Since 2010, the Spengler Cup has had its own mascot, «Hitsch». However, the real star behind the scenes at the 2010, 2013 and 2014 editions was Sherkan, Genève-Servette HC’s magnificent bald eagle.
Thanks to their victory at the 2013 Spengler Cup, Genève-Servette HC celebrated the first major title in the club’s history, following its Cup triumphs in 1959 and 1972. The team from French-speaking Switzerland had made its way through the tournament unbeaten and surprisingly defeated KHL representatives CSKA Moscow, the favourites going into the final, by 5–3. It was a final that kept everyone on the edge of their seats. After taking a 4–0 lead, the Russians fought their way back to 4–3 before Latvian forward Kaspars Daugavins sealed the victory with an empty-net goal just 59 seconds before the end of regulation time.
Particularly surprising was head coach Chris McSorley’s decision regarding the goaltending position. He opted to bench Tobias Stephan and instead handed the starting role to Robert Mayer, a goaltender on loan from the Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL), who had spent his childhood and youth in the canton of Graubünden. Given Stephan’s outstanding performance against Team Canada, when he made 50 saves, it was a particularly difficult decision.
McSorley had no reason to regret his choice. Mayer also excelled between the posts, even though he had considerably less work to do than his teammate had the previous day. Juraj Simek gave the Geneva side the lead on the power play in the seventh minute. Dennis Hollenstein and the largely ineffective Lennart Petrell extended the advantage to 3–0 before Kevin Romy powered through the Russian defence to make it 4–0 in the 37th minute. The closing stages proved considerably more difficult for Servette, as the Russians dominated the final period with a 22–5 advantage in shots on goal. There was still a consolation prize for Tobias Stephan: he was named to the All-Star Team.

Sherkan, the Star Behind the Scenes
In 2010, he still seemed to need a little time to get used to his surroundings. But in 2013 and 2014, Sherkan’s pre-game flights at the Spengler Cup became a spectacular feature of Genève-Servette’s soaring success. The team won both editions. Sherkan is an extraordinary bald eagle, and his ability to fly is the result of intensive training with his falconer, Jacques-Olivier Travers.
More than 6,000 spectators, bright lights and plenty of noise: despite all this, Sherkan felt right at home in the Davos Ice Stadium. Although appearances at away games remained the exception, nothing stopped him from accompanying his team to the Spengler Cup in Davos. Before Genève-Servette’s games, he would soar above the crowd, displaying an impressive wingspan of 2.10 metres. Sherkan lives alongside around 400 birds representing more than 80 different species at the «Les Aigles du Léman» bird park in Sciez, France. He particularly enjoyed his three stays in Davos, where a horse stable was transformed into an «eagle’s nest» to accommodate him.

2014 – Servette Defends Its Title
One year later, Genève-Servette HC once again impressed under head coach Chris McSorley, winning the tournament for the second consecutive year. This time, they defeated Salavat Yulaev Ufa 3–0 in the final. With this achievement, Servette matched the historic feat of the ZSC Lions, who had won back-to-back titles in 1944 and 1945, becoming the only Swiss team apart from host club Hockey Club Davos to achieve this distinction.
Servette set new standards on every level. Over a period of twelve months and across eight games, the team from French-speaking Switzerland remained unbeaten at the Spengler Cup. To put this achievement into perspective: Jokerit Helsinki, one of Europe's strongest teams in league competition, managed just eight victories in seven tournament appearances over a span of 21 years.
In the final against Ufa, Arnaud Jacquemet opened the scoring in the 23rd minute. Daniel Rubin added the crucial 2–0 on the power play in the 35th minute. Taylor Pyatt put the finishing touch on the victory after 50 minutes. The veteran, with 928 NHL games to his name, recorded his fifth point of the tournament and extinguished the Russians’ last hopes of a late comeback.

Text: Spengler Cup Online Editorial Team – with excerpts from this year’s official tournament yearbook, due to be published at the end of November.
Photo: Keystone