As the concluding highlight of his career Roland Stadler will lead the Spengler Cup again

Starting December 26th, Roland Stalder will stand at the beginning of his sixth Spengler Cup. This traditional tournament will represent another high point in the career of the referee from the Berner Lake District before he steps down from his position at the end of the season.

Not only must the players fight for a place in the Spengler Cup but so too must the head referees. "Strong performances at international competitions as well as an international license are a requirement," explained Reto Bertolotti, Chief Referee of the Swiss Ice Hockey Association. At the 2009 Spengler Cup, the five man referees will be made up of DEL professional Rick Looker, the Russian Slava Bulanov as well as Swiss referees Danny Kurmann, Brent Reiber and Roland Stalder.

A Surprised Stalder

Stalder has been greatly surprised by his renewed nomination for the Spengler Cup and is consequently very happy and pleased. The first of his five appearances to date at the traditional tournament which include four times as linesman and once as head referee, happened a long time ago. Nevertheless, he can remember it well. "It was very impressive to work alongside the professional referees from Canada and to hear their opinions." A job in Davos today has the same meaning for Stalder that it had thirteen years ago: "It gives me enormous joy to be a part of such an important hockey festival."

Long Career

As the conclusion of his long career approaches, the Spengler Cup will still be a challenge: „I expect a somewhat faster game than in the championship." Apart from his work in the National League, Stalder will prepare for the Spengler Cup using the International game between Switzerland and France. And the end of the season will definitely be the end of his career: Being fifty years old means that I already need a special permission to be able to lead the games."

Many High Points

Stalder has had many special experiences in his twenty-five year refereeing career which include the 1990 Goodwill Games as linesman referee, the impressive trip to Ufa in Russia about one hundred kilometers west of the Ural Mountains, and his work in Berlin during the year 1989 shortly after the fall of the Wall. Highlights also remain from the multiple International games like the match between Switzerland and Slovakia on the newly opened ice rink in Gstaad last February, or the various Championship games for the Swiss National title, and of course his many appearances at the Spengler Cup: "It is marvelous to be again and again a part of one of the best tournaments in the world."

The Referees at the Spengler Cup 2009

Head: Rick Looker (Germany), Slava Bulanov (Russia) Danny Kurmann, Brent Reiber, Roland Stalder (all Switzerland)
Linesman: Roger Arm, Joris Müller, Andreas Kohler, Nicolas Fluri, Tobias Wehrli
Medical: Freddy Reichen

Roland Stalder at a Glance

Born: 31 July, 1959
Marital status: divorced
Children: 2
Occupation: Product Manager
Hobbies: reading, card games, snorkeling, tennis
Favourite Drink: water, red wine
Favourite Food: schnitzel with cream sauce
Height: 1.85 m/6 foot 3 inches
Weight: 85kg/187 pounds
Languages: German, English, French, Italian
Referee since: 1981
Career: 1 year 3rd League / 1 year 2nd League / 6 months 1 League / NL LM 7.5 years / Since 1991 Head NL
Qualification: IIHF and NLA Head
Successes: 5 Spengler Cup, 3 Final tournaments EC, D- World Championship, B- World Championship, A- World Championship, Goodwill Games, various junior European Championships + World Championship tournaments, Play-Off-Finals