Two major highlights are coming up this season: The Olympic Games and a home World Championship. At the first stop of the Euro Hockey Tour, only a few Swiss improved their cards. These are the winners and losers.
10.11.2025, 08:47
10.11.2025, 09:55
SDA
Patrick Fischer makes no secret of his disappointment after the second clear defeat at the Euro Hockey Tour in Tampere on Sunday afternoon. The national coach is not satisfied, saying that some players were overtaxed by the speed and physicality of their opponents. He can't have gathered many insights in the far north when it comes to the composition of his Olympic squad.
The most important one is not new. Switzerland can keep up with the best at the highest level, but lags far behind in terms of depth. Finland has over 40 players in the NHL, Sweden over 80, who are not available in November but want to be at the Olympics. If the Swiss are also missing a number of top performers from the domestic National League, there simply isn't enough quality.
Assuming that nine Swiss outfield players from the NHL will be at the Olympics and that ZSC's exceptional players Denis Malgin and Sven Andrighetto are undisputed, there are still eleven spots left for the Olympic squad, six forwards and five defensemen. Players are needed who are physically strong and do not necessarily have their strengths in goal production. In Tampere, only a few have been able to improve their position in recent days.
These are the winners:
Damien Riat
Damien Riat is representative of the Papabili who were not present in Tampere for various reasons. The Lausanne HC forward and two-time World Championship silver medalist has established himself as an extremely valuable player in recent years. The same applies to defensemen Andrea Glauser (Fribourg), who should soon make his comeback after a hand injury, Romain Loeffel (Bern), Dean Kukan and Christian Marti (both ZSC Lions). Riat, Loeffel, Kukan and Marti will probably be able to show themselves at the home tournament in Zurich in mid-December, Glauser rather not because of the following Spengler Cup. Nevertheless, the quintet should have consolidated their position, as none of the defensemen were able to show that they are a valid alternative in Tampere.
Christoph Bertschy (1 goal, 1 assist, +1)
The Fribourg forward is Switzerland's top scorer in Finland with one goal and one assist and also has a positive plus/minus record. Patrick Fischer knows what he has in him, and Bertschy fits the profile of a "complementary player" to the offensive stars perfectly. He brings energy, toughness and a certain toxicity to the Swiss game.
Michael Fora (1 assist, -3)
Despite struggling in the game against Sweden and a minus-3 record, the Ticino native also fulfills all the attributes that Fischer rates highly: Water displacement and toughness. The HCD defenseman has proven his worth on the highest international stage at six world championships (3 x silver), even if he doesn't always shine in the league. Was missed on Sunday against the Czech Republic.
These are the losers:
Lukas Frick (0 points, -3)
The perennial favorite in the National League is something of a counterpart to his Davos teammate Fora. In the national championship, he is the second most productive defenseman in the league so far with 18 points (and the only Swiss in the top 12). Internationally, however, he seemed to be hesitant and overwhelmed. Was not used in the third game.
Tyler Moy (0 points, +/-0)
The Swiss top scorer of the last World Cup (4 goals, 8 assists) can't hide the fact that things are no longer running smoothly at the club. As one of the established players, he should have provided the music offensively, but has had virtually no effect. He is not a player for the third or fourth line at the Olympic Games and has not improved his position.
Sandro Aeschlimann (7 goals against, 77.4% save percentage)
Assuming that Leonardo Genoni and Akira Schmid, who has established himself in the NHL in Las Vegas, are set, there is still a vacancy in the goalie position. Aeschlimann had the misfortune of having to operate behind a desolate defense against Sweden, just like Reto Berra in the first half against the Czech Republic. Berra, however, shone in the 3:1 win against Finland and could almost have secured his Olympic ticket if he had been just as outstanding against the Czech Republic. Now Stéphane Charlin, who impressed at the World Cup, will probably get another chance to recommend himself in December. Berra's five seasons in the NHL could speak in his favor, while Aeschlimann's experience with the small ice rinks will probably make things more difficult.
