Laure Mériguet is sole French-speaking Swiss player in national squad
Defender Laure Mériguet stands as the sole representative from French-speaking Switzerland in Shannon Miller’s national squad for the upcoming World Championship in Denmark, as reported by rtn.ch.
The tournament gets underway on Friday, November 6. Esbjerg serves as the host city where the Swiss team will face the United States, Czechia, Austria, and Germany in the preliminary round.
How the Roster and Group Format Changed
The competition structure features a revised format with two groups of five nations each, replacing the previous system that separated the top five teams from the bottom five. To advance to the quarter-finals, Switzerland must finish inside the top four of their group. Head coach Shannon Miller finalized her roster after making her final three cuts, releasing Jade Surdez, Alizée Aymon, and Ticinese player Elena Gaberell.
Laure Mériguet earned her spot despite splitting her playing time between the under-18 team in Geneva and LHC in the first division. Alongside her, the squad features established international stars. Twenty-eight-year-old Alina Müller from Zurich remains the focal point of the attack, competing in the Professional Women’s Hockey League for Hamilton.
International Experience Across the Squad
Additional top-tier experience bolsters the roster through Ticinese defender Nicole Vallario and goaltenders Andrea Brändli and Saskia Maurer, all of whom play in North America’s premier league. Four other players represent the team while competing in the American collegiate system.
The remaining matches in Esbjerg will test whether this mix of North American experience and domestic talent can advance through the new group stage and secure a spot in the knockout rounds.