2023-11-10 06:40:14
This surprised more than one, but Andres Ambühl (40 years old) is indeed competing in the Karjala Cup. Age does not have much influence on the man who acts as a sort of Swiss counterpart to the legendary Jaromir Jagr, still active in the Czech Republic despite his 51 years. The Grisons striker, Swiss record holder for the number of caps (316), number of points (145) and world record holder for the number of World Championships played (18) is in fact still hungry for success.
Is there still a need to introduce “Bühli”, as he is affectionately called across Sarine? The 2013 World Cup silver medalist and six-time national champion is a monument to Swiss and global hockey.
During the 2000/01 season, Jura striker Valentin Nussbaumer, his current club teammate and also from the trip to Finland, was only a few months old. But a certain Andres Ambühl was already making his first moves in the National League with the HCD!
Born in 1983, the same year as RTSsport consultant Félicien Du Bois, with whom he played in Davos between 2014 and 2020, Grison is aware of having been spared injuries. “At this level, I was luckier than Félicien. He would probably still be playing too, if fate hadn’t gotten involved“.
Ambühl answered our questions, following the bitter 4-0 defeat conceded by the Swiss team once morest Finland at the opening of the Karjala Cup in Tampere.
You can never count on a summons. I just play as best as possible in the club
Andres Ambühl
RTSsport.ch: How did you experience this 316th selection?
ANDRES AMBÜHL: It wasn’t a great performance. We didn’t start this game the way we wanted. We quickly conceded 2 goals, and lost numerous duels. In addition, we weren’t really dangerous in front of the opposing goal, which didn’t help us.
This 316th selection was not the most memorable of all for Andres Ambühl, here in the fight with Kristian Vesalainen. [Tomi Hänninen – Imago]
RTSsport.ch: Did you expect, at the start of the season, to still be called up for selection?
ANDRES AMBÜHL: You can never count on that. I just play as best as I can at the club. And if a summons comes next, so much the better.
RTSsport.ch: Do you think your World Cup participation record will one day be broken?
ANDRES AMBÜHL: We’ll see… Many records end up being erased. It’s not something that concerns me more than that.
A 19th World Championship? At the moment I’m not looking that far
Andres Ambühl
RTSsport.ch: Ultimately, your goal is probably to participate in a 19th World Championship.
ANDRES AMBÜHL: It is clear that I always set myself this goal at the start of the international season. But at the moment, I’m not looking that far ahead. The important thing is that I first deliver good performances with Davos and with the national team. Come what may.
RTSsport.ch: In fact, you are struggling to find your feet this season at HCD. With 3 successes and 7 points scored in 21 matches, you are far from your usual standards in the National League. How do you explain it?
ANDRES AMBÜHL: Hard to say… It is certain that my number of goals, for the moment, is not at the expected level. But at the end of the day, it’s not all regarding me. What matters is that the team is successful. Everything else is secondary.
I don’t know why the New York Rangers never gave me a chance
Andres Ambühl
RTSsport.ch: You tried to make the jump to the NHL in 2009/10. But the New York Rangers then confined you to the AHL within their farm club, Hartford. While the Swiss now have better credit across the Atlantic, would a young Andres Ambühl have a chance there in 2023?
ANDRES AMBÜHL: I mightn’t tell you that. Here too, there is no point in worrying too much regarding this. What happened is what happened… You shouldn’t waste too much energy turning the problem around in all directions, asking yourself a lot of questions. I don’t know why Rangers never gave me a chance back then. Things didn’t go the way I would have liked. But at the same time, it allowed me to experience positive things elsewhere.
RTSsport.ch: Finally, how do you feel physically?
ANDRES AMBÜHL: Well, actually. If you keep the joy of playing, it doesn’t matter how old you are, in the end. Mentally, it’s very important to continue to have fun (smile).
From Tampere, Michaël Taillard
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