Six total Devils will continue their season at the tournament commonly known as \u201cWorlds\u201d: Paul Cotter (USA), Lenni Hameenaho (Finland), Topias Vilen (Finland), Connor Brown (Canada), Timo Meier (Switzerland) and Nico Hischier<\/a> (Switzerland).<\/p>\n For the latter two, who have competed in a combined 10 World Championships already, this one holds more importance than any previous rendition; it will take place in their home country of Switzerland, with Zurich and Fribourg as the two host cities.<\/p>\n That means a chance for friends, family, and thousands of raucous Swiss fans to come together in ~2 weeks of celebration for a sport that continues to grow across the nation. Since 2011, Swiss hockey attendance has grown ~17%. They went from one single NHL player to 11 in that span. Only Canada, Finland and Sweden produce hockey players at a higher per-capita rate<\/a> than Switzerland.<\/p>\n Swiss Devils Express Excitement<\/p>\n Furthering the excitement, Worlds have not been held in Switzerland since 2009. The tournament was supposed to return in 2020 but the coronavirus pandemic squashed those plans.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously that [2020 tournament] didn\u2019t happen and just hearing around Switzerland, people were obviously disappointed,\u201d said Devils\u2019 captain Hischier. \u201cA home World Championship is pretty special. When I was a kid, there was one in Bern, Switzerland. I remember go watching there, so it should be a pretty cool experience for me to be a part of it, and for sure for the whole Switzerland.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Hischier has 40 points (20 G, 20 A) in 42 career games across six tournaments. But he won\u2019t feel satisfied unless he helps bring Switzerland their first ever Gold Medal; they\u2019ve made the final on five separate occasions (1935, 2013, 2018, 2024 and 2025) but have yet to get over that final hump.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019d like to play in the playoffs and worry about this later, not now,\u201d said Meier. \u201cBut representing your country in your homeland is very special, in front of family and friends. We\u2019re really looking forward to that, continuing to play and have fun there\u2026try to win Gold after a couple Silver Medals, but yeah, with the group that played the Olympics, getting back with them, that\u2019s gonna be fun.\u201d<\/p>\n Meier has 31 points (12 G, 19 A) in 33 games across four tournaments. If they have any shot at winning it all, Meier will be an integral part.<\/p>\n Unfortunately for Devils\u2019 defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler, who was born in host city Zurich and developed playing hockey in that same arena (Swiss Life Arena), he will have to miss this year due to an injury sustained at the end of the season. But according to team reporter<\/a> Amanda Stein, he\u2019ll remain around the team during the tournament.<\/p>\n \u201c[It\u2019s] pretty special,\u201d said Siegenthaler. \u201cI mean, [family and friends] live just around the corner, and so do I\u2026that rink [is] where everything started for me, my hometown team. I\u2019m excited.\u201d<\/p>\n Swiss fans are known to be some of the most devoted fans in sports; just a few days ago, 80,000 people in a region of 110,000 came to Fribourg\u2019s Swiss League championship parade<\/a>. Numbers like that are unthinkable in North American sports.<\/p>\n Timo Meier.\ud83c\udf4e Nico Hischier \ud83d\udea8 @SwissIceHockey<\/a> @MeierTimo<\/a> @nicohischier<\/a> @NJDevils<\/a> @SanJoseSharks<\/a> #SUIFRA<\/a> #IIHFWorlds<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/bRaVi9bU6v<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 22, 2022<\/a> <\/p>\n If Switzerland goes on a magical run, it would do wonders in terms of helping them continue to try to reach the level of elite hockey countries. <\/p>\n \u201cIce hockey is such a great sport,\u201d said Hischier upon returning from the Olympics. \u201cAt the end of the day, we all do it [because] we have a big passion for it and to inspire people \u2014 [especially] younger people. The game gives you a lot, from good times, sad times, [it\u2019s] life school in general. Obviously, when you expand the sport, when you can reach more people, it makes us bigger and bigger. And that\u2019s good for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Nico](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Nico-Hischier-1200x838.jpg\")
Feb 12, 2026; Milan, Italy; Nico Hischier of Switzerland in action with Enzo Cantagallo of France during a Group A men\u2019s ice hockey game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images<\/p>\n