Servette Geneva's Jeff Toms

Jeff Toms has been on Team Canada's team at four Spengler Cups so far. This year, he's participating for the fifth time, but this time he won't be wearing the maple leaf jersey - he'll be skating onto the ice in Servette Geneva's burgundy shirt.

"Playing at the Spengler Cup is always an interesting experience. Davos during the Christmas season is a beautiful place, where you can play top-class hockey", says Toms, who joined Servette Geneva in the summer of 2009 after playing for Langnau, Ambri-Piotta and Basle, his first Swiss club. The forward from Saskatchewan also has a lot of experience in the NHL, where he played for six different teams.

A Pillar of the Team Has Joined the Opposing Side

Toms won the Spengler Cup with Team Canada in 2003, his first year on the team. The now 36-year-old player contributed two goals to this tournament win. After also participating in 2004, 2005 and 2008, he missed last year's Spengler Cup because of a hand fracture. Team Canada would also have liked Servette Geneva's assistant captain on their team this year. Mark Black from Hockey Canada says "Toms has always been a very valuable player for us in the past - now he'll be on the opposing side". "Playing against Team Canada is definitely a bit weird for me", Jeff Toms himself admits.

A Smooth Running Team

Toms considers Team Canada one of this year's Spengler Cup favorites, but he thinks it's not easy to pick one single team, as the competing teams are extremely strong and on a level playing field. "Keeping up with the other teams is our goal. I'm convinced that we stand a good chance", states Servette Geneva's number 15. "We have a really good team. After some players left and new ones joined last summer, we're getting in sync. This may be our advantage at the Spengler Cup".