Three Friborg residents will compete in the next Ice Hockey World Championships. Andrea Glauser, Christoph Bertschy and Tristan Scherwey were selected by coach Patrick Fischer who revealed his list Monday afternoon. Gottéron goalkeeper Reto Berra was also selected.
On the other hand, Friborg defender David Aebischer was left out of the selection at the last moment.
If the name of Nino Niederreiter does indeed appear there, no trace yet of Roman Josi. But a place in the squad is reserved for him.
Patrick Fischer’s group currently includes 24 names out of a possible 25, and only seven defenders were officially summoned this Monday. A place therefore remains available for Roman Josi, whom Swiss Ice Hockey does not mention in its press release, while waiting for certain details to be resolved with his club. This would be the ninth World Championships for the captain of the Nashville Predators, while Nino Niederreiter will experience his eighth World Championships. The two men, very friends off the ice, have two silver medals together. They were epics from 2013 in Sweden and 2018 in Denmark.
Finalist for the third time for the Norris Trophy rewarding the best NHL defender (which he won in 2020), Josi would obviously change the face of this selection. Author of 85 points (23 goals) in 82 matches, the 33-year-old Bernese can play 25 minutes without the slightest problem and in any situation. His presence alone would instantly improve the quality of the power play.
Fiala soon to be daddy
As for Niederreiter, he was named captain in Riga last year and scored 4 goals in 7 matches. And if El Nino was present in Latvia, it has been since 2019 and the World Championship in Slovakia that Swiss supporters have not seen Roman Josi with his red jersey with a white cross bearing the number 90.
There should therefore be six NHL players in the selection with also Nico Hischier, Jonas Siegenthaler, Philipp Kurashev and Akira Schmid. Soon to be a father for the first time with a baby announced for May 21, Kevin Fiala will not be there, however, just like Damien Riat who will also experience fatherhood.
As for the three other NHL players, Timo Meier preferred to have shoulder surgery and Janis Moser has not yet obtained a contract extension with the Arizona Coyotes who are moving to Salt Lake City in Utah as soon as next season. As for Pius Suter, he is the last Swiss involved in the NHL play-off with the Vancouver Canucks.
Eternal Ambühl
Patrick Fischer, who “dismissed” ten players present last weekend in Brno, also called on five finalists from the National League Championship. Lausanne’s Andrea Glauser and Ken Jäger join the group, as do Swiss champions Dean Kukan, Christian Marti and Sven Andrighetto.
Among the French-speaking players, we can cite Romain Loeffel, Gaëtan Haas, Tristan Scherwey and Christoph Bertschy, all regulars in the selection. Four neophytes will experience their first World Cup: Akira Schmid, Ken Jäger, Thierry Bader and Sven Jung. Among the last minute surprises, let us also mention the absences of Dominik Egli and Tanner Richard, while Denis Malgin withdraws due to injury.
Note that Andres Ambühl will compete in his 19th World Championship. Already a record holder for the number of games played with 131, the 40-year-old Grison will be able to further increase his total. And to think that he missed the World Cup in 2018 and that covid caused the 2020 edition to be canceled. He would certainly have 18 more matches!
Here is the selection:
Goalkeepers (3): Reto Berra (HC Fribourg-Gottéron), Leonardo Genoni (EV Zug), Akira Schmid (New Jersey Devils)
Defenders (7): Michael Fora (HC Davos), Andrea Glauser (Lausanne HC), Sven Jung (HC Davos), Dean Kukan (ZSC Lions), Romain Loeffel (SC Bern), Christian Marti (ZSC Lions), Jonas Siegenthaler ( New Jersey Devils)
Forwards (14): Andres Ambühl (HC Davos), Sven Andrighetto (ZSC Lions), Thierry Bader (SC Bern), Christoph Bertschy (HC Fribourg-Gottéron), Gaëtan Haas (EHC Biel-Bienne), Fabrice Herzog (EV Zug) , Nico Hischier (New Jersey Devils), Ken Jäger (Lausanne HC), Philipp Kurashev (Chicago Blackhawks), Nino Niederreiter (Winnipeg Jets), Tristan Scherwey (SC Bern), Sven Senteler (EV Zug), Dario Simion (EV Zug) , Calvin Thürkauf (HC Lugano)
The Worlds will begin this Friday in the Czech Republic with a duel against Norway.
ATS / RadioFr. – Valentin Danzi
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