Swiss forward Andres Ambuhl retired with an IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship record of 151 games played, marking another great moment in his nation's hockey history.
photo: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / ANDRE RINGUETTE
Hockey in Switerland could be on the cusp of a massive breakthrough. Arguably no nation has made bigger steps forward on the international stage in recent decades than the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship hosts.
The Swiss have gone from regularly bowing out in the quarter-finals to threatening to win this tournament every year. Perhaps an even bigger indicator of their growth is the fact that although they were disappointed to fall 3-2 in overtime to Finland in February’s Olympic quarter-finals, their fifth-place finish was their best ever in the IIHF’s modern era (dating back to 1954).
With NHL stars faithfully showing up to represent Switzerland every year, the biggest, gold-tinted highlight in their IIHF history is yet to come. For now, let’s take a quick look back at the top 10 Swiss moments in modern IIHF play.
Milestone bronze at World Juniors (1998)
Nobody projected the Swiss U20 boys to vie for a medal at the IIHF World Junior Championship in Finland. But coach Bill Gilligan’s underdog squad took full advantage when they upset Sweden 2-1 in a quarter-final shootout. (Perennial favourite Canada’s elimination with a 2-1 overtime loss to the Russians opened the door even further.) In the bronze medal game, Sandro Rizzi delivered the shootout winner in a 4-3 win over the Czechs.
David Aebischer was outstanding in net for a team that also included the likes of Michel Riesen, Julien Vauclair, and future national team coach Patrick Fischer.
Impressive return to IIHF WM top division (1998)
With the World Championship taking place in Zurich and Basel, it was vital for the Swiss to have a strong showing – especially after having languished in the old B Pool in 1996 and 1997.
Motivational mastermind Ralph Krueger made a splash in his IIHF debut as the national team coach. Switzerland shocked the Russians 4-2 – marking an historic first – on Marcel Jenni’s winner. Even though the Czechs blanked the hosts 4-0 in the bronze medal game, this was a run to remember.
First Olympic victory over Canada (2006)
On paper, the Swiss had no chance at the Turin Olympics versus Canada. The defending champs from Salt Lake City featured future Hall of Famers like captain Joe Sakic, Jarome Iginla, and Chris Pronger. However, an upset was brewing – courtesy of a naturalized 35-year-old Canadian.
Paul DiPietro, a 1993 Stanley Cup winner with Montreal and then-EV Zug forward, scored twice in a 2-0 stunner. It was Switzerland’s first Olympic win over the motherland of hockey in eight tries. Martin Gerber was the hero between the pipes, posting a 49-save shutout to outduel Canadian legend Martin Brodeur.
Josi stars as Swiss strike silver (2013)
Roman Josi was just two seasons into his tenure with the Nashville Predators and seven years away from his first Norris Trophy when he played his fourth Worlds. However, the dynamic Swiss defenceman was a true “ice general,” racking up four goals and nine points while logging big minutes under coach Sean Simpson. Josi’s play helped his team to go unbeaten in Stockholm through the semi-finals. Switzerland would finish with a sparkling 35-16 goal difference.
The Swiss have gone from regularly bowing out in the quarter-finals to threatening to win this tournament every year. Perhaps an even bigger indicator of their growth is the fact that although they were disappointed to fall 3-2 in overtime to Finland in February’s Olympic quarter-finals, their fifth-place finish was their best ever in the IIHF’s modern era (dating back to 1954).
With NHL stars faithfully showing up to represent Switzerland every year, the biggest, gold-tinted highlight in their IIHF history is yet to come. For now, let’s take a quick look back at the top 10 Swiss moments in modern IIHF play.
Milestone bronze at World Juniors (1998)
Nobody projected the Swiss U20 boys to vie for a medal at the IIHF World Junior Championship in Finland. But coach Bill Gilligan’s underdog squad took full advantage when they upset Sweden 2-1 in a quarter-final shootout. (Perennial favourite Canada’s elimination with a 2-1 overtime loss to the Russians opened the door even further.) In the bronze medal game, Sandro Rizzi delivered the shootout winner in a 4-3 win over the Czechs.
David Aebischer was outstanding in net for a team that also included the likes of Michel Riesen, Julien Vauclair, and future national team coach Patrick Fischer.
Impressive return to IIHF WM top division (1998)
With the World Championship taking place in Zurich and Basel, it was vital for the Swiss to have a strong showing – especially after having languished in the old B Pool in 1996 and 1997.
