Daniela Diaz’ roster consists of three goaltenders, seven defenders and 13 forwards. In addition to the quest for a medal, the result at the World Championship also decides on a possible direct qualification for the Olympic Games in 2018.
Three days in Romanshorn, six Days in the Canadian town of Chilliwack and an addition four days in Kamloops with test matches against Finland (in Chilliwack) and Russia (in Kamloops): The Swiss women’s national team has an intense preparation for the Top Division World Championship ahead of them.
The team has to work on some details and also grow together even more. This is Daniela Diaz’ plan before her first World Championship as head coach. As a player, she participated in seven World Championships and Olympic Games.
Therefore, she has more than enough experience to excel in her new work behind the bench. “Each and every player has to be prepared to do everything for the team,” Diaz, who won the Swiss championship with the ZSC Lions women’s team this year, sets the agenda.
Her roster consists of 23 players in total, including the three returnees Sophie Anthamatten (Goaltender in the first league for Saastal), Nicol Bullo (defender), and Christine Hüni, who already returned to the team in December. Bullo (29) and Hüni (30), the two “seniors” of the team, bring along the combined experience of 385 games for the national team (Bullo 196, Hüni 189).
For Diaz, this is the right mix of “experienced and young players.” She is convinced that her team has a “vast amount of talent” and even calls this roster her “dream team,” with the exception of the injured Sara Benz and Sandra Thalmann, who were part of the team that clinched the bronze medal at the last Olympic games. Only two 18-year-old rookies, Tess Allemann (Thun) and Andrea Brändli (Winterthur), are part of her final roster.
The result at World Championship in Kamloops will also decide on a possible direct qualification for the Olympic Games in 2018. The first five teams on the world ranking list after the World Championships are qualified, the rest of the teams will have to participate in a qualification tournament, held in February of 2017.
At the moment, the Swiss team is in fourth place but just a few points ahead of Sweden and Russia. Therefore, a possible qualification for the quarter final would most likely be enough to clinch a spot in the next Olympic Games. However, first, the team has to win the games against Sweden, Czechia and Japan. (dmo/bsc)
Switzerland's roster for the 2016 World Championship:
Goaltenders (3): Sophie Anthamatten (Saastal), Andrea Brändli (Winterthur), Florence Schelling (Linköping HC).
Defenders (7): Livia Altmann (ZSC Lions), Laura Benz (ZSC Lions), Nicol Bullo (Lugano), Sarah Forster (Université Neuchâtel), Shannon Sigrist (ZSC Lions/GCK Lions), Reica Staiger (ZSC Lions), Sabrina Zollinger (ZSC Lions).
Forwards (13): Tess Allemann (Bomo Thun/Dragon Thun), Romy Eggimann (Lugano), Christine Hüni (ZSC Lions) Alina Müller (Kloten Flyers), Evelina Raselli (Lugano), Dominique Rüegg (ZSC Lions/Uzwil), Andrea Schranz (Bomo Thun), Phoebe Staenz (Yale University), Lara Stalder (University Minnesota Duluth), Anja Stiefel (Lugano), Isabel Waidacher (ZSC Lions) Monika Waidacher (ZSC Lions), Nina Waidacher (ZSC Lions).
