The 97th Spengler Cup gets underway on December 26 with two top-class encounters. In the opening game at 3:10 p.m., defending champions Fribourg-Gottéron face current Czech league runners-up Sparta Prague. At 8:15 p.m., the North American derby follows between Team Canada and the U.S. Collegiate Selects.

The game between Fribourg-Gottéron and Sparta Prague could already prove decisive in the race to win Group “Torriani.” The 2024 tournament winners are competing with a largely unchanged roster. New additions for Gottéron include Swiss international Andreas Glauser as well as the three foreign players Henrik Borgström, Michael Kapla and Patrik Nehmet. For the Spengler Cup, they are also reinforced by the two defensemen Michal Cajkovsky (Ambri) and Niklas Friman (Ajoie). There has also been a change behind the bench in Fribourg: head coach Roger Rönnberg knows the tournament from an appearance with Frölunda Göteborg. Lars Leuenberger, who served as (interim) head coach at Gottéron a year ago, is now his assistant. Fribourg arrive in Davos full of confidence after a successful first half of the championship season. In the National League, they currently sit in second place behind HC Davos.

HC Sparta Prague, however, also has no reason to hide. They too are in second place in the Czech Extraliga. The 97th Spengler Cup will therefore be launched with a genuine top-level clash between Gottéron and Sparta. Sparta boasts plenty of international experience. Nine Sparta players have NHL appearances to their name, most notably the two Canadians Mark Pysyk (525 games) and Devin Shore (502). In addition, three Sparta players have already lifted the World Championship trophy: Jakub Krejcik with the Czech Republic, and Mikael Seppälä and Jani Lajunen with Finland.

With the U.S. Collegiate Selects, a college all-star team is taking part in the Spengler Cup for the first time in the tournament’s history. Initial answers about their potential will come on the very first evening in a particularly explosive matchup. The college selection will face Team Canada in the North American derby. The roster of the U.S. Collegiate Selects features 17 Americans, six Canadians, one Latvian and one Slovak. All players are between 21 and 24 years old. Several of them have been drafted by NHL clubs, most notably Slovak goaltender Adam Gajan, who was selected 35th overall by Chicago in 2023. With their speed and carefree style, the U.S. Collegiate Selects are expected to provide plenty of excitement in Group “Cattini.”

As usual, the backbone of Team Canada is made up of Canadians playing for Swiss National League clubs. Named to the squad are goaltender Connor Hughes (Lausanne) as well as forwards Jonathan Hazen (Ajoie), Tanner Fritz (Rapperswil-Jona Lakers), Andy Andreoff and Derek Grant (both ZSC Lions), Tyler Morley (Kloten), Mike Scarbossa (Lugano) and Drake Caggiula (Lausanne). Others play for clubs elsewhere in Europe, and around half are active in the American Hockey League. With 37-year-old James Reimer, Team Canada has an NHL veteran in goal (536 games). Team Canada is seeking redemption after missing out on the Spengler Cup final in each of the past three years.

On December 27, IFK Helsinki (in the afternoon) and HC Davos (in the evening) enter the tournament.

Foto: Keystone, Spengler Cup 2024