‘We have come a long way’: Switzerland no longer a slouch at men’s Olympic hockey tournament
There was a time when Switzerland was a pushover at the Winter Olympic Games.
Not anymore.
Beyond the 2006 win against Canada, there haven’t been many reasons for the team to celebrate on the top stage. The team took sixth place that year, but hasn’t finished better than eighth since the 1950s. Switzerland won bronze in 1928 and 1948, but the level of competition was much, much different back then.
But after consecutive silver medals at the World Championships, and four since 2013, Switzerland clearly means business. They kicked off Group A with a 4-0 win over France, with goaltender Leonardo Genoni grabbing the shutout.
The spirits are high for the Swiss as they look to scare the tournament’s top teams.
“You look at our group, the accomplishments we have as a team. We have come a long way,” forward Pius Suter said Thursday afternoon.”
“We have so many guys playing overseas, and also last year at the World Championship and how well we did. A few of those guys played there. So getting those medals and being in the upper places shows our depth as well. Our guys do the right things and keep to the system, and come together, which is working for us right now.”
Switzerland entered with a real chance at being a medal disruptor at this tournament. That’s something they haven’t really done since NHLers were sent to the Games, and they couldn’t take advantage of the lack of NHLers the past two events. Fortunately, many analysts believe this is the best team Switzerland has ever put together.
For one, the chemistry is tremendous. Most of this team gets together each spring for the World Championship each year. Historically, the Swiss have never really been known for their offense. When they took home silver at the 2013 Worlds, they scored 29 goals in seven round-robin games – nearly double their output from the previous two tournaments combined. Now, 29 goals is quite standard – but they upped the ante with 34 in both 2022 and 2025, with their 47 total goals leading the way last year.
Switzerland is currently the second-highest rated team in the IIHF rankings thanks to two straight silvers. A gold medal has alluded them, but they’re not afraid of anyone. Switzerland will play Canada on Friday, and while the Canadians are definitely the favorites, the Swiss have won three of the past four meetings between them at the World Championship.
“It is going to be a big test,” Suter said. “Those guys will be flying, so we just need to make sure of our positions and win the little things, and just chip away. We cannot go for a home run every play.”
PRESENTED BY DAILY FACEOFF’S OLYMPIC COVERAGE
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