Canada vs Switzerland: Swiss ready to ‘poke the bear’ in Group A showdown
Switzerland’s men’s hockey team heads into Friday’s Olympic Group A clash with Canada brimming with belief and history on its side. Puck drop is set for 3: 10 p. m. ET at Santagiulia Arena in Milano Cortina, a quick turnaround after the Swiss opened with a 4-0 win over France and Canada handled Czechia 5-0. The matchup immediately rekindles memories of a famous upset two decades ago—and a Swiss program that has only grown sharper since.
Puck drop and Group A stakes
Both teams arrive at 1-0-0-0 after authoritative shutouts on Thursday, adding real weight to their second preliminary game. A regulation win would place the victor firmly in the driver’s seat for top seeding out of Group A, ratcheting up urgency despite the early stage of the tournament. Canada’s stars flashed control and pace in the opener, while Switzerland combined structure with timely finishing to quiet France.
Echoes of 2006—and a program transformed
The backdrop is impossible to ignore: Switzerland’s 2-0 stunner over Canada at the 2006 Torino Olympics remains a cornerstone of the nation’s hockey identity. Paul DiPietro scored both goals that day and Martin Gerber delivered a 49-save shutout, including a third period in which Switzerland was outshot 24-1. “I only know who scored the two goals, ” Pius Suter said with a smile this week, recalling DiPietro’s brace. Roman Josi, then a teenager, called watching that win “amazing. ”
The ripple effects were lasting. Four years later, the Swiss pushed Canada to a shootout before falling 3-2 in Vancouver. They also made the United States sweat in a tight 2010 quarterfinal. What began as a one-off shock has since evolved into an expectation that Switzerland can trade chances with the sport’s superpowers.
Swiss swagger built on recent runs
This current Swiss core has earned back-to-back silver medals at the last two IIHF World Championships, a stretch that has reinforced belief in a system built on depth, defensive detail, and opportunism. “I feel like we just have to go out there and try our best, compete and believe, ” Nico Hischier said. “We’ve got a great group of guys and we know what to do. ”
Nino Niederreiter framed the team’s mindset more directly: the Swiss are ready to “poke the bear. ” Kevin Fiala embraced the underdog tag but welcomed the stage. “We’re the underdogs, there’s no question, ” he said. “We’ve beaten them in world championships, but now it’s best-on-best. We’ll see where we are. ”
Star power, speed—and plenty of respect
Even with Switzerland’s rise, the respect for Canada’s arsenal is clear. “I would expect a great game, ” Connor McDavid said. “They’ve got a lot of great players too... They’re going to give us everything we can handle. ” Canada’s opener showcased their speed, layered attack, and defensive buy-in—traits that demand ruthless discipline from opponents. Switzerland counters with a seasoned spine, led by Josi on the blue line and a forward group featuring Hischier, Timo Meier, Fiala, Philipp Kurashev, Suter, and Niederreiter, among others. The blend of NHL-hardened stars and reliable domestic-league veterans is a hallmark of the Swiss roster construction in recent years.
Goaltending and special teams as the swing factors
Two words hover over this matchup: margin management. Switzerland’s path to an upset historically runs through elite goaltending, heavy commitment in the slot, and opportunistic finishing. The search for this year’s “Gerber-and-DiPietro” combination—shut-the-door netminding paired with timely scoring—could define the night. Expect Switzerland to lean on their shot-blocking ethos, a trait Fiala highlighted after the opener, alongside clean exits and disciplined sticks to keep Canada’s rush at bay. On the other side, Canada’s pace and puck retrieval can tilt the ice quickly; limiting odd-man rushes and neutral-zone turnovers will be essential for the Swiss.
Special teams could provide the decisive edge. A low-penalty game favors Switzerland’s five-on-five structure; conversely, a parade to the box invites Canada’s high-skill units to impose themselves. Early faceoff wins and first touches will matter—both to relieve pressure for the Swiss and to fuel Canada’s cycle game.
What a result would mean
For Switzerland, a win would echo 2006 while signaling that the program’s recent silver-laden pedigree travels on the Olympic stage with the world’s best assembled. For Canada, victory would affirm early-tournament form and preserve a clean path toward knockout-round positioning. Either way, Friday’s tilt feels bigger than a second game in group play—it’s a measuring stick that will echo through the bracket.
All eyes now turn to Santagiulia Arena at 3: 10 p. m. ET. One team seeks to reinforce its favorite status; the other aims to rattle it. The bear’s awake. The Swiss are poking.
