At the World Championships last May, Patrick Fischer coached the national ice hockey team to the silver medal - and proved his critics wrong. Now he is coach of the year for the second time since 2018.
06.01.2025, 04:15
SDA
When a new national team coach was sought at the end of 2015, Patrick Fischer was not the first choice. Kevin Schläpfer was supposed to succeed the Canadian Glen Hanlon, but he was not given the go-ahead by his employer at the time, Biel. Fischer, who had been sacked by Lugano in October, was therefore given the chance to take over, which turned out to be a stroke of luck for Swiss ice hockey.
When the now 49-year-old former NHL forward spoke of Switzerland becoming world champions one day shortly after taking office, he was ridiculed. However, this statement fits perfectly with Fischer, who always thinks big. He has transferred this mentality to the national players; it is reflected in the team's World Cup performances. The Swiss now regularly manage to dominate even the top nations.
Fischer has consistently continued on his path, even after setbacks. Before the last World Championships in Prague and Ostrava, he was under enormous pressure after the Swiss had failed three times as favorites in the quarter-finals at the previous three World Championships and had suffered a series of 13 defeats in the run-up to the tournament. However, this did not change his conviction.
Fischer is always looking for ways to improve. Before and during the World Cup in the Czech Republic, he worked intensively on staying focused, no matter what happened. To this end, those responsible brought performance coach Stefan Schwitter on board. During the World Championships, hypnotherapist Adrian Brüngger also joined the team.
The measures culminated in the second World Championship silver medal after 2018 under Fischer's leadership. It is proof of what can be achieved if you remain true to your principles even in difficult times.
