The very first Spengler Cup matchup in December 1923 was between Oxford University and Berlin SC and ended with a score of 7-3. The tournament, which at the time was called ‘International Ice Hockey Championship of Davos’, began with four participants: aside from Oxford and Berlin, with Vienna EV and HC Davos. Cambridge University joined on January 2, 1924, and subsequently played against the rest of the teams. Oxford won all of its games convincingly to become the first tournament champion.

This Boxing Week, 100 years later, six teams in two outstanding groups will battle for a semi-final berth, and as such a chance to play for the trophy in the final of the oldest club tournament at noon on New Year’s Eve. The game schedule promises yet again another high-calibre tournament, and, thanks to the collaboration with Rhatischen Bahn and Sudostbahn, the spectators are now offered a direct return trip by train to the Zurich metropolitan area.

A game schedule that packs a punch
In Group Torriani, defending champion HC Ambri-Piotta, HC Dynamo Pardubice, and 2018 champion, and so far only Finnish winner, KalPa Kuopio, will face off against each other. For both KalPa and Ambri, the Eisstadion Davos was the site of the biggest triumph in club history. And the management of both teams know not only what this title meant for their clubs and their fans. They also know that it is possible to write history for the second time this year. Pardubice is, just like the Spengler Cup, celebrating its 100th anniversary and for that reason intensely sought out a Spengler Cup entry. The Czech top team with do everything in its power to sweeten its birthday with a triumph.

Group Cattini’s setup is no less impressive with record title holder Team Canada, Swedish top club Frolunda HC and host HC Davos. Objectively speaking, there are three favourites to win this group, too. Both Team Canada and host HC Davos have set the semifinals as their minimum athletic goals. The Canadians, who just recaptured the IIHF world championship title in Tampere, will look for redemption after exiting in the 2022 quarterfinals. And host HC Davos not only wants to tie the 16 titles of the “Maple Leaves”, but, more importantly, aims to once again the lift the trophy on New Year’s Eve for the first time in 12 years. Canada and Davos will be challenged by European dominator Frolunda HC. The five-time Swedish champion and four-time CHL winner, definitely has the team to crown itself the first Swedish Spengler Cup champion since 1994.

Ticket presales open
As of today, the presales for standing and seating single game tickets has begun; tickets can be booked exclusively online. Tournament tickets can still be ordered by email (vorverkauf@HCD.ch).

To the Spengler Cup and back by train from the area of Zurich
New this year, during the Spengler Cup the “Aare Linth-Extrazug” will now continue on all the way to Zurich. That way fans from the greater Zurich region are offered a direct return trip with the train. Rhatische Bahn will take the hockey fans to Landquart (as in the past, free return trip in 2. class). From there the Aare Linth-Extrazug will travel to Zurich (arrival around 2am – the exact schedule will be published in the fall) via Bad Ragaz, Sargans, Ziegelbrucke, Uznach, Schmerikon, Rapperswil, Pfaffikon SZ, Richterswil, Wadenswil, and Thalwil.
Special tickets will be offered for the extra trains. These can be purchased on the SOB’s website and cost 34 Francs. Customers with GA or Junior Cards pay 10 Francs for the trip. Included in the price is the individual travel to Davos with Sudostbahn and the return trip with the Extrazug. All Infos here.

Quelle: Mediarelease Spengler Cup   Foto: Keystone