After Germany, the Swiss offensive hammer hits Austria even harder: their neighbor is swept off the ice at the Ice Hockey World Championships in Zurich with 9:0.
20.05.2026, 18:41
20.05.2026, 18:46
SDA
The Swiss national team stormed through the group games at the home World Championships like an unstoppable roller. The 6:1 win against Germany was followed by an even more emphatic victory against Austria on Wednesday. By the second period break, the Swiss had already topped the 6:0 from last year's quarter-final in Herning.
World Championship newcomer Théo Rochette opened the scoring with his first goal in the 7th minute. It then took the hosts just 8:10 minutes to make it 4:0. In the middle period, there were only a good two and a half minutes between the three goals from 4:0 to 7:0. Remarkably, four power plays resulted in four goals. Rochette, Nico Hischier and Damien Riat scored twice, Timo Meier, Calvin Thürkauf and Christoph Bertschy scored once each.
Without Suter, Berra back on the bench
No Pius Suter, who had to sit out with a slight injury? That didn't affect the Swiss game in the slightest. Attilio Biasca replaced the St. Louis Blues' NHL forward on the first line, while Nicolas Baechler was called up as the 14th attacker for the World Championship squad. Reto Berra was also on the bench as a substitute goalie after recovering from pneumonia; the Fribourg champion goalie could play against Great Britain on Thursday. Jan Cadieux's team will be even less of a yardstick than Germany and Austria recently.
For the team of Zurich head coach Roger Bader, who was voted Team of the Year in Austria last year, the neighboring duel once again turned into a nightmare. The absences of National League players Vinzenz Rohrer and Dominic Zwerger, both already scorers in the tournament, were clearly noticeable.
Genoni with the World Championship record
It was just not enough for a "Stängeli", as they had achieved against Hungary last year. But goalie Leonardo Genoni managed his 13th shutout at a World Championship. He is now the sole record holder. Genoni previously shared the record with the Czech Jiri Holecek (1966 to 1978).
With four wins from four games and 22:4 goals, the only question for the Swiss has long been who will win the group. The next two opponents, Great Britain and Hungary, will hardly be stumbling blocks, while the final game next Tuesday against the Finns, who are also still without a point, should decide who wins the group - and thus an easier quarter-final opponent. In this form, however, captain Roman Josi and Co. need not fear any opponent anyway.
Telegram:
Austria - Switzerland 0:9 (0:4, 0:3, 0:2)
Zurich. - 10'000 spectators (sold out). - Referees Holm/Wannerstedt (SWE/NOR), Birkhoff/Ondracek (CAN/CZE). - Goals: 6. Rochette (Malgin, Andrighetto) 0:1. 10. Meier (Egli) 0:2. 12. Hischier (Meier, Biasca) 0:3. 14. Riat (Andrighetto, Kukan/Exclusion Hackl) 0:4. 30. Hischier (Meier, Josi/Exclusion Stapelfeld) 0:5. 31. Thürkauf (Moser) 0:6. 33. Rochette (Andrighetto, Marti) 0:7. 51. Riat (Rochette, Malgin/Exclusion Schneider) 0:8. 57. Bertschy (Thürkauf, Jung) 0:9. Penalties: 4 times 2 minutes against Austria, 1 time 2 minutes against Switzerland.
Austria: Kickert/Vorauer (from 31); Wolf, Unterweger; Nickl, Biber; Maier, Hackl; Stapelfeldt, Schnetzer; Schneider, Nissner, Kolarik; Harnisch, Thaler, Paul Huber; Schwinger, Mario Huber, Rebernig; Neubauer, Wallner, Scherzer.
Switzerland: Genoni; Egli, Josi; Kukan, Marti; Moser, Berni; Jung; Riat, Jäger, Knak; Meier, Hischier, Biasca; Rochette, Malgin, Andrighetto; Bertschy, Thürkauf, Niederreiter; Baechler.
Remarks: Switzerland without Suter (slightly injured), Aeschlimann (supernumerary), Frick (not registered) and Berra (substitute goalie). Austria without Rohrer and Zwerger (injured/injured). - Shots: Austria 20 (10-6-4); Switzerland 30 (14-6-10). - Powerplay output: Austria 0/1; Switzerland 3/4.
