The Swiss anthem is played after the home team's opening 3-1 win over the U.S. at Zurich's Swiss Life Arena on 15 May, 2026.
photo: PHOTO: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / ANDRE RINGUETTE
After beating the defending champion U.S. 3-1 to open the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Zurich, Switzerland’s Calvin Thurkauf couldn’t even begin to estimate how much he had spent on tickets for family and friends.
However, the 28-year-old HC Lugano forward, who grew up about half an hour from Zurich in Zug, pointed out: “You like to do that for your family and friends! We're super-happy that our families and friends and wives and girlfriends can all support us here, and we hope to make the best out of it at this tournament.”
To have a sellout crowd of 10,000 at Swiss Life Arena – chanting “Hopp Schwiiz!” and singing with gusto all night long – certainly added excitement and emotion as the red-and-white team kicked off its quest to win home-ice gold. Sven Andrighetto, the ZSC Lions Zurich sniper who was voted the 2025 IIHF Male Player of the Year, scored the eventual winner midway through the first period.
However, the 28-year-old HC Lugano forward, who grew up about half an hour from Zurich in Zug, pointed out: “You like to do that for your family and friends! We're super-happy that our families and friends and wives and girlfriends can all support us here, and we hope to make the best out of it at this tournament.”
To have a sellout crowd of 10,000 at Swiss Life Arena – chanting “Hopp Schwiiz!” and singing with gusto all night long – certainly added excitement and emotion as the red-and-white team kicked off its quest to win home-ice gold. Sven Andrighetto, the ZSC Lions Zurich sniper who was voted the 2025 IIHF Male Player of the Year, scored the eventual winner midway through the first period.
The passion and loyalty of Swiss fans is on display at the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship.
photo: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / ANDRE RINGUETTE
Playing for the home team at the World Championship can be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It’s been a 17-year wait for Switzerland to host, dating back to the 2009 tournament in Berne and Kloten.
New Jersey Devils captain Nico Hischier – the first Swiss player ever drafted #1 overall (2017) – was a 10-year-old boy playing youth hockey in Visp during the 2009 Worlds.
“I watched on TV and I was in Berne for a couple of games,” said Hischier. “It was pretty cool. So it’s pretty special and it’s nice [to host again in 2026]. Even my grandparents will be able to come. For something like that, I don’t really have the opportunity when I play overseas.”
Coach Jan Cadieux’s team is eager not to squander this chance. The Swiss suffered the heartbreak of accepting the last two silver medals. They lost the 2024 final 2-0 to the Czechs in Prague and the 2025 final 1-0 in overtime to the Americans in Stockholm.
So how much of a factor was “let’s get a little payback” versus the U.S. on Friday?
“Obviously it still stings a bit, for sure,” Hischier said. “But at the end of the day, it’s a new tournament. The Americans always have a good team, and it’s good to start with a win, especially against these guys.”
New Jersey Devils captain Nico Hischier – the first Swiss player ever drafted #1 overall (2017) – was a 10-year-old boy playing youth hockey in Visp during the 2009 Worlds.
“I watched on TV and I was in Berne for a couple of games,” said Hischier. “It was pretty cool. So it’s pretty special and it’s nice [to host again in 2026]. Even my grandparents will be able to come. For something like that, I don’t really have the opportunity when I play overseas.”
Coach Jan Cadieux’s team is eager not to squander this chance. The Swiss suffered the heartbreak of accepting the last two silver medals. They lost the 2024 final 2-0 to the Czechs in Prague and the 2025 final 1-0 in overtime to the Americans in Stockholm.
So how much of a factor was “let’s get a little payback” versus the U.S. on Friday?
“Obviously it still stings a bit, for sure,” Hischier said. “But at the end of the day, it’s a new tournament. The Americans always have a good team, and it’s good to start with a win, especially against these guys.”
There is a special spotlight on the host team, and they hope to make their family and friends happy.
photo: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / ANDRE RINGUETTE
Superstar defenceman Roman Josi can put it all in perspective. The 35-year-old Nashville Predators captain is the most accomplished Swiss NHLer of all time: the all-time leader in assists (576) and points (779), the lone individual trophy winner (Norris Trophy, 2020), the games-played leader (1030, tied with Nino Niederreiter), and so on.
Josi is also the lone active player who suited up for Switzerland in the 2009 home opener in his native Berne, a 1-0 win over France. In front of 11,417 fans at PostFinance Arena, Martin Pluss scored the mid-game power-play winner and Martin Gerber recorded the shutout.
“It was my first Worlds, so it was pretty special,” Josi recalled. “Being able to play it at home was even cooler. It was a long time ago. I don’t remember the games that well, maybe some of the games. But playing at home in that atmosphere in front of our fans is always special.”
