Less than 100 days before the start of the Olympic Games in PyeongChang, Daniela Diaz now wants to work on the final touches of the team in the next three tournaments. The final scores of the games the Halloween Cup are thus not at the forefront of Diaz's mind.
Rather, she will focus on finding the optimal mix and defining the roles of the individual players. In December at the four-country tournament in Příbram (CZE) and at the beginning of January at the Nations Cup in Füssen and Telfs, they will then work on ironing out the last couple of kinks.
She will especially pay attention to their play at even strength: "We have to be more efficient and not rely on our power play as much." Unlike in Sotchi, Switzerland will be in the "lower" group in PyoengChang and will thus have to take on a more active role in the games. Thus, Diaz also wants to focus on team building in the days and weeks ahead of the Olympics.
The roster for the Halloween Cup:
Goaltenders (2): Andrea Brändli (97, EHC Schaffhausen), Saskia Maurer (01, EV Bomo Thun/Dragon Thun).
Defensemen (8): Laura Benz (92, ZSC Lions), Lara Christen (02, SC Langenthal), Sarah Forster (93, EV Bomo Thun), Nicole Gass (93, ZSC Lions), Shannon Sigrist (99, ZSC Lions), Sandra Thalmann (92, SC Reinach), Stefanie Wetli (2000, Winterthur), Sabrina Zollinger (93, HV71/SWE).
Forwards (11): Christine Meier (86, ZSC Lions), Alina Müller (98, ZSC Lions), Evelina Raselli (92, HC Lugano), Lisa Rüedi (00, GCK Lions), Dominique Rüegg (96, ZSC Lions), Phoebe Staenz (94, SDE HF/SWE), Lara Stalder (94, Linköping HC/SWE), Anja Stiefel (90, Luleå HF/SWE), Isabel Waidacher (94, ZSC Lions), Monika Waidacher (90, ZSC Lions), Nina Waidacher (92, ZSC Lions).
Absent: Tess Allemann (98, EV Bomo Thun, injured), Sara Benz (92, ZSC Lions, ill), Janine Alder (95, St. Cloud University), Florence Schelling (89, Linköping HC), Livia Altmann (94, Colgate University), Nicole Bullo (87, HC Lugano), Kaleigh Quennec (98, Loomis Chaffee).
On call: Vanessa Bolinger (98, SC Reinach/Chur), Chelsea Bräm (91, SC Reinach), Romy Eggimann (95, HC Lugano), Andrea Fischer (90, SC Reinach), Ophélie Ryser (97, Neuchâtel Hockey Academy).
Games
Thursday, November 9, 2.30pm: Germany vs Switzerland.
Friday, November 10, 2.30pm: Czechia vs Switzerland.
Saturday, November 11, 4.30pm: Russia vs Switzerland.
