Switzerland is out of contention for a medal, marking the first significant step in a downward slide that began two years ago. Where does the nation go from now in terms of women's hockey?
Switzerland is out of contention for a medal, marking the first significant step in a downward slide that began two years ago. Where does the nation go from now in terms of women's hockey?
Switzerland gets respect on the international stage, but they've fallen faster than almost any other nation in the IIHF's top division. Their world ranking is a gifted product of the IIHF's inequitable tiered groups in the top division, with Switzerland earning easier draws in recent years for quarterfinal games that did not allow the best teams to advance.
This year however, that luck ran out as they faced Finland in the quarterfinals who took them out in convincing fashion.
With the fall now on, and the chance of de-streamed groups near future, Switzerland's real place in the world hierarchy of women's hockey will become evident, and it won't be a reality the Swiss are happy with.
Stalder Returns Home
Stalder saw the writing on the wall for where women's hockey was, and where it needed to go in Switzerland. It's why she made sacrifices in her own playing career for the betterment of the women's game in Switzerland. Where does Stalder belong? On a top line in the PWHL. Instead she played last season in the SWHL B league, one of Europe's weakest loops. The intent was to lift EV Zug, a club committed to growing women's hockey, out of the Swiss B league and into the SWHL. Stalder accomplished that bringing several members of Switzerland's national team along for the ride. The problem for Switzerland in this World Championship however, is it meant many of their nation's top players were coming off a year of playing slow games against inferior competition. In the long run there may be a positive step forward, but in the short term, it was a step back.
Finding The Wey Forward For Switzerland
Youth are the hope, but there might not be enough. Ivana Wey emerged as a front line player for Switzerland at this tournament, and it's a role she'll likely hold for years. That's good news for a program that's relied exclusively on Alina Muller and Lara Stalder in the past. Naemi Herzig showed promise at this tournament, but it was clear head coach Colin Muller didn't plan to utilize his young star just yet, playing her less than eight minutes per night. On the blueline, Alessia Baechler is the nation's defender of the future, but there needs to be more of a supporting cast, because playing Baeschler nearly 24 minutes per night, and watching her drop to a team low -8 in the tournament hurts. Switzerland just doesn't have the support for these young stars aside from Wey who was protected alongside Muller and Stalder. If there's another hope for Switzerland, it's that they're still early in Andrea Braendli's reign as starter, where she's emerged as one of the best in the business.
Swiss League Needs To Go International
For a rebound to happen, Switzerland's best plan is to follow the model of the SDHL. Right now there is a plethora of top talent in North America looking to stay in the game, and many top players from secondary European and Asian nations in the women's hockey world are also looking for more competition. By opening the doors to imports, Switzerland could rapidly increase the competition level in the SWHL. The issue however, is the league has dropped the ball on this to epic proportions recently, including an absolute nightmare in Lugano this season that reportedly resulted in the deportation of multiple international players.
The Muller Impact Could Be Substantial
If it's more of a generational change that needs to occur in Switzerland, it will be the Alina Muller impact we're following. With Muller starring in the PWHL this season for Boston, Swiss players have a new goal to follow. Muller is the biggest name in Swiss hockey, and she's currently inspiring a new generation. For Switzerland, they need to find a way to send more of their current U-18 crop to North America to play NCAA hockey, using Muller's path as a template. It may not be immediate, but Muller is the visibility and representation every nation needs.