Contents: Tonight, the Local Team had to face Nervous Americans, who kept on provoking the supporters’ favourite, especially in the first period. Julien Sprunger even suffered serious damage following an extreme bodycheck from Backes, who was immediately asked to leave the game. Despite tension in the air, Ambuhl opened the score in double powerplay for the great pleasure of Swiss Fans. Hainsey equalized in the second period, where Americans had calmed down a little and demonstrated faster skating skills, stronger involvement, excellent puck transmission and expert penalty killing. U.S domination was obvious at that point. Higgins even scored another goal which was later canceled for high sticking. Team Switzerland got a new advance when Lemm scored a second goal for his Nation. But Higgins succeeded foiling goalie Gerber's attention 4 minutes later. Then Hainsey shot a missile to the net in double powerplay, which reversed advantage in favor of the U.S. In the third period, the game kept on accelerating, and the White Cross Men exerted good pressure on the Yankees. Actually, they had no other choice than scoring 2 more goals within 20 little minutes in order to qualify. At the 50th minute, Switzerland started a 100mph counter-attack which ended to a goal scored by Pluss. The crowd was hysterical. The last 4 minutes that followed were perhaps the more intense moments of play in this competition so far. Unfortunately for hosting country, the Swiss did manage scoring another goal... only in overtime, which turned Latvia Happy, qualifying instead of Ralph Krueger’squad. Anyway, We vill all remember that Switzerland definitely had the potential to reach Quarter Finals. There was only missing a little chance.
Contents: Due to today’s defeat, Team Switzerland has no other solution than beating the U.S in order to qualify for Quarter Finals. Ralph Krueger’s men proved very approximate in front of a revigored and determinated Swedish selection. Oduya opened the score in the first period assisted by Eriksson and Weinhandl. Harju gave a new goal in the second during powerplay, assisted by Omark and Stralman. Omark assisted by Theornberg enlarged the gap in the third period, before Andersson scored the 4th goal, 3 minutes before the end, assisted by Persson. Hopefully for the arena spectators, Lemm saved hosting country reputation thanks to Jeannin and Ambuehl one minute later. This game offered Sweden qualification for the next round, confirming its #3 international rank.
Contents: Switzerland has finally demonstrated to the public that it could cause problems to serious opponents. After an early goal scored by Atyushov for Russia, Gardner equalized 7 minutes later, then beyond any expectation, the Helvets took the advantage with an extra goal pushed by Pluss. On the next period, Kovalchuk relieved his partners of a burden by setting back the counters at zero. Game was tough, anyone could feel the tension among the players. While Swiss defense was resisting well, Kovalchuk served Morozov at the 49th minute, who scored a third goal. 15 seconds before the bell, Perezhogin increased the gap by shooting into the empty cage. During two hours, the hosting country of the championship has been vibrating at the rythm of an over-determinated team who gave its best.
Contents: A great classic between two neighbors who know each other well and an audience totally dedicated to the organizing country. Helvets have first demonstrated a rude Hockey game facing Germans rather dexterous and fluid in their passes and moves. Besides, Ullmann opened the score at the 7th minute for the Mannschaft, followed closely by Wick for Switzerland. In the second period, Seger assisted by Paterlini gives advantage to his team and sets the crowd of supporters on fire. Schubert equalizes 10 minutes later and regenerates suspense. After a third period quite physical the ultimate goal is only scored in overtime and for full Happiness of spectators in the arena, this goal is Swiss ! The whole country can thank its NHL player Mark Streit, for Victory was not guaranteed.
What a clumsy game ! Swiss and French played a brutal Hockey, full of mistakes and imprecisions. Whole audience in the arena was of course supporting the Hosting country team, which might have felt too much pressure according to over-estimated expectations. This game has totalized no more than 16 penalties, 7 against Switzerland, 9 against France. One little Helvetic goal has been scored by Pluess in the first period during powerplay, whereas one little French goal by Yorick Treille has been canceled due to zone trespassing. Good thing about this meeting is that one can only expect better for the next games on sunday with other opponents of the group: Germany and Russia.
Pre-Competition PRESENTATION
Play Switzerland National Anthem
Status : Serious Challenger (IIHF World Ranking: 7)
Competition : Team Switzerland had impressed us last year for beating Sweden, World Competitor number 3. It had also been conspicuous against Belarus, then facing Denmark. On the other end, it showed her limits taking 5 goals to 0 vs Czech Republic, and finally yielding - with dignity though - to Russia, the actual International Champion.
A few days from the tournament start, players of Ralph Krueger will have to show an unbreakable determination and confirm their rank among the 8 nations set at the TOP of Hockey World.
Pros : Helvetic Team plays AT HOME Cons : . Players are not used to playing within international context, most of them competing for CHL (Swiss National League) . No Super-Star taking the whole pack forward
Features : Used to opposing one another within National League, Players with the White Cross have few opportunities all year-round to adapt their games and face NHL-leveled best scorers. Quality of Swiss game is set upon fluid puck sharing out, but also upon tough physical members anatomy, which can proudly rival their Northern-American rock-built opponents. Team Switzerland counts key talents awaited by the local spectators, such as accurate sniper Severin Blindenbacher (see video above), smart stick handler Thibaut Monnet or human-fortress Mark Streit. Main factor of success remaining cohesiveness among team.
Forwards : Andres Ambuhl, Thomas Deruns, Ryan Gardner, Sandy Jeannin, Romano Lemm, Thibaut Monnet, Thierry Paterlini, Martin Pluss, Kevin Romy, Ivo Ruthemann, Raffaele Sannitz, Julien Sprunger, Roman Wick, Thomas Ziegler
Defensemen : Goran Bezina, Severin Blindenbacher, Raphael Diaz, Félicien Du Bois, Philippe Furrer, Roman Josi, Mathias Seger, Mark Streit
Goaltenders : Martin Gerber, Daniel Manzato, Ronnie Rueger
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