The first medal of the modern era: Roman Josi, MVP of the 2013 World Championship tournament, signs autographs on arrival in Zurich
Image: Keystone
Bittersweet experience: Roman Josi is voted MVP at the 2013 World Championships, but Switzerland loses the final to hosts Sweden after an outstanding tournament in Stockholm
Image: Keystone
Another silver medal in 2018: Kevin Fiala (number 21), Dean Kukan (34) and Michael Fora (45) are back against the USA on Sunday, Tristan Scherwey (60) and Chris Baltensberger (14) are absent
Image: Keystone
2024 in Prague, Kevin Fiala is the tournament MVP like Roman Josi eleven years earlier, but has to settle for silver again
Image: Keystone
Big reception: the silver heroes of 2024 are also duly celebrated in Zurich-Kloten
Image: Keystone
Gold at last? On Sunday evening, captain Andrea Glauser (left) and his teammates also want to cheer after the final
Image: Keystone
The first medal of the modern era: Roman Josi, MVP of the 2013 World Championship tournament, signs autographs on arrival in Zurich
Image: Keystone
Bittersweet experience: Roman Josi is voted MVP at the 2013 World Championships, but Switzerland loses the final to hosts Sweden after an outstanding tournament in Stockholm
Image: Keystone
Another silver medal in 2018: Kevin Fiala (number 21), Dean Kukan (34) and Michael Fora (45) are back against the USA on Sunday, Tristan Scherwey (60) and Chris Baltensberger (14) are absent
Image: Keystone
2024 in Prague, Kevin Fiala is the tournament MVP like Roman Josi eleven years earlier, but has to settle for silver again
Image: Keystone
Big reception: the silver heroes of 2024 are also duly celebrated in Zurich-Kloten
Image: Keystone
Gold at last? On Sunday evening, captain Andrea Glauser (left) and his teammates also want to cheer after the final
Image: Keystone
On Sunday evening, the Swiss national ice hockey team will play in the World Championship final for the fourth time. Will it finally be enough to win the coveted gold medal this time?
25.05.2025, 05:31
25.05.2025, 08:11
SDA
Since 1992, the medals at the Ice Hockey World Championships have been played out in knockout mode after initial group matches. On Sunday at 20:20 in Stockholm, Switzerland will be in the final for the fourth time. So far, they have not been lucky.
The beginning of a steep rise
Twelve years ago, the most successful recent era of Swiss ice hockey began in Stockholm. With nine wins in a row, Sean Simpson's team stormed all the way to the final. Roman Josi, the tournament's MVP, put the euphoric Swiss team ahead in the 5th minute. But then the Swedes responded under the direction of Vancouver star and two-time goal scorer Hendrik Sedin. In the end, they won 5:1 too high and ended a true home curse. The "Tre Kronor" become the first home team since the Soviet Union in Moscow in 1986 to win World Championship gold at home. Nino Niederreiter and Andres Ambühl were part of the current Swiss World Championship team back then. Patrick Fischer is one of Simpson's assistants. Despite the bittersweet ending, it was a silver medal that shone like gold.
May 19, 2013: Sweden - Switzerland 5:1 (2:1, 0:0, 3:0)
Stockholm. - 12,500 spectators. - Goals: 5 Josi (Walker) 0:1. 9 Gustafsson 1:1. 12 Henrik Sedin (power play goal) 1:2. 48 Hjalmarsson 1:3. 56 Eriksson 1:4. 57 Henrik Sedin 1:5 (into the empty net). - Shots: 27:27. Goalie: Martin Gerber.
Fiala's golden chance
Five years later in neighboring Copenhagen, the final opponent is still Sweden. Kevin Fiala will remember it particularly fondly. Just over four minutes before the end of overtime, the then 21-year-old from eastern Switzerland had the golden chance to win the game. The goal is open, but he can't get the puck past the Swedish keeper Anders Nilsson, who reacts strongly. In regulation time, the Swiss led twice thanks to goals from NHL stars Nino Niederreiter and Timo Meier, but neither time for long. Only Sven Andrighetto is successful in the penalty shoot-out, which will not take place this time, while Leonardo Genoni is beaten twice. Nevertheless, this silver medal is proof that Fischer's forward strategy, with its clear commitment to playing for the medals, is paying off.
May 20, 2018: Sweden - Switzerland 3:2 (1:1, 1:1, 0:0, 0:0) n.p.
Copenhagen. - 12'490 spectators. - Goals: 17. Niederreiter (Josi, Fiala) 0:1. 18. Nyquist 1:1. 24. Meier (Corvi, Josi/powerplay goal) 1:2. 35. Zibanejad (powerplay goal) 2:2. - Penalty shoot-out: Andrighetto 0:1, Zibanejad-; Fiala-, Rakell-; Corvi-, Ekman-Larsson 1:1; Haas-, Forsberg 2:1, Niederreiter-. - Shots: 38:27. Goalie: Leonardo Genoni.
Pastrnak's shot into the heart
After four often wafer-thin quarter-final defeats, some of which were carelessly caused, the Swiss and their criticized coach Patrick Fischer managed to break free in Prague. As in 2013 and 2018, they not only have to play against a world-class opponent, but also against the public. In a fiercely contested final, it was the Czech Republic's overplayer David Pastrnak who broke the spell with a 1-0 lead just over ten minutes before the end. The Swiss were only halfway happy about silver, sensing that they were ready for their first major title.
May 26, 2024: Czech Republic - Switzerland 2:0 (0:0, 0:0, 2:0)
Prague. - 17,413 spectators. - Goals: 50 Pastrnak 1:0. 60 Kämpf 2:0 (into the empty net). - Shots: 32:31. Goalie: Leonardo Genoni.
The coronation at last?
May 25, 2025: Switzerland - USA
Will the coronation follow at the fourth attempt? For the first time, the Swiss will not have to face an entire stadium in a World Championship final in Stockholm on Sunday. A gold medal would be the well-deserved reward for the development of the last twelve years and the last final in Stockholm.
