Three weeks ago, HC Davos’ Andres Ambühl played in his 1,043rd career National League regular-season game in Switzerland, which broke the record previously held by Beat Gerber. On Thursday night at home in Davos, Ambühl broke another of Gerber’s games-played records – this time, he played in his 1,270th total game, counting both the regular season and playoffs.
The game was preceeded by a pre-game ceremony that included a 90-second video montage Ambühl’s career highlights and gifts presented by club CEO Marc Gianola and league president Denis Vaucher.
“I know that what I have experienced so far is not normal, if only because I was able to turn my hobby into a career,” said 41-year-old Ambühl. “Once I have stopped, I will certainly look back and realize what I have achieved. But for now, I just want to keep playing.”
In the game, Ambühl assisted on the game’s opening goal by Matěj Stranský and nearly scored on a deflection in the second period. Davos defeated visiting SC Bern 4-3 in a shootout before 5,710 fans at Vaillant Arena.
Ambühl has yet to score a goal this season, but has four assists in eight games. This is his 25th season as a professional hockey player – 24 have been in Switzerland, but he also played the 2009-10 season with the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack.
Ambühl would have broken the record five days earlier, but he was suspended two games for a check to the head of Oskars Lapinskis of the SCL Tigers in a game on Sept 24.
In addition to his records in Switzerland, Ambühl is also the all-time leader in IIHF World Championship top-tier tournaments at 19 and World Championship top-tier games played at 141.
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