Motivational mastermind Ralph Krueger made a splash in his IIHF debut as the national team coach. Switzerland shocked the Russians 4-2 – marking an historic first – on Marcel Jenni’s winner. Even though the Czechs blanked the hosts 4-0 in the bronze medal game, this was a run to remember.
First Olympic victory over Canada (2006)
On paper, the Swiss had no chance at the Turin Olympics versus Canada. The defending champs from Salt Lake City featured future Hall of Famers like captain Joe Sakic, Jarome Iginla, and Chris Pronger. However, an upset was brewing – courtesy of a naturalized 35-year-old Canadian.
Paul DiPietro, a 1993 Stanley Cup winner with Montreal and then-EV Zug forward, scored twice in a 2-0 stunner. It was Switzerland’s first Olympic win over the motherland of hockey in eight tries. Martin Gerber was the hero between the pipes, posting a 49-save shutout to outduel Canadian legend Martin Brodeur.
Josi stars as Swiss strike silver (2013)
Roman Josi was just two seasons into his tenure with the Nashville Predators and seven years away from his first Norris Trophy when he played his fourth Worlds. However, the dynamic Swiss defenceman was a true “ice general,” racking up four goals and nine points while logging big minutes under coach Sean Simpson. Josi’s play helped his team to go unbeaten in Stockholm through the semi-finals. Switzerland would finish with a sparkling 35-16 goal difference.
Even though the Swiss fell 5-1 in the gold medal game to a host Swedish team powered by the Sedin twins, this was a thrilling surprise on balance.
Another silver success in Copenhagen (2018)
NHL reinforcements helped the Swiss surge forward at the first Worlds ever held in Denmark. In addition to having then-21-year-old San Jose forward Timo Meier make his senior IIHF debut, Switzerland brought in Roman Josi and Kevin Fiala for the last five games after Nashville’s elimination in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Gaetan Haas had the eventual semi-final winner as Switzerland stunned the Connor McDavid-led Canadians 3-2. There was Swiss heartbreak in the gold medal game as the Swedes prevailed for the second straight year, this time 3-2 in the shootout. But there was also pride.
Fiala named MVP in silver run in Czechia (2024)
One thing Switzerland has often lacked in top-level competition is a game-breaker. Kevin Fiala admirably filled that gap at the 2024 Worlds. His 13 points (7+6=13) were the most scored by a Swiss skater at a single Worlds in the modern era.
After Canada dealt the NHL-stacked Swiss their only preliminary-round loss, Fiala secured his country’s revenge in the semi-finals. The Los Angeles sniper scored a goal and an assist in regulation time and also tallied in the shootout in a 3-2 victor over Canada. Even though the offence dried up in a 2-0 gold-medal defeat versus the host Czechs, Fiala was deservedly honoured as tournament MVP.
Ambuhl sets all-time WM games played record (2025)
It’s amazing to think that Andres Ambuhl made his first World Championship appearance in a 6-0 win over France at the 2024 tournament in Prague. The swift-skating Davos legend would retire as the all-time games played leader (151)in tournament history. That record will stand for years to come. The only active skater who has played more than 100 WM games is 40-year-old Czech great Roman Cervenka.
Another silver success in Copenhagen (2018)
NHL reinforcements helped the Swiss surge forward at the first Worlds ever held in Denmark. In addition to having then-21-year-old San Jose forward Timo Meier make his senior IIHF debut, Switzerland brought in Roman Josi and Kevin Fiala for the last five games after Nashville’s elimination in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Gaetan Haas had the eventual semi-final winner as Switzerland stunned the Connor McDavid-led Canadians 3-2. There was Swiss heartbreak in the gold medal game as the Swedes prevailed for the second straight year, this time 3-2 in the shootout. But there was also pride.
Fiala named MVP in silver run in Czechia (2024)
One thing Switzerland has often lacked in top-level competition is a game-breaker. Kevin Fiala admirably filled that gap at the 2024 Worlds. His 13 points (7+6=13) were the most scored by a Swiss skater at a single Worlds in the modern era.
After Canada dealt the NHL-stacked Swiss their only preliminary-round loss, Fiala secured his country’s revenge in the semi-finals. The Los Angeles sniper scored a goal and an assist in regulation time and also tallied in the shootout in a 3-2 victor over Canada. Even though the offence dried up in a 2-0 gold-medal defeat versus the host Czechs, Fiala was deservedly honoured as tournament MVP.
