Swiss hockey

Genève in Dragão Caixa, European League

Swiss hockey is facing a renovation, after his most glorious moment. The Swiss national team is one of the oldest in world's rink-hockey, being present in international competitions since the earliest hour, furthermore, it has one of the most famous tournaments, the Montreux Tournament (cradle of Swiss hockey, implemented by English tourists) that exists since 1921, taking place every two years nowadays. After a less positive period with five years in-a-row without participating in big competitions, the Swiss team has been always present since 1989, having a progressive and sustainable work with new national's team athletes. After '30s and '50s generations who conquered third and fourth places in European Cups (including runner-up in 1937) and, for once, third and fourth place in World Cups, Switzerland has been far of the podium for several years, being out of the big competitions between 1984 and 1989.

Swiss national team in 1980

In the early '80s the Swiss hockey suffered several changes, either quality and quantity level. The Swiss clubs were concentrated 100% in French and German spoken regions, being extended to the Italian spoken part since 1985. The first two regions also increased the hockey clubs. Hence, in the early '90, the Swiss hockey clubs has passed from 5/7 clubs to 15. Six from eight teams the participated in LNA Swiss main league were founded in the '80s. The sustainable development was also watched in National Teams, supported by former international players like Jean-Baptiste Piemontesi or Jean-Luc Christen. Several positive results were reached, namely three fourth places in-a-row in European Cups (1994, 1996, 1998) and a considerable growing in World Cups (11º in 1989, 9º in 1991 and three sixth places in-a-row in 1993, 1995 and 1997), have placed Switzerland as the first non-professional power in world's hockey.

Swiss youth national team in Santander, 2005

In fact, such development wasn't supported by one of the most important parts: the financial sector. The Swiss hockey is still (and always was) 100% non-professional, being sometimes necessary for the players to pay the expenses by their own, in order to participate at international competitions. However, growth din't stop. In the end of '90 decade Switzerland had already 20 clubs and in the beginning of the present millennium two most important issues had vitally contribute for the quality sustainable development. First: the Iberian coaches appearance either in clubs and national teams. Secondly: the involvement in national competitions of Austrian and German clubs, as the appearance of Iberian, Italian and Argentinian players in LNA.

The Swiss golden generation

The first aspect was by far very beneficial, mainly for the national team. In 2000, the portuguese Pedro Antunes took the lead of Swiss U20 team, up to 2006. He reached two fifth places, four fourth places and one third place. The third place is, until now, the best result ever by a Swiss youth national team. It was reached in 2005 in Santander (Spain). In this national team were performing some valuable players like Roman Langenegger (the goal-keeper with less goals conceived on this competition), Simon von Allmen, Gael Jiménez and Federico García-Mendez. These last two players would participate on the best position ever in 2006 European Cup and 2007 World Cup: the second place. These golden boys had already tried in 2005 after being defeated by Portugal in 2005 World Cup only for one goal, 3-2. Beside Jiménez and Méndez, there were the brothers Hauert in goal, the brothers Matthieu and Florian Brentini in attack, Jérôme Desponds, Samuel Wenger, Michael Muller and Stefan Rubi, leading by the former international hockey player Alain Richard. Their success and therefore Swiss hockey quality growth has turned some players to the professional field, however, in foreign countries. Nils Hauert, Federico García-Mendez and Jérôme Desponds were in Italy and Mendez also played in French championship. Nowadays the Swiss national team is leaded by the Catalan Nené Zabalia, former Spanish international player and for the second time in Switzerland, after leading the national team between 2009 and 2011.

Pedro Antunes

The second main topic of the Swiss hockey development held with the national championships. From 2002 that Austrian and German clubs, located nearby the border, are allowed to compete in Swiss championships, in a way of promoting the competitiveness and quality on those competitions. Clubs as Weil or Friedlingen, both German and competing in LNA main Swiss league, strive with other Swiss clubs for the main places and both had already won one title each. If it's true that it quality grows with these teams, it is nonetheless true that few Swiss players are playing on these teams (the only Swiss player was Daniel Dietrich in Weil last season). The other novelty in Swiss championship is the acquisition of Portuguese, Argentinian, Spanish, Catalan and Italian players. Last season they were 20 performing in LNA. This players come to Switzerland with the main porpouse of working out of hockey, so the procedure was this: the clubs offer work and accept the players according with their hockey level, on the other hand, the players apply for clubs according with work and hockey conditions provided, previously knowing that Swiss hockey is 100% non-professional. The Friedlingen's German club was the first with some professional players, in 2012, signing the international players Jordi Camps (Catalan), Michel Dantas Zanini (Brasilian), the brothers Negro and Cachi Paez and Chula Marimont (all Argentinian). 

Friedlingen, Swiss champions in 2012

Despite facing a deep change with the end of the golden generation and the financial difficulties to improve the players and clubs conditions, the Swiss hockey is continuing to bet in a prosperous future and with great results, either by working in youth sector (from 1000 hockey players, 60% belong to youth teams) or by acquiring international players with good level, in order to keep the 2006 and 2007 results as an usual thing.