“Playing well at the Spengler Cup will help increase our confidence for the rest of the season.”

The Forward from Davos Andres Ambühl raves about the Spengler Cup. When he was a child, Ambühl already happily attended the international club tournament which takes place between Christmas and New Years. The Spengler Cup in fact played a major role in motivating him to begin playing ice hockey as a seven year old. Seventeen years later, and the farmer's son from the Landwassertal is enjoying a successful professional ice hockey career.  At just 25 years old he is already an old hand in the Swiss ice hockey league. He has been playing in the premier league for eight years, has celebrated three championships victories and has won the Spengler Cup four times.

Proud to be at the Spengler Cup

Though the league championship is currently at the center of attention and no one has yet talked about the Spengler Cup, it is an event that is always at the back of people's minds.  As a player from the host town, Ambühl naturally has pride in the success of the tournament: "Not only those of us who come from Davos, but all of Switzerland can be pleased to host the most famous club tournament in the ice hockey world."

Spengler Cup Victory and Playoffs

The fact that the battles take place between international teams means that games are fought on a higher level and thus present a special challenge for him: "It provides you with a good comparison of your performance on an international level and the moments of success greatly boost your self-confidence." Ambühl clearly has his eyes set on a great victory to complete the year 2008: "We are looking forward to a great atmosphere in a sold-out home arena, and want to bring a Spengler Cup victory to Davos."  Such a win would be regarded as a stepping stone for the continuing quest towards the National Championship.  Ambühl wisely takes it step by step: "Once we make it to the playoffs, the rest will take care of itself."

Christmas and the Spengler Cup

Ambühl methodically builds his career. He has contested 102 international games to date and his fresh playing style is sure to bring him international attention at the 2009 World Championships in Switzerland.. His fresh playing style will bring him international attention. A contract with a top foreign team would crown Ambühl's already successful career. Or in his own words: "We all work to realize our own individual dreams."  If indeed he manages to fulfil his dreams, then it will be like having Christmas and winning Spengler Cup on the same day.