Not only at the most recent Spengler Cup—where the host team had to bury its hopes of defending the title after a spectacular semifinal clash against eventual champion Fribourg-Gottéron—but also in the national championship with its semifinal qualification, HC Davos proved last season that it once again belongs among the elite of Swiss ice hockey. In the first quarter of the current regular season, the Grisons side has now put a bold exclamation mark behind that statement.

In 2025, the two record winners—HC Davos and Team Canada—will once again have the chance to become the sole record holder. In 2019, the Canadians took over the record from the hosts with their 16th tournament victory, only for Davos to catch up again in 2023. Both teams are expected to be serious contenders for the title again this December. Following a strong start to the season, HCD certainly presents itself as a genuine favorite.

With only one shootout loss in the first twelve league games, HC Davos currently tops the National League standings. The Davos side wasn’t clearly the better team in every one of their eleven wins—but they almost always found answers to difficult game situations and managed to decide tight matches in their favor thanks to determination and individual skill.

Head coach Josh Holden emphasizes team unity as the key to success: “What makes us strong is our team spirit. When things don’t go as planned, no one points fingers. We discuss among ourselves what needs to improve.” Still, Holden isn’t entirely satisfied—discipline, in particular, remains a concern: “We’re not only leading the standings, but unfortunately also the penalty statistics.”

The problem isn’t new: in the past two seasons, HCD has already been among the teams with the most penalty-killing situations in the league. Although the Grisons side has usually managed to limit the damage—recently even scoring four shorthanded goals in two games—the team will need to improve in this area over the long term. The weakness became especially apparent in their only loss so far, in Rapperswil, where special teams made the difference. “Unfortunately, the special teams cost us the win,” Holden said. “If we had played more five-on-five, I might be smiling a bit more right now.”

The issue has been recognized—and both players and coaches are working together on solutions. Looking ahead to the Spengler Cup, opponents have been warned: HCD will be ready for ‘Mission 17.’

Text: Spengler Cup-Onlineredaktion   Foto: Keystone