On May 9, 2025, Switzerland's ice hockey team faced a heartbreaking defeat against the Czech Republic in their opening game of the World Championship in Herning, Denmark, losing 5-4 in overtime. This marked the first time Switzerland has lost their opening match since 2016, when they fell to Kazakhstan in a penalty shootout.
The Swiss team got off to a dream start, with ZSC Lions defender Christian Marti scoring just 94 seconds into the game. Marti's shot, which caught Czech goalie Karel Vejmelka off guard, was a remarkable achievement for the 32-year-old, who had only scored once in his previous 90 international appearances. "The shot was exactly as planned," Marti jokingly remarked during an interview with SRF. "No, I just shot a bit. Sometimes it goes in, and sometimes it doesn’t."
Shortly after Marti's goal, Switzerland doubled their lead when Damien Riat found the back of the net in the 18th minute after a rebound. However, the Czech Republic responded quickly, with Matej Stransky scoring on a power play just before the first intermission, narrowing the gap to 2-1.
The second period saw a shift in momentum as the Czechs took control of the game. Filip Zadina scored the equalizer at 27 minutes, and Filip Pyrochta put the Czechs ahead 3-2 at 36 minutes, taking advantage of a fatigued Swiss defense. The Swiss struggled to maintain possession and were clearly outmatched during this stretch, leading to frustration among the players.
Swiss forward Sven Andrighetto commented on the team's struggles in the second period, saying, "We had a good start to the game, then it slipped from our hands. In the second period, we were a bit overrun. We couldn’t execute what we had planned and need to take responsibility for that." Despite the challenges, Andrighetto managed to score in the third period, putting Switzerland back in the lead at 4-3 after Sandro Schmid had tied the game 3-3 with his first international goal during a power play.
With just over four minutes left in the game, Switzerland appeared to be on the verge of victory. However, Denis Malgin took a penalty for shooting the puck over the glass, which proved costly. Lukas Sedlak scored for the Czechs on the power play to tie the game 4-4 with only 3.5 minutes remaining, forcing the match into overtime.
In the overtime period, the tension was palpable as both teams battled for supremacy. The decisive moment came when Roman Cervenka, combining with NHL star David Pastrnak, scored the winning goal for the Czech Republic, sealing Switzerland's fate. "We should be able to kill a penalty," Marti expressed his frustration after the game. "We showed a good performance but were not rewarded in the end. We were only a little over four minutes away from victory."
Swiss head coach Patrick Fischer echoed Marti's sentiments, acknowledging the need for improvement as the tournament progresses. "For the spectators, it was surely a good game, but for the coach, it was a bit too wild," Fischer said. He praised the performance of the five debutants on the team, including Schmid, who made a significant impact despite the loss.
Despite the disappointment, the Swiss team will look to regroup quickly as they prepare for their next match against Denmark on May 10, 2025, at 20:20. The players are eager to bounce back and demonstrate their resilience in the tournament.
With 10,500 fans in attendance, the atmosphere was electric, showcasing the passion and dedication of ice hockey supporters. As the tournament unfolds, Switzerland aims to build on their early performance, learn from their mistakes, and strive for a stronger showing in the upcoming matches.
In summary, while the opening game didn’t go as planned for Switzerland, the team displayed moments of brilliance that they can build upon. With critical adjustments and a focus on execution, the Swiss players are determined to make their mark in this year’s World Championship.
