Stacey Roest enjoys the time with his family

Stacy Roest has returned to the Spengler Cup after two years and was named Team Canada's captain before the team's first game. The Rapperswil-Jona Lakers forward is playing his sixth Spengler Cup this year – maybe it will be his last appearance at this tournament.

Yesterday afternoon, Stacy Roest enjoyed some sledding with all of Team Canada's hockey family on the Schatzalp above Davos. His face was beaming and it was obvious: Roest was really glad to be a part of this team again after two years. "Two years ago, I was not feeling too well and was struggling with some injuries, and last year, 15 of my wife's relatives came to visit and spent Christmas with us. That's why I missed the Spengler Cup with Team Canada twice," he says. "But it's nice to be back at the Spengler Cup. It's a great tournament, the atmosphere is terrific. Lots of fans gather around the stadium even hours before the games start. It's just fantastic!"

A Special Honour

Fantastic – that's also the best word to describe the Canadians' performance in their first game against Vitovice, which they won 7:1. "We were lucky that we got a very good start into the game – after all, we only had one training together," he explains. Before the game against Vitkovice last Monday, he was named Team Canada's captain – a very special honour.

Tonight Team Canada will be facing hosts HC Davos. Both teams have played some highly competitive games against each other in the past – something that Stacy Roest also expects to happen in this evening's encounter. "HC Davos is a great team with an excellent coach, and they'll be cheered on and supported by their fans in the stadium. This game will be a very big challenge for us."

Disappointing Season in the Swiss League

The Spengler Cup is an ideal opportunity for Stacy Roest to gain new strength for the remainder of a season that has been rather disappointing so far. His team, the Rapperswil-Jona Lakers, had a poor start into the current season and were even ranked at the very bottom of the Swiss national league table for a while. Roest himself also didn't play his best hockey. He, who's usually the top scorer of his team, has only scored 3 goals and 16 assists so far – but he's still his team's second-best scorer behind Reto Suri (7/12) this season.

But in their most recent games, the Lakers have shown an upward tendency and Roest hopes that this trend will continue in the new year as well. "We've found each other more and more on the ice and have become a real team. We also manage to put into practice what our coach Harry Rogenmoser tells us. But it's true, it's a difficult season."

Decision Next Spring

For Roest, who's turning 38 in March, this could also be the last season in Switzerland. He's been playing for the Lakers since 2003, and his contract runs out next spring. "Once the season is over, I'll see how I'm feeling both physically and mentally, and I'll discuss the situation my wife and our two kids – and then we'll all decide together as a family."

But now he wants to enjoy his time in Davos. And of course he wants to win his third Spengler Cup trophy with Team Canada.