Via “mess” to the title? Switzerland’s outstanding team to date, which beat Norway 6-0 (1-0, 3-0, 2-0) in the semi-finals, is aiming for its first ice hockey World Cup triumph in its own country.
This time it should finally work. For the third time in a row, Switzerland is in the final of the Ice Hockey World Cup. In 2024 in the Czech Republic they lost 2-0 to the hosts, and a year later they unfortunately lost 0-1 in extra time to the USA in the final in Stockholm.
But now the Swiss feel ready. “We have gained a lot of experience over the last few years and now we can implement what we have learned from it”explains Sven Andrighetto. The 33-year-old from Zurich SC has now scored a sensational 15 points (four goals, eleven assists) in nine games and topped the tournament list ahead of all NHL stars.
Andrighetto and Malgin – hard to stop
Together with his teammate Denis Malgin (13 scorer points), Andrighetto forms the outstanding strike duo of the World Cup. Fast, agile, full of tricks – the two former NHL players, who each have almost ten years in North America under their belt, but have formed a brilliant storm duo in Zurich with the local Lions since 2023 – Andrighetto is a real horror for the “Nati”‘s previous opponents.
The German team was also able to see for themselves the quality of the Swiss. In the preliminary round, the DEB cracks lost to the Swiss 1:6 – it was a real slap. Andrighetto scored twice and the German defenders were no longer able to counter the Swiss attack after a balanced first third in the following 40 minutes.
Neuro-athletic trainer drove away the dizziness
Andrighetto’s participation in the World Cup was shaky until shortly before the start of the tournament. The striker suffered a concussion in the quarter-finals of the Swiss championship, which kept him out of action for more than six weeks.
Only working with a neuro-athletic trainer brought relief from the constant dizziness. The astonishing consequence of rehab: “It helps me slow down the game for myself on the ice. I perceive information more quickly and am calmer when making decisions. I would almost say that I have come back better than before the injury.”
In the Swiss team, however, it’s not just the boys from Zurich who put their stamp on the game. Led by captain and veteran star Roman Josi, who made his way onto the all-star team at the 2013 World Cup, the “Nati”, in which six NHL players race across the ice, celebrates “ice hockey total”.
“Mess” as a system
The system of coach Jan Cadieux, who only took over the office from his long-standing predecessor Patrick Fischer in April 2026, is not a correct one at all. Experts call the style of play “positionless hockey” in which the classic fixed positions – defender, center or wing – are interpreted more flexibly.
Jan Cadieux and players – “mess” as a system
Instead of each player just fulfilling their traditional task, everyone moves dynamically across the entire ice surface and takes on different roles depending on the situation. A defender is suddenly the front man and a striker protects at the back. Defender as playmaker, wing as defensive worker, center as space interpreter. This creates a faster, more creative and more difficult to predict game.
Andrighetto and his colleagues have virtually perfected the “mess” – and are aiming for the title in the final. It would be the longed-for first triumph after four runner-up titles (2013, 2018, 2024, 2025).
