The Swiss Lore of the VHL

[Daniel Janser 2,215]

The best and the worst of the Swiss VHL players over the decades

 

Since its foundation almost a hundred seasons ago, the small, but surprisingly HOF headed community of Swiss born players was present. Let's start with the elephant in the room: The messias of VHL hockey, the man who holds every conceivable scoring record, Mr Icehockey: Scotty Campbell. Born in Davos, the cradle of Swiss icehockey, he was destined for greatness. Winning the inaugural Continental Cup with Vasteras against Boulet's heavily favoured Calgary Wranglers, he won pretty much everything one could win and then some. It is not unrealistic to say that Campbell faced bankruptcy because he had to add an other wing to his house, in which to store all his silverware. He was so good, he was even able to lead Team Switzerland to a WC gold medal in S6. Not for nothing, the trophy for the best player is named after Scotty Campbell.

 

 

 

 

Scott Boulet is another well-known Swiss player. Not least due to the trophy for the best two-way forward bearing his name. The Geneva born left winger was a Calgary lifer and his jersey #78 is retired by the franchise with which he won the Continental cup twice. His trophy case is more like a trophy room and it is no wonder that he was inducted into the HOF as first ballot entry.

 

 

 

Another Swiss keyplayer in the founding years was Matthew Pogge @Quik. Also a HOFer and beating Boulet by one season to be the first Swiss to win the Continental Cup. In a remarkably short, four season career in the VHL, Pogge was also a first ballot inductee into the holy Hall of Fame and much as Boulet, he stayed true to his only club, the notorious Vasteras franchise. To the surprise of absolutely no-one, the star of said club is no other than the legendary Scotty Campbell himself. Both jerseys are obviously retired by Vasteras, who were merged (after some re-branding/re-locations) with the Wranglers in S40.

 

Over the decades, there were other notable Swiss players such as Thomas Jenskovic, Branden Snelheid, Matt Bailey, Leander Kaelin, Alexander Sauve, Sandro Clegane @JardyB10 and the latest addition to these HOF players, Daniel Janser.

 

Other Swiss players are still active and are an asset to their clubs, such as Maverick Gonçalves @leandrofg, Jasper Davis @Josh or CGY Janser

 

Where there is light, there is also shadows. Numerous Swiss players did not quite make the big league, some were even mediocre minor league players at best. Some were servicable players in the show with no individual accolades and others were outright bad. However, there is a high density of HOF players in the relatively small pool of Swiss players and it appears that the fabled Swiss attention to details leads to some amazing players every now and then.

 

All in all, I think it is save to say, that Swiss players heavily influenced the VHL in its forming years, and occasionally this small country in the heart of Europe produces against all odds players which can stand toe-to-toe with the Nordic, American and Canadian players.

Edited November 5 by Daniel Janser

[leandrofg 1,180]

14 hours ago, Daniel Janser said:

Daniel Janser

 

Legend.

[Victor 11,015]

If it can produce efficient trains it can produce great VHL players.