Ambuhl sets all-time WM games played record (2025)
It’s amazing to think that Andres Ambuhl made his first World Championship appearance in a 6-0 win over France at the 2024 tournament in Prague. The swift-skating Davos legend would retire as the all-time games played leader (151)in tournament history. That record will stand for years to come. The only active skater who has played more than 100 WM games is 40-year-old Czech great Roman Cervenka.
Genoni amazes as Swiss come close again (2025)
When you eclipse a World Championship record set by Finnish superstar Pekka Rinne, you know you’re doing something right as a goaltender.
At 37, the ultra-athletic Leonardo Genoni employed his butterfly style to excellent effect at the Worlds in Stockholm and Herning. In seven games, he racked up a tournament-leading four shutouts, 0.99 GAA and 95.3 save percentage en route to MVP honours.
And as IIHF.com’s Andrew Podnieks reported about Switzerland’s 1-0 overtime loss to the U.S. in the final: “The Americans outshot Switzerland 40-25 but Genoni was sensational. He had a shutout streak of 243:27 over the last five games he played, including three shutouts, bettering the modern-day record of 238:05 set by Pekka Rinne in 2015.”
Andrighetto named IIHF Male Player of the Year (2025)
Even though veteran Swiss forward Sven Andrighetto would have preferred to end 2024-25 with a Worlds gold medal instead of silver, he had to enjoy being named the IIHF Male Player of the Year. He is the first Swiss player to receive this special award.
Finishing second in WM goal-scoring (seven goals), Andrighetto also made a massive impact with his domestic club, ZSC Zurich Lions. The former NHLer not only won the Swiss NL title and the Champions Hockey League title, but also led both competitions in scoring (22 points in each case).
When you eclipse a World Championship record set by Finnish superstar Pekka Rinne, you know you’re doing something right as a goaltender.
At 37, the ultra-athletic Leonardo Genoni employed his butterfly style to excellent effect at the Worlds in Stockholm and Herning. In seven games, he racked up a tournament-leading four shutouts, 0.99 GAA and 95.3 save percentage en route to MVP honours.
And as IIHF.com’s Andrew Podnieks reported about Switzerland’s 1-0 overtime loss to the U.S. in the final: “The Americans outshot Switzerland 40-25 but Genoni was sensational. He had a shutout streak of 243:27 over the last five games he played, including three shutouts, bettering the modern-day record of 238:05 set by Pekka Rinne in 2015.”
Andrighetto named IIHF Male Player of the Year (2025)
Even though veteran Swiss forward Sven Andrighetto would have preferred to end 2024-25 with a Worlds gold medal instead of silver, he had to enjoy being named the IIHF Male Player of the Year. He is the first Swiss player to receive this special award.
Finishing second in WM goal-scoring (seven goals), Andrighetto also made a massive impact with his domestic club, ZSC Zurich Lions. The former NHLer not only won the Swiss NL title and the Champions Hockey League title, but also led both competitions in scoring (22 points in each case).
Genoni amazes as Swiss come close again (2025)
When you eclipse a World Championship record set by Finnish superstar Pekka Rinne, you know you’re doing something right as a goaltender.
At 37, the ultra-athletic Leonardo Genoni employed his butterfly style to excellent effect at the Worlds in Stockholm and Herning. In seven games, he racked up a tournament-leading four shutouts, 0.99 GAA and 95.3 save percentage en route to MVP honours.
And as IIHF.com’s Andrew Podnieks reported about Switzerland’s 1-0 overtime loss to the U.S. in the final: “The Americans outshot Switzerland 40-25 but Genoni was sensational. He had a shutout streak of 243:27 over the last five games he played, including three shutouts, bettering the modern-day record of 238:05 set by Pekka Rinne in 2015.”
When you eclipse a World Championship record set by Finnish superstar Pekka Rinne, you know you’re doing something right as a goaltender.
At 37, the ultra-athletic Leonardo Genoni employed his butterfly style to excellent effect at the Worlds in Stockholm and Herning. In seven games, he racked up a tournament-leading four shutouts, 0.99 GAA and 95.3 save percentage en route to MVP honours.
And as IIHF.com’s Andrew Podnieks reported about Switzerland’s 1-0 overtime loss to the U.S. in the final: “The Americans outshot Switzerland 40-25 but Genoni was sensational. He had a shutout streak of 243:27 over the last five games he played, including three shutouts, bettering the modern-day record of 238:05 set by Pekka Rinne in 2015.”