At this year’s Spengler Cup, Canada missed the semi-finals.Bild: keystone
Ice cream master Zaugg
30.12.2025, 21:0330.12.2025, 21:03
The date debate is part of the Spengler Cup, like the beautiful weather in Davos. After the next tournament in 2026, the contract with the National League, which guarantees the championship break in the old year week, expires. For compensation of just over 50,000 francs for each of the twelve teams that do not take part in the Spengler Cup, plus a lump sum compensation for each player who is released as reinforcement for one of the participating teams.
The topic is extremely topical because the National League is in dire scheduling trouble due to more and more additional events such as the Champions League, national team breaks plus an additional February break every two years (Olympics/World Cup). In addition, the new, multifunctional hockey temples are taking up more and more dates for other events.
Three to four championship rounds could be accommodated in the old year week. That would bring relief. However, in the discussions that have now begun about the new cooperation agreement with the National League, the topic is largely off the table. A clear majority of clubs are in favor of maintaining the current regulation.
The mild climate is the reward for a clever strategy: a second NL team is now allowed to take part in the tournament alongside Davos. The Spengler Cup may be more or less irrelevant to SC Bern or the ZSC Lions – but for most other clubs, taking part in the tournament is a “chance of the century” that they want to preserve. And it should also be clear to the clubs: The Spengler Cup could almost certainly retain its importance even if the championship was played in the New Year’s week. Especially since the TV coverage is on public television and the National League is shown exclusively by private stations.
The Spengler Cup is broadcast by SRF.Bild: keystone
But if the game were to be played through, the clubs would no longer receive any money for observing the break, which is increasingly valued by the NL clubs as a welcome “breathing space” for the players and the entire organization over the festive period. In the future, the deadline pressure is likely to be primarily directed against the national team breaks in November and December.
The contract with Hockey Canada, the Canadian hockey association that regulates the participation of “Team Canada” (considered the Canadian national team), also expires with the next Spengler Cup in 2026. The Canadians have been a fixture at the Spengler Cup since 1984. They have already won the tournament 16 times. Most recently in 2019. But now they are having more and more trouble putting together a competitive team. Also because there are fewer and fewer dominant Canadian players in the National League.
How long will Team Canada be involved in the Spengler Cup?Bild: keystone
OK President Marc Gianola says that there is a fundamental interest in extending the contract. “We will have initial discussions during the Olympic break, when those responsible for the Canadian association are in Europe for the Olympic Games.” The matter is also important for Canadians and therefore the highest association office generals must be at the negotiating table.
