Switzerland — Hockey

Hockey is one of the most popular sports in Switzerland, enjoying strong attendance figures and passionate fan support across the country's linguistic regions. Switzerland fields 68 teams across 4 leagues, with the National League as the premier domestic competition. The National League (formerly National League A) is one of the best-attended hockey leagues in Europe.

Swiss hockey benefits from a wealthy, sports-loving population, excellent infrastructure, and a strong tradition of competition. The league features clubs from the German-speaking, French-speaking, and Italian-speaking regions, creating a unique cultural dynamic. SC Bern, ZSC Lions, and HC Davos are among the most storied clubs in European hockey.

The national team has improved markedly in recent years, becoming a regular threat at the IIHF World Championship and producing an increasing number of NHL players. Switzerland's combination of competitive domestic hockey, world-class arenas, and growing international success makes it one of the strongest hockey nations in Europe.

Hockey has a long and distinguished history in Switzerland, dating back to the early 1900s. The Swiss Ice Hockey Federation, founded in 1908, is one of the oldest in the world. The Spengler Cup, inaugurated in Davos in 1910, is the oldest invitational ice hockey tournament in existence and remains one of the most prestigious annual events in European hockey.

Switzerland was a competitive force in the early decades of international hockey, winning bronze medals at the 1928 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz and at the 1953 World Championship. The Swiss league developed steadily through the 20th century, and the country's hockey culture has deep roots in cities across all three major linguistic regions.

The 21st century has seen Swiss hockey reach new heights. The national team achieved silver medals at the 2013 and 2018 World Championships, and Swiss players have become increasingly prominent in the NHL, with Roman Josi, Nino Niederreiter, Timo Meier, and Nico Hischier among the most notable. The National League's combination of high attendance, competitive balance, and excellent infrastructure has made it a model for domestic hockey leagues across Europe.

The Swiss Ice Hockey Federation (Swiss Ice Hockey, SIHF) is the governing body for Hockey in Switzerland. Founded in 1908, the SIHF oversees the National League, lower domestic divisions, national team programmes, and grassroots development. It also organises the Spengler Cup, the world's oldest invitational hockey tournament.

As a member of the IIHF, the SIHF plays an active role in international hockey governance. The federation's headquarters are in Bern, and it manages hockey across Switzerland's multilingual regions.

The Switzerland Hockey league system is headed by the National League (formerly National League A), featuring 14 teams and widely recognised as one of the strongest and best-attended leagues in European hockey. The Swiss League (formerly National League B) serves as the second tier, with promotion and relegation linking the two divisions.

Lower tiers include the MySports League and regional amateur leagues. The Swiss Cup provides additional knockout competition. The Spengler Cup, held annually in Davos between Christmas and New Year, is a celebrated invitational tournament featuring top European clubs and the Canadian national team.

Switzerland has achieved notable success in international Hockey, with two World Championship silver medals (2013 and 2018) representing the pinnacle of the modern national team's achievements. In the early Olympic era, Switzerland won bronze medals at the 1928 and 1948 Winter Games, both held on home ice in St. Moritz.

Swiss players have also made a significant impact in the NHL in recent years. Roman Josi, captain of the Nashville Predators and a Norris Trophy winner, is one of the premier defencemen in the sport. Nico Hischier, Timo Meier, and Nino Niederreiter have further raised the profile of Swiss hockey internationally.

Switzerland has some of the finest Hockey arenas in Europe. The PostFinance Arena in Bern, home of SC Bern, has a capacity of over 17,000 and is one of the largest and most atmospheric hockey venues on the continent. SC Bern regularly leads European attendance figures. Other excellent arenas include the Hallenstadion in Zurich (home of ZSC Lions), the Vaudoise Arena in Lausanne, and facilities in Zug, Lugano, and Fribourg. The Eisstadion in Davos, home of HC Davos and the annual Spengler Cup, holds a special place in hockey history.