The U18 national team starts its World Championship preparations with 25 outfield players and three goalkeepers. In addition, two players, Lars Steiner and Elia Pedrotti, are still playing in the Canadian QMJHL playoffs. In the course of the preparation, the squad will be reduced to 22 outfield players and three goaltenders. The final World Championship squad is expected to be announced on April 22, 2025.
“Our expectations of the players and staff are clear: we want to be the hardest-working team. We will perform with high intensity and as a unit. A shared positive mindset is crucial. The competition is fierce, especially with the two players who are still in the play-offs – everyone has to be ready to prove themselves,” says head coach Fabio Schumacher.
Switzerland will begin its World Cup preparations on Monday, April 7, 2025, at the OYM in Zug. An internal test match against the U19s is scheduled for three days later. The team will depart for the USA on April 12. Before the first serious match in Texas, a test against Finland awaits on April 16 and another against Slovakia on April 21.
Switzerland’s match schedule
In Group B, Switzerland will face Germany, Sweden, the Czech Republic and hosts USA. The games will be played at the Comerica Center as follows:
Wednesday, April 23, 2025, 21:00 CET: Sweden – Switzerland
Friday, April 25, 2025, 02:00 CET: Switzerland – USA
Saturday, April 26, 2025, 21:00 CET: Switzerland – Czech Republic
Sunday, April 27, 2025, 19:00 CET: Germany – Switzerland
In Group A, Finland, Canada, Latvia, Norway and Slovakia will battle it out at the Credit Union of Texas Event Center for a place in the knockout round. The top four teams in each group will advance to the quarter-finals, while the fifth-placed teams will compete in the relegation play-offs.
The line-up in detail
Goalies (3): Matia Birchler (EVZ), Gian-Andri Steinmann (HC Davos), Jovin Trachsel (SCL Tigers)
Defense (10): Simon Bär (SCL Tigers), Finn Bichsel (EHC Biel-Bienne), Mike Cuesta (EHC Kloten), Gaël Haas (Lausanne HC), Nik Lehmann (SCL Tigers), Dorian Moret (EVZ), Luca Nappiot (EHC Biel-Bienne), Flavio Sauser (EVZ), Filippo Schmidt (GCK/ZSC Lions), Guus Van der Kaaij (HC Davos)
Offense (15): Niklas Aebli (HC Davos), Mike Aeschlimann (SCL Tigers), Thierry Andrey (Lidingö Vikings / SWE), Fabrice Bouvard (GCK/ZSC Lions), Arthur Dandois (Fribourg-Gottéron), Noah Franzina (HC Ambri-Piotta), Moritz Hasler (SCL Tigers), Cyrill Henry (HC Lugano), Lucien Lehmann (EVZ), Jeremiah Mundy (HC Davos), Jonah Neuenschwander (EHC Biel-Bienne), Lauro Peter (GCK/ZSC Lions), Florian Schenk (SC Bern), Clemens Troxler (GCK/ZSC Lions), Manuel Von Rohr (EHC Biel-Bienne)
