The Swiss team is playing its last three preparation matches this weekend before the world championship, which starts on May 10. Coach Patrick Fischer’s men face Sweden on Thursday evening in Kloten (7:45 p.m.), before traveling to Brno to challenge Finland on Saturday and the Czech Republic on Sunday.
Switzerland must confirm in Czechia the improvement of the last two weeks. After losing 13 matches in a row between the end of the 2022/23 financial year and the start of the 2023/24 season, it had four consecutive successes: two against France, without convincing, and two more reassuring against Latvia.
The Swiss selection, however, faces tougher opponents this weekend. These next three meetings should also allow NHL players (Nico Hischier, Jonas Siegenthaler, Philipp Kurashev and Akira Schmid) to make their mark with a view to the world championship.
The selection could still move: certain finalists of the National League playoffs should be called up, just like the first “defeated” of the NHL playoffs, like Nino Niederreiter and Kevin Fiala.
ats/efas
