piotta Girls. She has represented Sweden in over 100 international matches, including the Winter Olympic Games in the 2014 and 2018 as well as at three IIHF Women's World Championships.
Reica Rose Staiger is a Japanese-Swiss ice hockey official and retired ice hockey player. She is a former member of the Swiss national team and a five-time Swiss Women's Hockey League A champion.
Nico Hischier is a Swiss professional ice hockey centre and captain of the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL). Hischier made his professional debut in his native Switzerland in 2015, spending time both in the top-tier National League A (NLA) and the second-tier National League B. He moved to North America for the 2016–17 season to play major junior hockey for the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) in hopes of furthering his hockey career; in his first season in the QMJHL, he was named rookie of the year, along with the award for best rookie in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), the governing body for major junior hockey in Canada. Internationally Hischier has represented Switzerland at several junior tournaments, including two World Junior Championships. Regarded as a strong two-way forward and a top prospect for the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Hischier was selected first overall by the Devils, the first time a Swiss player was selected first overall, and made his NHL debut in 2017. He was named captain of the Devils in 2021.
Lisa Rüedi is a Swiss ice hockey player and member of the Swiss national team, currently playing in the Swiss Women's League with the ZSC Lions Frauen. She served as captain of the ZSC Lions during the 2020–21 season, during which the team won the Swiss Women's Cup, and the 2021–22 season, in which the Lions were SWHL A champions.
Rahel Enzler is a Swiss ice hockey player and member of the Swiss national team. She is signed in the Swiss Women's League with the EVZ Women's Team of EV Zug through the 2025–26 season.
Nicole Vallario is a Swiss college ice hockey defenseman for the St. Thomas Tommies women's ice hockey team of the NCAA Division I and member of the Swiss national team. She previously played in the Swiss Women's League with HC Thurgau Ladies and HC Ladies Lugano.
Noemi Ryhner is a Swiss ice hockey player and member of the Swiss national team, currently playing in the Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL) with Leksands IF Dam.
Janine Hauser is a Swiss ice hockey player and member of the Swiss national team, currently playing in the Swiss Women's League with the ZSC Lions Frauen.
Lena Marie Lutz is a Swiss ice hockey player and member of the Swiss national ice hockey team, currently playing in the Women's League with the Hockey Team Thurgau Ladies.