Pittis likes coming back to Davos.

ZSC Lions player Domenico Pittis is back in Team Canada's line-up after missing last year's tournament due to an injury. It's the sixth Spengler Cup appearance for the 36-year old center.

Between 2004 and 2008, Pittis was a well established player at the Spengler Cup. That's why he knows what he's talking about when he emphasizes that the level of this hockey tournament is outstanding. "Generally, all teams are very strong; they play a fast and technically challenging hockey. Every player needs to work hard. The Spengler Cup is definitely no relaxed Sunday ice skating", says the Canadian forward who was also on Team Canada's team which won its eleventh and last Spengler Cup to date in 2007.

The Same Goal Every Year

"Although we've always had a competitive team, I've only won the Spengler Cup once so far", says the ZSC Lions top scorer, who's currently ranked sixth among the top scorers of Switzerland's National League A. That's why the ambitious Canadian hasn't set himself any other goals than in previous years: "We don't come to Davos to be satisfied if we finish the tournament in second place; we want to win it." However, he finds it difficult to name a favourite: "The Russian teams are very strong, but any team can win the tournament. I don't think there's an odds-on favourite."

Swiss Champion and Champions Hockey League Winner

Pittis, who's originally from Calgary, has seen a lot during his career. He played a total of 89 NHL games for Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Nashville and Edmonton and came to Switzerland when the Kloten Flyers signed him in 2004. After winning the Spengler Cup in 2007, he caused uproar in January 2008, when he dissolved his contract with the Flyers early and joined local rivals ZSC Lions. With the team from Zurich, Pittis won the Swiss championship in 2008 and the Champions Hockey League one year later, contributing considerably to this victory with one goal and ten assists.

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