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For the second time in a row, the women’s ice hockey world championship will take place in summer. The Swiss team is full of anticipation and confidence.
A women’s ice hockey world championship in midsummer is nothing new. Last year, the title fights, which were postponed due to Covid, only took place in August. The 2022 tournament from August 25th to September 4th in Denmark is a premiere insofar as a women’s World Cup will be held for the first time in an Olympic year. A change in the statutes of the IIHF makes it possible.
And so it is that the best Swiss ice hockey players are currently training and toiling away under the supervision of coach Colin Muller at the OYM in Cham. The transfer to Denmark will follow in the middle of next week, where the team will get the finishing touches for the World Cup. In the top group A, the Swiss will meet Canada, the USA, Finland and Japan. The Asians are the first opponent on August 26 at 18:30 CET.
Its a lot to do
The fact that the Swiss World Cup adventure only begins in two and a half weeks is convenient for Coach Muller. Because he says: “We’re not in top form yet. But it’s coming slowly.” You still have to improve, not least in the “Special Teams”.
Alina Müller, one of Switzerland’s key players, agrees. “It’s unusual to go to a World Cup without preparatory games, where you should then play the best hockey. Nevertheless, we try to push ourselves in every training session,” says the striker, who was named Player of the Year at the Swiss Ice Hockey Awards at the end of July.
This time we want to bring home a medal.
Müller makes no secret of where the journey in Denmark should go. “We want a medal – of course,” says the 24-year-old who is involved in Boston. Muller is also committed to winning bronze – behind the superior teams from Canada and the USA. “We’ll probably have to beat Finland or the Czech Republic for this,” believes the 58-year-old, adding: “This time we want to bring a medal home.”
This year, for the 21st time, there will be an A World Championship for women, for the 18th time with Switzerland. For the first time, the SIHF selection was able to win a medal: in 2012 they secured bronze. Two years later, the same coup succeeded at the Olympic Games in Sochi. Since then, the Swiss women have been waiting for more precious metal. If they have their way, the dry spell in Denmark should end.