Against the French, Josi logged 13:15 of ice time alongside Mathias Seger, who would be inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2020 after playing 106 WM games (the fifth-most ever).
Josi is also the lone active player who suited up for Switzerland in the 2009 home opener in his native Berne, a 1-0 win over France. In front of 11,417 fans at PostFinance Arena, Martin Pluss scored the mid-game power-play winner and Martin Gerber recorded the shutout.
“It was my first Worlds, so it was pretty special,” Josi recalled. “Being able to play it at home was even cooler. It was a long time ago. I don’t remember the games that well, maybe some of the games. But playing at home in that atmosphere in front of our fans is always special.”
Against the French, Josi logged 13:15 of ice time alongside Mathias Seger, who would be inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2020 after playing 106 WM games (the fifth-most ever).
Berne fans go wild after host Switzerland's 1-0 win over France to open the 2009 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship.
photo: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / MATTHEW MANOR
“He was such an amazing captain,” Josi said. “So many amazing memories of him. We had so many good leaders that came before us, like Seger, [Mark] Streit, [Ivo] Ruthemann, Pluss, [Andres] Ambuhl, all those guys. Amazing players. They laid the foundation, and we’re just trying to keep it going.”
And they have. Back in 2009, going for gold was just a distant dream for the Swiss. Winning rivalry games with France or Germany, or making the quarter-finals – those were Switzerland’s benchmarks for success. Times have changed.
So getting to share the home-ice journey with his loved ones means the world to Josi.
“All of my close family from Berne was here tonight. And my kids and my wife are coming next week. That'll be fun to have them here too.”
At times, hockey can be cruel. The Swiss also hope a championship run can help them wipe away memories of the reversal of fortune they suffered less than three months ago in Milan.
In the 2026 Olympic quarter-finals, Damien Riat and Nino Nieddereiter staked Switzerland to a 2-0 first-period lead. But a third-period collapse saw Sebastian Aho and Miro Heiskanen draw Finland even with just over a minute left in regulation. Artturi Lehkonen completed Suomi’s comeback with the 3-2 sudden-death winner at 3:23.
Even then, however, the loyal and well-travelled Swiss fans gave their team an ovation at game’s end.
Forward Christoph Bertschy, who just won a Swiss NL title with HC Fribourg-Gotteron, noted: “There’s been a lot of Swiss fans everywhere we’ve played the championship. So it’s pretty sick everywhere we go! But to play at home, it’s a different level. You walk out on the ice and everybody goes crazy. Less than three minutes in [against the U.S.], we score that first goal, and it explodes for the first time. You get goosebumps! So I’m excited for the next game.”
Facing Latvia on Sunday night isn’t a guaranteed three points. The Swiss have a long way to go. But they also have a bona fide shot at winning at home, which Sweden did in 2013 and Finland in 2022. If they do, the party will be long-remembered and the ripple effects for Swiss hockey will be incalculable.
And they have. Back in 2009, going for gold was just a distant dream for the Swiss. Winning rivalry games with France or Germany, or making the quarter-finals – those were Switzerland’s benchmarks for success. Times have changed.
So getting to share the home-ice journey with his loved ones means the world to Josi.
“All of my close family from Berne was here tonight. And my kids and my wife are coming next week. That'll be fun to have them here too.”
At times, hockey can be cruel. The Swiss also hope a championship run can help them wipe away memories of the reversal of fortune they suffered less than three months ago in Milan.
In the 2026 Olympic quarter-finals, Damien Riat and Nino Nieddereiter staked Switzerland to a 2-0 first-period lead. But a third-period collapse saw Sebastian Aho and Miro Heiskanen draw Finland even with just over a minute left in regulation. Artturi Lehkonen completed Suomi’s comeback with the 3-2 sudden-death winner at 3:23.
Even then, however, the loyal and well-travelled Swiss fans gave their team an ovation at game’s end.
Forward Christoph Bertschy, who just won a Swiss NL title with HC Fribourg-Gotteron, noted: “There’s been a lot of Swiss fans everywhere we’ve played the championship. So it’s pretty sick everywhere we go! But to play at home, it’s a different level. You walk out on the ice and everybody goes crazy. Less than three minutes in [against the U.S.], we score that first goal, and it explodes for the first time. You get goosebumps! So I’m excited for the next game.”
Facing Latvia on Sunday night isn’t a guaranteed three points. The Swiss have a long way to go. But they also have a bona fide shot at winning at home, which Sweden did in 2013 and Finland in 2022. If they do, the party will be long-remembered and the ripple effects for Swiss hockey will be incalculable.