The Swiss players celebrate after beating Finland 6-2 to win their first Women’s Worlds bronze medal in 2012.
photo: Andre Ringuette / HHOF-IIHF Images
When the eight teams arrived in Burlington, Vermont for the 2012 Women’s Worlds, there was nothing in particular that said to watch out for the Swiss. Historically, they had finished as high as fourth only once, in 2008, and Sweden and Finland were still very much considered the class of Europe.
Indeed, the only other country to win a medal in women’s hockey apart from the top four nations was a lone bronze by Russia in 2001.
But as it turned out, 2012 was a watershed moment for coach Rene Kammerer and his squad. Kammerer had been the head coach since the 2006 Olympics and had developed a core of skilled and fast players, notably Phoebe Staenz, the Waidacher sisters – Monika and Nina – and twins Julia and Stefanie Marty.
The team started with a tough 3-2 loss to Germany but bounced back to beat Slovakia, 2-1, and, more impressively, Sweden, 3-2, on a late goal by Sara Benz.
The Swiss then handled Russia with comparative ease in the quarter-finals, 5-2, and after a one-sided loss to the hosts faced Finland for the bronze medal. The Finns had won bronze the last three WW and 10 of 13 since 1990. They were, to be sure, prohibitive favourites, with Noora Raty in goal, Jenni Hiirikoski on defence, and Michelle Karvinen up front.
But the Swiss had Florence Schelling in goal and had some momentum coming into the game. They may not have expected to be playing for a medal, but they weren’t going to let the chance pass easily either.
Nevertheless, Finland scored early to take a 1-0 lead, only to see the Swiss tie midway through the opening period. Anne Helin put the Finns up late, but Benz scored perhaps the most important goal of the tournament for her team, tying the score 2-2 at 19:59 of the first.
That goal seemed to crush the Finnish spirit because the Swiss scored the only goal of the second (Julia Marty) and three unanswered goals in the third to win handily, 6-2. It was the team’s first ever medal in women’s hockey and also gave them much added confidence two years later in Sochi when they won another bronze, this time beating the Swedes in dramatic fashion.
This 2012-14 period marked the height of the Swiss women’s program so far, and although they have yet to return to the podium, they can look back with pride at these two bronze medals when they were, in essence, European champions.
Click here for the overview of stories.
Indeed, the only other country to win a medal in women’s hockey apart from the top four nations was a lone bronze by Russia in 2001.
But as it turned out, 2012 was a watershed moment for coach Rene Kammerer and his squad. Kammerer had been the head coach since the 2006 Olympics and had developed a core of skilled and fast players, notably Phoebe Staenz, the Waidacher sisters – Monika and Nina – and twins Julia and Stefanie Marty.
The team started with a tough 3-2 loss to Germany but bounced back to beat Slovakia, 2-1, and, more impressively, Sweden, 3-2, on a late goal by Sara Benz.
The Swiss then handled Russia with comparative ease in the quarter-finals, 5-2, and after a one-sided loss to the hosts faced Finland for the bronze medal. The Finns had won bronze the last three WW and 10 of 13 since 1990. They were, to be sure, prohibitive favourites, with Noora Raty in goal, Jenni Hiirikoski on defence, and Michelle Karvinen up front.
But the Swiss had Florence Schelling in goal and had some momentum coming into the game. They may not have expected to be playing for a medal, but they weren’t going to let the chance pass easily either.
Nevertheless, Finland scored early to take a 1-0 lead, only to see the Swiss tie midway through the opening period. Anne Helin put the Finns up late, but Benz scored perhaps the most important goal of the tournament for her team, tying the score 2-2 at 19:59 of the first.
That goal seemed to crush the Finnish spirit because the Swiss scored the only goal of the second (Julia Marty) and three unanswered goals in the third to win handily, 6-2. It was the team’s first ever medal in women’s hockey and also gave them much added confidence two years later in Sochi when they won another bronze, this time beating the Swedes in dramatic fashion.
This 2012-14 period marked the height of the Swiss women’s program so far, and although they have yet to return to the podium, they can look back with pride at these two bronze medals when they were, in essence, European champions.
Click here for the overview of stories.