We celebrated with Leonardo Genoni until four in the morning: The ice hockey national team receives a rapturous welcome in Zurich's Volkshaus

Hundreds of jubilant fans gathered at Zurich's Volkshaus to celebrate the Swiss national ice hockey team, embracing them with Swiss flags and Edelweiss shirts, even after their heartbreaking loss in the World Championship final. The overwhelming sentiment among the supporters was pride in the team's remarkable journey.

Fans described the team's performance as a "Swiss summer fairy tale on ice," emphasizing the strong sense of unity and shared experience. Many fans declared the team "world champions of hearts" and felt that, despite the silver medal, Switzerland was now the number one team globally. One fan recounted how the team joined supporters in their hotel bar to celebrate until the early morning hours, with goalie Leonardo Genoni staying until 4 a.m.

As the medal ceremony began, the players appeared visibly disappointed, with many standing on stage with arms crossed and a distant look. Nino Niederreiter admitted that a sense of "emptiness was still circling in their heads." Despite their personal disappointment, players like Andrighetto, Niederreiter, and Genoni spoke of "goosebump moments" and the team's "incredible cohesion," describing the experience as something they had never witnessed before.

Coach Jan Cadieux, known for his analytical approach, found the team easy to coach due to their "will." The crowd's support was palpable, with one audience member shouting, "You are the best!" Roman Josi, who appeared particularly affected by the missed opportunity, eventually managed a smile when interviewed, acknowledging the difficult emotions of the day.