F Jonah Neuenschwander - Biel-Bienne, U15-Elit (2027 Draft)

[Hinterland]

Made his debut for EHC Biel-Bienne mens team, playing 2nd line RW. Very impressive for a 15 year old. Assisted on the first goal of the game.

Biel's social media crew has a strange way to list the lines. The official lineup card has them in the correct order.

Neuenschwander played with Sallinen and Heponiemi. That's Biel's topline all day every day. Sallinen and Heponiemi are the forwards playing the heaviest minutes.

 

[Kuracmugger]

He‘s only the 5th u16 Player to play in the NL ever. Let‘s see how he develops…

 

[Hinterland]

He‘s only the 5th u16 Player to play in the NL ever. Let‘s see how he develops…

...and he wasn't just in the lineup. He played 14 minutes with the two imports relied upon to play the toughest shifts. Not against any team but against Lausanne...a team playing for 1st place. Neuenschwander was part of the 2nd PP unit that scored the all important 1st goal as well. Neuenschwander doesn't look like a 15yo either. He's a pretty big kid already.

Hope he gets into more games. He certainly earned more looks.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Swiss might have a first rounder in 2026 and 2027?

 

[BKarchitect]

Does Neuenschwander typically play on the right wing as a left shot (I'm assuming EP is correct there)?

Lots of these very young, high-end Swiss talents seem more like wingers than centers...are the top center prospects like Schenk and Bouvard?

 

[Hinterland]

Does Neuenschwander typically play on the right wing as a left shot (I'm assuming EP is correct there)?

Lots of these very young, high-end Swiss talents seem more like wingers than centers...are the top center prospects like Schenk and Bouvard?

Neuenschwander is very much a Center. He beat out Noé Tarchini, one of the top Swiss 06 born Centers, for the 1C spot on the U20 elite team. Tarchini is a natural Center who's playing C in international games, including last season's WJC18, as well. Tarchini started the season as 1C but was moved to the wing to make space for Neuenschwander.

No team in Europe's top leagues is gonna play a 15yo at Center. I don't know if that ever happened. Surely not in the 1st game. Topline and 2nd PP unit like Neuenschwander is already quite rare for pro debut at the highest level of a 15 yo. I'll be shocked if he gets to play Center in the NL this season. U18 players hardly ever get to play Center at the highest level in Europe. Those aren't development leagues and hockey is a business.

 

[BKarchitect]

Neuenschwander is very much a Center. He beat out Noé Tarchini, one of the top Swiss 06 born Centers, for the 1C spot on the U20 elite team. Tarchini is a natural Center who's playing C in international games, including last season's WJC18, as well. Tarchini started the season as 1C but was moved to the wing to make space for Neuenschwander.

No team in Europe's top leagues is gonna play a 15yo at Center. I don't know if that ever happened. Surely not in the 1st game. Topline and 2nd PP unit like Neuenschwander is already quite rare for pro debut at the highest level of a 15 yo. I'll be shocked if he gets to play Center in the NL this season. U18 players hardly ever get to play Center at the highest level in Europe. Those aren't development leagues and hockey is a business.

Awesome, yeah that makes sense.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Will he be at the World U18’s?

 

[Hinterland]

Will he be at the World U18’s?

I mean he absolutely should. Lars Steiner most certainly won't be there because the Huskies are far too strong this season. Florian Schenk should be there but I'm not sure if it's a given. Besides those two the Swiss 07 forward group is very weak, especially compared to the 06 kids but the 08/09 kids as well.

With Steiner unavailable, Neuenschwander, Domenichelli and the most talented 08 born forwards should all make the WJC18 team.

If previous selections are an indication it's totally not gonna happen though. Head Coach Fabio Schumacher didn't select a single underager for the Hlinka Gretzky and just Clemens Troxler and Fabrice Bouvard for the five nations in Czechia.

 

[Hinterland]

Played 14mins with Heponiemi and Sallinen on the topline again yesterday.

Biel has another game today but I doubt they're gonna play Neuenschwander back to back. Especially since Coach Filander said it's top6 or nothing for Neuenschwander. They're not gonna play him in the bottom six anytime soon. They think he's good/refined enough to play top6 and they don't wanna waste his time by calling him up to play bottom six.