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By-Tor · 12-18-2023, 10:31 PM

[Image: IIHF.PNG?ex=65936c04&is=6580f704&hm=b92c...y=lossless]

Above are the IIHF rankings based on team TPE from the previous tournament - overall and by position. As you can see, Switzerland sits at #3 in the international skill rankings. Led by a world class defense and goaltender, the small nation is bursting at the seams with defensive prowess. Supported by one of the better forward corps in the world, Switzerland truly has it all. But I want to show you why Switzerland has, pound for pound, the best concentration of skill in the world.

Look at this chart again, but I'll add a column:

[Image: image.png?ex=65936f7a&is=6580fa7a&hm=e9c...y=lossless]

[Image: image.png?ex=65936f7a&is=6580fa7a&hm=e9c...y=lossless]

Behind Russia and tied with Norway, Switzerland has the least amount of federation players. Almost half the crop of Sweden and Finland, Switzerland boasts equal major league skill. My point is further simplified in this graph:

[Image: image.png?ex=659373a0&is=6580fea0&hm=a29...y=lossless]

[Image: image.png?ex=659373a0&is=6580fea0&hm=a29...y=lossless]

If a team is in the top right quadrant, like Switzerland, that nation packs in the most skill-per-player. The bottom right quadrant (where Sweden, Canada, etc., are located) indicated federations that are skilled, but throw a lot of bodies to the wall and pull from a larger player pool. Nations is the top left quadrant, Russia for example, have a slim pool of players to pull from and are weaker in skill. Any team found in the bottom left quadrant, with Latvia being closest, indicates a roster with a lot of players, but minimal skill. Switzerland is on an island of its own in the upper right quadrant. Quality players, quality users, and no bullshit.

I'll keep this article relatively short for my TL;DR fans. Yes, this is an unabashed advertisement for my love, the Federation of Switzerland. If you are thinking to yourself while recreating, as one does, "I wonder which federation I will choose?" To help out, I'll float you this: why join a federation that is oversaturated with players or are struggling to find skill? You could have it all - ample playing time and top end talent teammates - if you are bold enough to simply choose Switzerland.

I mean no slight against my international friends, I'm just pointing out the obvious. Tally-ho.