Don’t Sleep on Switzerland: Pius Suter and the Swiss National Team Are Ready to Surprise in Milan
While the usual suspects-Team USA, Canada, Sweden, and Finland-dominate the Olympic hockey conversation, there’s another nation quietly building momentum and confidence ahead of the Milano-Cortina Games: Switzerland. And if you ask St. Louis Blues forward Pius Suter, he’ll tell you plainly-overlooking the Swiss would be a mistake.
Suter is one of five Blues players heading to the Olympics, and he’s bringing a message that’s equal parts pride and warning: this Swiss team isn’t just happy to be here. They’re here to compete. And after back-to-back silver medals at the 2024 and 2025 IIHF World Championships, they’ve got every reason to believe they can hang with the best.
“Guys won back-to-back silvers, so that’s obviously not coming from nowhere,” Suter said before departing for Italy. “It’s one game and we’ll see how it goes. We’ll be ready to battle, give it our all, and see what happens.”
A Roster That’s Quietly Loaded
Switzerland may not carry the same international hockey pedigree as the so-called “Big Four,” but this year’s Olympic roster is stacked with NHL talent. Ten current NHL players will suit up for the Swiss, including Suter himself. The forward corps features names like Nico Hischier and Timo Meier from the Devils, Kevin Fiala of the Kings, Nino Niederreiter from the Jets, and Philipp Kurashev of the Sharks.
On the blue line, there’s Roman Josi-arguably one of the best defensemen in the game-alongside Jonas Siegenthaler (Devils) and J.J. Moser (Lightning). Between the pipes, Akira Schmid (Golden Knights) gives Switzerland a young, athletic option in goal.
And that’s just the current NHL crop. The Swiss lineup also includes several former NHLers, such as goalie Reto Berra (a 2006 fourth-round pick by the Blues), defensemen Dean Kukan and Tim Berni, and forwards Denis Malgin, Sven Andrighetto, Christoph Bertschy, and Calvin Thurkauf. It’s a group with experience, chemistry, and a shared chip on its shoulder.
For Suter, there’s excitement in finally sharing the ice with some of his fellow countrymen-players he’s missed at past international tournaments due to timing or circumstance.
“It’ll be nice to play with all these great Swiss players I haven’t played with,” he said. “There’s quite a few guys actually, because we always missed each other in the Worlds.
I was there and they weren’t, and vice versa. I’m looking forward to being on the same team as some of those guys.”
Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
Switzerland hasn’t medaled in men’s Olympic hockey since 1948, when they took home bronze on home ice in St. Moritz. That drought spans generations, but players like Suter grew up watching Swiss legends who helped put the country on the hockey map.
One of those trailblazers? Mark Streit.
Streit, who played 786 NHL games from 2005 to 2018, was a key figure in the rise of Swiss hockey. He was the first Swiss-born player to really carve out a long-term NHL career, suiting up for the Canadiens, Islanders, Flyers, and Penguins. For Suter and many of his teammates, Streit was proof that Swiss players could thrive in North America.
“He was kind of that first guy that came along until Roman [Josi] came along and Nino [Niederreiter] and all these guys,” Suter said. “He made the breakthrough, played a lot of games.”
Suter also spoke to the growing popularity of the sport back home. While soccer still reigns supreme, hockey has carved out a strong following in Switzerland. Tournaments like the Spengler Cup and the steady rise of Swiss players in the NHL have only fueled that passion.
“Hockey was always big,” Suter said. “Always behind soccer, the second team sport.
Obviously there’s skiing and all that stuff, but hockey was always very popular. It’s always had a lot of fans.
People care about it. Now more [Swiss] guys play here [in the NHL], there’s more of a presence.”
Olympic Dreams, Close to Home
This won’t be Suter’s first Olympic appearance-he played in the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang-but this one hits a little closer to home. Literally.
With the Games taking place in Milan, Suter expects a strong contingent of family and friends in the stands. It’s a rare and special opportunity to represent your country on one of the biggest stages in sports, in front of familiar faces.
“It means a lot to represent your country,” he said. “Best on best, and it’s going to be so close to home.
It’ll be nice to have family and friends coming down. I’m going to guess it’s going to be a bit of home games for us there.
It’s a big honor and an awesome experience.”
Switzerland opens its tournament Thursday against France, and for many on the roster, it’ll be their first taste of Olympic hockey. Suter’s advice? Soak it all in.
“Honestly, it’s the overall experience,” he said. “Just because as a kid, you would watch the Winter and Summer Olympics. You see everyone walking in the opening ceremony representing your country and all that stuff.”
The last time Suter was there, the results on the ice didn’t match the excitement off it. But this time around, there’s a different energy.
A different vibe. A team that’s been knocking on the door internationally now has a chance to kick it down.
And if they do, don’t say Pius Suter didn’t warn you.