Of Favourites and Underdogs

This year’s Ice Hockey World Championship has been full of surprises — and one game in particular will go down in history.

While all three quarter-final matchups had the favored teams advancing, something extraordinary unfolded in the clash between Canada and Denmark. For the first two periods, the scoreboard remained frozen at 0:0. Denmark did manage to put one in the net, but the goal was disallowed due to a hand pass.

It wasn’t until the 45th minute that Canada’s Travis Sanheim finally broke the deadlock. Up 1:0 and less than four minutes left on the clock, things looked like they were going as expected — at least on paper.

But Denmark wasn’t done yet.

They pulled their goalie, Frederik Dichow, who had been sensational all game. With an extra attacker on the ice, Danish NHL forward Nikolaj Ehlers (Winnipeg Jets) scored the equalizer. The game, played in Herning, Denmark, erupted in thunderous celebration — a roar worthy of a hometown miracle.

Historically, Team Canada doesn’t always send its biggest stars to the Worlds. But this year was different. Players like Marc-André Fleury, aiming to join the prestigious Triple Gold Club, along with Ryan O’Reilly, Sidney Crosby, and Nathan MacKinnon (just to name a few), were in the lineup. So, you can imagine the Canadian fans’ frustration: why wasn’t the scoreboard reading 5:1 by now?

With momentum shifting, Denmark put Dichow back in goal. And then, at 59:11, Nick Olesen scored the game-winning goal. Denmark had done the unthinkable: beaten mighty Canada 2:1 and reached the semi-finals for the first time ever!

Their next opponent? Switzerland — my team.

But the story didn’t end with the final buzzer. That’s when things got... quirky.

Planes, Plans, and Underpants

To understand what happened next, a bit of geography helps. The Group A matches — featuring Sweden, Finland, and Canada — were played in Stockholm. Group B teams, including the USA, Switzerland, and Denmark, played in Herning.

So, when Canada lost in Herning, they faced an unexpected logistical snag: their personal belongings were still in Stockholm. After all, they hadn’t planned on leaving the tournament quite this early. Rumor has it they even had to fly back to Stockholm on the same plane as the victorious Danish team — ouch.

Now, to be fair, Herning doesn’t have an international airport, so any team would have had to catch a connecting flight from somewhere like Copenhagen or Billund anyway. But still — symbolically, it stung. So much for Canada’s bitter pill.

Meanwhile, the Danes were dealing with their own “unexpected semi-finalist” problems. Having never made it this far before, they reportedly had to go shopping for clean underwear in a local warehouse. Because who packs extra boxers for a once-in-a-lifetime run to the semis?

Lessons from the Rink

So, what can we take away from all this?

• 🩲 Hope for the best, prepare for the worst — but whatever you do, bring enough boxer shorts.

• 🏒 A hockey game lasts 60 minutes. It ain't over till it's over.

• 🎶 Don’t stop believing (Journey’s been telling us since 1981).

Here’s to the magic of underdogs, the chaos of travel logistics, and the thrill of a puck that changes everything.

Go Switzerland! Time to Turn Bittersweet Silver into Gold

While the hockey world was still reeling from Denmark’s historic upset, Switzerland stayed calm, focused, and utterly dominant. After a confident 6:0 win over Austria in the quarter-final, our team went on to shut out Denmark 7:0 in the semi-final — a performance that left no doubt: Switzerland means business.

Now, tonight we’re heading into the final against the USA. No one’s expecting an easy match, but after three bittersweet silver medals (2013, 2018, 2024), we know this team has what it takes to push through. The hunger is there. The skill is there. The moment is now.

And let’s not forget Leonardo Genoni, who recorded yet another shutout — tying the legendary Jiří Holeček with 12 shutouts at World Championships, the most in history. A cool, quiet wall at the back, Genoni has been nothing short of outstanding.

🇨🇭 Hopp Schwiiz! Let’s turn history into glory and finally bring that gold medal home. 🏆

A Legend's last Stand: Andres Ambühl bows out in Style

As Switzerland chases its first-ever World Championship gold, one man’s story stands out: Andres Ambühl, the heart and soul of the national team, is making his 20th and final World Championship appearance — a record unmatched in the sport.

At 41 years old, Ambühl not only continues to compete at the highest level but also made history by becoming the oldest player to score a hat-trick in a World Championship game, netting three goals in Switzerland's commanding 10:0 victory over Hungary. ​

Throughout his illustrious career, Ambühl has amassed over 1,300 games in the National League, secured six Swiss championship titles, and represented Switzerland in five Olympic Games.

As he prepares to hang up his skates, Ambühl's dedication, leadership, and passion for the game leave an indelible mark on Swiss hockey. Let's send him off with the gold medal he so richly deserves.​