Devils’ Swiss Players Excited for ‘Special’ World Championships in Home Country – The Hockey Writers – New Jersey Devils

The thrilling 2026 Olympics only further reinforced the importance of international play to the sport of hockey’s success as a whole.

So while New Jersey Devils players would prefer to make the playoffs and push for a Stanley Cup, there’s still an extreme level of importance and pride in representing their countries at the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championships, which begin May 15.

Six total Devils will continue their season at the tournament commonly known as “Worlds”: Paul Cotter (USA), Lenni Hameenaho (Finland), Topias Vilen (Finland), Connor Brown (Canada), Timo Meier (Switzerland) and Nico Hischier (Switzerland).

For the latter two, who have competed in a combined 10 World Championships already, this one holds more importance than any previous rendition; it will take place in their home country of Switzerland, with Zurich and Fribourg as the two host cities.

That means a chance for friends, family, and thousands of raucous Swiss fans to come together in ~2 weeks of celebration for a sport that continues to grow across the nation. Since 2011, Swiss hockey attendance has grown ~17%. They went from one single NHL player to 11 in that span. Only Canada, Finland and Sweden produce hockey players at a higher per-capita rate than Switzerland.

Swiss Devils Express Excitement

Furthering the excitement, Worlds have not been held in Switzerland since 2009. The tournament was supposed to return in 2020 but the coronavirus pandemic squashed those plans.

“Obviously that [2020 tournament] didn’t happen and just hearing around Switzerland, people were obviously disappointed,” said Devils’ captain Hischier. “A home World Championship is pretty special. When I was a kid, there was one in Bern, Switzerland. I remember go watching there, so it should be a pretty cool experience for me to be a part of it, and for sure for the whole Switzerland.”

Hischier has 40 points (20 G, 20 A) in 42 career games across six tournaments. But he won’t feel satisfied unless he helps bring Switzerland their first ever Gold Medal; they’ve made the final on five separate occasions (1935, 2013, 2018, 2024 and 2025) but have yet to get over that final hump.

“You’d like to play in the playoffs and worry about this later, not now,” said Meier. “But representing your country in your homeland is very special, in front of family and friends. We’re really looking forward to that, continuing to play and have fun there…try to win Gold after a couple Silver Medals, but yeah, with the group that played the Olympics, getting back with them, that’s gonna be fun.”

Meier has 31 points (12 G, 19 A) in 33 games across four tournaments. If they have any shot at winning it all, Meier will be an integral part.

Unfortunately for Devils’ defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler, who was born in host city Zurich and developed playing hockey in that same arena (Swiss Life Arena), he will have to miss this year due to an injury sustained at the end of the season. But according to team reporter Amanda Stein, he’ll remain around the team during the tournament.

“[It’s] pretty special,” said Siegenthaler. “I mean, [family and friends] live just around the corner, and so do I…that rink [is] where everything started for me, my hometown team. I’m excited.”

Swiss fans are known to be some of the most devoted fans in sports; just a few days ago, 80,000 people in a region of 110,000 came to Fribourg’s Swiss League championship parade. Numbers like that are unthinkable in North American sports.

Timo Meier.🍎 Nico Hischier 🚨 @SwissIceHockey @MeierTimo @nicohischier @NJDevils @SanJoseSharks #SUIFRA #IIHFWorlds pic.twitter.com/bRaVi9bU6v

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 22, 2022

If Switzerland goes on a magical run, it would do wonders in terms of helping them continue to try to reach the level of elite hockey countries.

“Ice hockey is such a great sport,” said Hischier upon returning from the Olympics. “At the end of the day, we all do it [because] we have a big passion for it and to inspire people — [especially] younger people. The game gives you a lot, from good times, sad times, [it’s] life school in general. Obviously, when you expand the sport, when you can reach more people, it makes us bigger and bigger. And that’s good for everyone.”

Switzerland will start their tournament against Cotter and Team USA on May 15 (2:20 PM EDT), before facing Latvia (May 16, 2:20 PM EDT), Germany (May 18, 2:20 PM EDT), Austria (May 20, 10:20 AM EDT), Great Britain (May 21, 2:20 PM EDT), Hungary (May 23, 10:20 AM EDT) and Finland (May 26, 2:20 PM EDT). If they advance out of their group, they’ll then take part in the elimination rounds.