2016 U18 World Championship Preview: Switzerland looking to do more than simply avoid

[HF Article]

Photo: Team Switzerland competed in the medal round of the 2015 IIHF U18 World Championship in front of their home crowd, and will look to make a return at this year’s event in Grand Forks, ND.


</p>At last year’s IIHF U18 World Championship, Switzerland finished the tournament supported by a partisan home crowd in Zug, ultimately placing fourth. It was the second time the Swiss finished a championship at home in the top-4 of the world. The core of that group, who snuck into the medal round with a last minute overtime win against Latvia, was built around the 97-class, which was one of the strongest and deepest Switzerland has ever produced.… read more

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[Zorkan]

I would be very surprised if Switzerland did not have to fight hard against relegation with this team; the only player with a matching skill set for this tournament is Hischier (and maybe Ritz if he continues the way he played in the first period against the Russians).

 

[Crackster]

I would be very surprised if Switzerland did not have to fight hard against relegation with this team; the only player with a matching skill set for this tournament is Hischier (and maybe Ritz if he continues the way he played in the first period against the Russians).

I was also concerned at the beginning and I think the strong goaltending class and forwards probably will save this team. Next season will be even tougher... The 99 class is even more weak than the 98 and it's lacking solid goaltender. They could turn to a 2000-born goalie, but so far I haven't seen one who'd be capable to play as an underager...

 

[krax]

I was also concerned at the beginning and I think the strong goaltending class and forwards probably will save this team. Next season will be even tougher... The 99 class is even more weak than the 98 and it's lacking solid goaltender. They could turn to a 2000-born goalie, but so far I haven't seen one who'd be capable to play as an underager...

Hm, sounds like the decline of Swiss icehockey.

Hischier, Simic, Le Coultre, Kurashev, Eggenberger, Geisser were among the better Swiss players in Grand Forks. This sounds like a good core for 2017.
F: Tanner, Derungs, Sigrist, Döpfner, Leuenberger, Müller, Seiler seem ok to me.
D: you are probably right here. No names really stick out. Maybe Zeiter. Nico Gross of course, a 2000 born player, playing in Grand Forks and doing ok.

Goaltending I don't know. I don't understand goalies ;-)