"This tournament shows where we are at" – Women's National Team is preparing for the Halloween-Cup

For Daniela Diaz, the traditional Four-Nation tournament shows where her team is at. "After the tournament, we know where we are at.” Three months before the Olympic Qualification tournament in Arosa, Switzerland will face two opponents against which they will play in Arosa and at the World Championship in the United States: Czechia and Germany. Russia is part of the top group at the World Championship and a possible opponent in the quarterfinals. Germany and Czechia, like the Swiss team, are part of the second group. Moreover, the Czechs will be the biggest opponent in Arosa.

Daniela Diaz has put together a team with players from the Swiss Women’s Hockey League, with one exception: Anja Stiefel plays for the Swedish Champion Luleå. Goaltender Florence Schelling (Linköping) is injured at the moment. Lara Stalder (University of Minnesota), Phoebe Staenz (Yale University), captain Livia Altmann (Colgate University) will be absent as well.

Diaz’ Swiss will face Czechia on Thursday (3pm), their archenemy Germany on Friday (6.30 pm), and Russia on Saturday (1pm).

The Swiss roster for the Halloween-Cup:

Goaltenders: Vanessa Bolinger (98, Bomo Thun/Innerschwyz Future), Andrea Brändli (97, Neuchâtel Hockey Academy/Young Lions Hockey Thurgau).

Defenders: Laura Benz (92, ZSC Lions), Sarah Forster (93, Neuchâtel Hockey Academy), Shannon Sigrist (99, ZSC Lions), Céline Abgottspon (95, HC Lugano), Stefanie Wetli (2000, EHC Winterthur), Sabrina Zollinger (93, ZSC Lions).

Forwards: Tess Allemann (98, Bomo Thun/ SCL Young Tigers), Andrea Fischer (90, Neuchâtel Hockey Academy), Christine Meier (86, ZSC Lions), Alina Müller (98, EHC Kloten), Janine Müller (97, SC Weinfelden), Evelina Raselli (92, HC Lugano), Dominique Rüegg (96, ZSC Lions), Anja Stiefel (90, Luleå), Isabel Waidacher (94, ZSC Lions), Monika Waidacher (90, ZSC Lions), Nina Waidacher (92, ZSC Lions).