Team and Family Coordinator Marcel Enkerli

Marcel Enkerli knows the joys, worries and desires of ice hockey players. For seven years Enkerli has acted as the Team Canada family coordinator at the Spengler Cup.  It is a dream job which has also brought Enkerli closer to the Swiss Ice Hockey National Team. 

Enkerli's diverse career in hockey has seen him act as a Premier League coach, a trainer for ladies and junior leagues, as well as manager and team head of Fribourg Gottéron.  Today Marcel Enkerli is not only the manager of the University of Fribourg team but he also looks after the personal well-being of the foreign players on the Fribourg Gottéron Hockey Club.  In addition, this is his seventh year of looking after the Canadian team at the Spengler Cup. "For me this is the biggest job that anyone can have at the Spengler Cup," said Enkerli when he first took on the role in 2001. The Canadians won the tournament that year, and since then the man from Switzerland has been a part of the team. 

From Canada to the Swiss National Team

Enkerli was so successful in his work for Team Canada and as Family Coordinator that he subsequently joined the team when they competed at the Germany Cup. He consequently has benefited from a full exposure to international ice hockey.  Before long the management of the Swiss National Team became aware of the man from Fribourg.  As a result, since 2007 he has also attended to the Swiss National Team.

The only difference in his work with the two teams is in the colloquial language possible with the Swiss, "Ralph Krueger's disciplined and goal-oriented leadership style is very similar to the way the Canadians work." It was also the Swiss National Team for the 2008 World Championships in Quebec that took Marcel Enkerli in his capacity as the Teams Manager back to Canada the homeland of ice hockey.  Ironically, Canada was the country he had become acquainted with on an earlier occasion due to his family connections. 

Uncomplicated and Thankful

With his ice hockey and Spengler Cup duties, December becomes a very busy month for Marcel Enkerli.  Until December 21, the team manager is attending a training camp with the Swiss National Team and playing three international games in Germany and Slovakia. Already on December 23, he travels to Davos.  He will be on call in case a Canadian family member needs to visit a doctor, or some equipment is defective, and he also organizes diverse Christmas entertainment arrangements. Through his work, he has become very well acquainted with Canadian ice hockey stars and their families, "The Canadians function very similarly to Swiss families, and they are usually very uncomplicated and grateful for the help."

Due to his work with the Spengler Cup these past seven years, Enkerli has sacrificed spending Christmases together with his wife, Olivia.  Once she did accompany him to the tournament, but he was still unable to devote much time to spend with her.  "My work with the team and as family coordinator is a 24 hour a day job." 

Canadian for a week

Enkerli is compensated with many lasting impressions, "It is fascinating that each year for the one week during the Spengler Cup I feel Canadian." These feelings of unity and celebrating last year's victory with the recently deceased Jim Koleff will always hold a special place in Enkerli's memories.  His hard work and effort during this time is generally rewarded with a top finish by the Canadian team: "The days in Davos seem to fly by. When the Tournament is over there is an enormous feeling of relief. These feelings are even more intensive when the team wins."  Enkerli believes that a repeat Canadian victory is well within the capabilities of the team at this tournament: "If we deliver an equally strong performance as at last year's Spengler Cup, the successful defence of the title will be well within our reach."  How does Marcel Enkerli define his personal recipe for success?  "Be dedicated, have fun and work together towards success."