Alina Muller and Lara Stalder will again be the go to players as Switzerland was first out of the gate to announce their roster for the 2024 World Championships in Utica, New York.
Alina Muller and Lara Stalder will again be the go to players as Switzerland was first out of the gate to announce their roster for the 2024 World Championships in Utica, New York.
Switzerland was first out of the gate naming their 2024 World Championship roster ahead of the tournament from April 3-14 in Utica, New York.
Leading the charge for the Swiss will again be PWHL Boston's Alina Muller and national team stalwart Lara Stalder, who spent this season in Switzerland's second division with EV Zug. A trio of NCAA players in Nicole Vallario (University of St. Thomas), Laura Zimmermann (St. Cloud University), and Rahel Enzler (University of Maine) are also on the roster.
Andrea Brändli Will Backstop
Andrea Brändli has been spectacular this season with MoDo in the SDHL. Through 25 games this season Brändli posted a 1.62 GAA and .937 save percentage. Brändli was crucial in MoDo's rise to second overall in the SDHL, and was also a crucial component to keeping Switzerland in games at the 2023 World Championships in Brampton. She'll be backed up by SC Bern goaltenders Saskia Maurer and Alexandra Lehmann.
Switzerland's Talented Next Generation
Four members of Switzerland's World Championship roster also played for the Swiss at the U-18 World Championships in January. Alena Lynn Rossel, Leoni Balzer, Naemi Herzig and Ivana Maria Wey.
Wey and Herzig in particular are considered the two top prospects to come from Switzerland since Stalder and Muller. Rossel returns after making her senior national debut at the Worlds in 2023.
Filling Out Switzerland's Roster
The remainder of Switzerland's blueline includes Alizée Aymon (SC Bern Frauen), Alessia Baechler (GCK/ZSC Lions), Annic Büchi (EV Zug), Lara Christen (SC Bern Frauen), Janine Hauser (HC Davos), and Stefanie Wetli (HC Davos).
Up front the forward group is rounded out by Emma Ingold (SC Bern Frauen), Cindy Joray (SC Bern Frauen), Sinja Leemann (GCK/ZSC Lions), Alina Marti (GCK/ZSC Lions), Kaleigh Quennec, (University of Montreal), Noemi Rhyner (EV Zug), and Vanessa Schaefer (GCK/ZSC Lions).
What are the Swiss chances?
To be completely honest, Switzerland's chances aren't great. Canada and USA will obviously challenge for top spot, but they'll be joined by Czechia and Finland, as well as a rising Swedish team in contending for medals. Switzerland is still the third ranked team in the world, but they haven't necessarily been the third best nation in some time. With youth coming into their lineup, the hope is that can change before Lara Stalder moves out of her prime. Another challenge for the Swiss will be the growth of the PWHL. Many nations have stars that can step into the league immediately and contribute, while Switzerland does not. Aside from Muller, Lara Stalder, and Brändli, the rest of the group will take time, and it could create a larger divide in international play until the Swiss catch back up.