Hockey team takes shape
Switzerland ice hockey coach Ralph Krueger has named the first 17 members of his planned Winter Olympic squad.
Krueger said he had decided to name the majority of his team two months before the start of the Games in an effort to dampen excessive exuberance in the run up to the competition.
“This should prevent the squad travelling to the Games on an emotional high,” explained the Canadian-born coach. “Now that the players know they’re going to Salt Lake City, they can prepare physically and mentally in the best possible manner.”
Few surprises
The squad named on Tuesday contained few surprises. The omission of former captain Reto von Arx and fellow winger Alain Demuth may cause some raised eyebrows, but both are expected to make it into the final line-up of 23 players.
“I haven’t ruled anyone out yet,” Krueger insisted. “We also can’t expect that all 17 players named today will be fit and available in two months time. The selected 17 have convinced me, though, while the others just weren’t in the top 17.”
Rötheli in
Lugano forward André Rötheli is among the selected 17, after surprising many with the quality of his play this season.
“It has been a joy to work with him this year,” Krueger said of a player who was swiftly ruled out of contention for a world championship place last season. “In November Rötheli played exactly as we expected, producing the goods upfront and not harming our defense. He has clearly envisioned his dream and done everything to realise it.”
Preliminary Olympic squad:
Goalkeepers: David Aebischer (Colorado Avalanche), Martin Gerber (Färjestad), Lars Weibel (Davos)
Defenders: Olivier Keller (Lugano), Edgar Salis (Zurich Lions), Mathias Seger (Zurich Lions), Martin Steinegger (Bern), Mark Streit (Zurich Lions), Patrick Sutter (Lugano)
Forwards: Jean-Jacques Aeschlimann (Lugano), Flavien Conne (Lugano), Gian-Marco Crameri (Zurich Lions), Patric Della Rossa (Zurich Lions), Sandy Jeannin (Lugano), Marcel Jenni (Färjestad), Martin Plüss (Kloten), André Rötheli (Lugano)
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