More Group A Preliminary Ice Hockey Predictions with Switzerland and France
Puck Drop: 6:10 a.m. Eastern Standard Time
How to Watch: CBC Gem, SN, ICI Télé, USA TV Network
Venue: Milana Santaguila Arena in Milan, Italy
The Olympics are sure to bring unimaginable levels of excitement, at many different levels and venues. But one sure to top the list will be the Olympic ice hockey arenas.
How About the Story for Switzerland in the 2026 Olympics
Switzerland is a team with high hopes, but not great expectations, does that make sense? No pressure, just go out there and play, for the love of the game. Maybe that’s a description more so of the host Italians, but it does fit for the Swiss, we think given the context.
At the outset of the tournament, many prognosticators would’ve had the likes of USA, Canada, and Sweden in a league of their own. Maybe Finland and Czechia right there at that next tier, too. But hey, as Canada and US fans, we wouldn’t want to unnecessarily motivate anybody. But we digress.
Switzerland does come into this one with plenty of firepower. It will be more of a question of whether they can shift from defensive play to offensive attack enough to generate any real momentum. Names like Kevin Fiala, Nico Hischier, Timo Meier, and Nino Niederreiter provide more than enough talent to fill the opposition net. That’s not to mention a defenceman with a career high of 96 points in an NHL season, along with a Norris Trophy win, Roman Josi.
Their leadership was named today with Fiala taking the captaincy. The alternates will be Andrea Glauser, along with Hischier and Niederreiter.
Switzerland has done a great job of building their home league. Many of their players play in the Swiss League. As a matter of fact, all their players either play in the NHL or professionally in Switzerland. Four members of this team each play for Fribourg-Gotteron and for the ZSC Lions , to lead the way. Sven Andrighetto plays for the ZSC Lions, and is previously an NHL veteran of 216 career regular season games under his belt.
Los Angeles Kings’ Kevin Fiala has been named alternate captain for Switzerland.
Roman Josi gets the ‘C’
Nico Hischier, Nino Niederreiter and Andrea Glauser are the other alternates@TheHockeyNews | #GoKingsGo— Andre Leal (@leal_andre19) February 11, 2026
The France Team at the Olympics
France hasn’t played in an Olympics with NHLers since 2002. This tournament will be a great benchmark for their hockey program, as a whole.
France is a team, with not a lot, but definite proud NHL history. This roster features over 1,000 career NHL regular season games among four players. Furthermore, just one of those four players with NHL experience still play in the NHL, Alexandre Texier of the Montreal Canadiens. He’s only the second native of France to ever lace them up for the Habs. Fans would recall Cristobal Huet strapping on the pads.
Predictions
We think Switzerland’s firepower will be too much for the team from France to handle. Yes, we do think France plays a physical game, and contain teams. However, the free flowing attack of Switzerland should be able to outclass them.
Prediction: Switzerland 4 – France 1
Main Photo Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
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