On Tuesday 10 August, the time has come: the Swiss national women’s ice hockey team will begin its journey to Canada. Head coach Colin Muller’s team leaves for Calgary from Switzerland in the morning. The Women’s A World Championships begins there on Friday, 20 August. After arriving in Canada, players and staff spend five days in isolation in their hotel rooms before the final training session and a preparatory game against the Czech Republic on site before the start of the World Cup.

Originally, the Women’s World Cup was supposed to take place in Halifax and Truro in Nova Scotia last May. Due to the pandemic, the tournament had to be canceled at short notice – the decision was made the evening before the Swiss team was scheduled to move to Canada. “At first it was a hard blow for all the players and the entire staff,” says women’s national team manager Daniela Diaz. But the disappointment soon sparked renewed hope: nearly a month after the cancellation, it became clear the World Cup would be postponed until the end of August 2021.

The preparation of the Swiss women’s national team for the World Cup was similarly unusual. The Swiss Women’s Hockey Academy, which was launched at the start of the 2020/21 season, proved to be a huge blow of luck and added value. Thanks to the SWH Academy, the women’s national team was provided training opportunities several times a week with optimal infrastructure at the OYM in Cham.

In addition, several intense training weekends took place, in which the team developed in the mental realm in addition to a tactical, playful and athletic focus.

Last but not least, this year, two players, Noemi Rehner and Nicole Valerio, had the opportunity to meet the Swiss Army’s top sports recruiting school in Magalingen and thus focus entirely on the sport throughout the summer. “Thanks to all these opportunities, we were able to make the most of this special and challenging situation in preparation for the World Cup,” is convinced Daniela Diaz.

Colin Muller’s final World Cup squad has seen two changes compared to the original line-up since spring. Goalkeeper Vanessa Bollinger cannot participate in the World Cup due to professional reasons, Caroline Spice completes the goalkeeper trio, along with Andrea Brandley and Saskia Maurer. Defender and veteran Nicole Bullough had to give up the World Cup for health reasons. Striker Emma Ingold, who is new to the team, will make her World Cup debut.

Switzerland plays the World Cup with world champions USA, runners-up world champions Finland, Canada and Russia in the more powerful Group A – the groups are divided according to the ranking of the previous World Cup, Switzerland finished 5th in 2019 Finland . Group A nations automatically qualified for the quarter-finals, with Group B teams fighting for the remaining three places in the knockout rounds. Teams that are eliminated in the quarter-finals participate in the placement round. The World Cup goal remains unchanged due to automatic quarter-final qualification, despite special preparation: “The focus is on the quarter-finals, we definitely want to win the game and continue to establish ourselves in the top 5 in the world.” “, says Daniela Diaz. The Swiss women’s national team will begin the World Cup tournament on Friday, 20 August with the opening game against world champions USA.

World Cup line-up of the women’s national team

Goalkeepers (3): Andrea Brandley (Ohio State University / USA), Saskia Maurer (University of St. Thomas / USA), Caroline Spies (EHC Basel Youngsters).

Defenders (8): Lara Kristen (GCK/ZSC Lions), Sarah Forster (AIK Hockey/SWE), Janine Hauser (GCK/ZSC Lions), Nadine Hofstetter (SC Renach), Sinja Lehmann (GCK/ZSC Lions), Shannon Siegrist (Linköping HC/SWE), Nicole Valerio (University of St. Thomas/USA), Stephanie Waitley (Thurgau India Ladies).

Forwards (14): Rachel Enzler (University of Maine/USA), Mara Frey (SC Rench), Emma Ingold (Neuchâtel Hockey Academy), Lena Marie Lutz (Thurgau India Ladies), Alina Marty (GCK/ZSC Lions), Alina Muller ( Northeastern University/USA), Evelina Raselli (HC Ladies Lugano), Lisa Ruedi (GCK/ZSC Lions), Dominic Rueg (GCK/ZSC Lions), Noemi Reiner (HC Ladies Lugano), Phoebe Stanz (Lexands IF/SWE), Lara Stalder (Brynas IF/SWE), Kaleigh Quenec (University of Montreal/CAN), Laura Zimmerman (EV Bomo Thun).

Women’s National Team’s World Cup Schedule

collective forum
August 20, 7.30 pm Local time: Switzerland – USA
August 21, 4 pm local time: Switzerland – ROC (Russian Olympic Committee)
August 24, 4 pm local time: Switzerland – Canada
August 26 at 12 noon local time: Switzerland – Finland

KO-Phase
August 28: Quarterfinals
August 29: Semi-Finals
August 31: Final and Placement Games