86th Annual SPENGLER CUP

SPENGLER CUP  2012 RETURNS!

Well it`s that time again ,The 86th Annual Spengler Cup actions returns to Davos in Switzerland, for what is deemed the oldest invitational tournament in world ice hockey. It is traditionally played between the days of December 25th- January 1st. It was originally devised by Dr. Carl Spengler as a means to promote teams from German-speaking Europe, who might have suffered ostracism in the aftermath of World War I. Eventually, the tournament grew well beyond expectations. Many of Europe's most prestigious clubs and national programs have appeared, including Soviet, Swedish and Czechoslovak powerhouses. 

In 1923 the 1st Spengler Cup was won by a British team in the shape of the Oxford University Ice Hockey Club,They were made up of Canadian Students. They beat Berliner Schlittschuhclub ( Berlin SC) to win the 1st ever Spengler Cup and would win it 3 more times in 1925,1931 and shared it in 1932 with LTC Prague after playing out a 0-0 tie after overtime. In it`s competition 86 year history, the Spengler Cup has only saw 4 years over the whole time it wasn`t in action which was (1939, 1940 ,1949 and 1956)

All the games are played in the Vaillant Arena in Davos, Switzerland.  The Arena holds 7,080

and 3,280 is seated. Last years tournament in 2011, saw the hosts HC DAVOS win the Spengler Cup last year beating the Latvian side Dinamo Riga 3-2 in an excitin

 final.

The Tournament is played with 6 teams, and 2 groups of 3 the groups are named after 2 famous Swiss sportsmen named: "TORRIANI"  After Richard "BIBI" Torriani who was a Swiss ice hockey player who won 2 Bronze medals with the Swiss National team, On both occasions in St Mortiz in ice hockey in 1928, 1948 . And he also won a Silver medal in the Luge back in 1957 in Davos.  

The second group is named "CATTINI" After Hans Cattini who also won a Olympic Bronze alongside Torriani in 1948 at Ice Hockey at St Mortiz too.

This year the teams participating are from:

   HC FRIBOURG-GOTTERON 

 from Switzerland   

SALAVAT YULAEV

  Ufa   

From  Republic of Bashkortostan  

 TEAM CANADA 

From Canada

DIE ADLER MANNHEIM

   from GERMANY             

  

HC VITKOVICE STEEL

From  CZECH REPUBLIC

HOSTS:

 HC DAVOS

from SWITZERLAND