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Spengler Cup
2012 Spengler Cup logo.jpg
Spengler Cup logo
Sport Ice hockey
Founded 1923
Founder Dr. Carl Spengler
Inaugural season 1923
Organising body HC Davos
Motto The Peak of Hockey
No. of teams 6
Countries Switzerland, Canada, various other European countries
Venue(s) Eisstadion Davos (Davos, Switzerland)
Most recent
champion(s)		 Switzerland Fribourg-Gottéron (1st)
Most titles Switzerland HC Davos
Canada Team Canada
(16 each)
Qualification Invitation only
TV partner(s) SUI: Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen
Europe: Eurosport 2
RUS: Match TV & NTv2
GER: Sport1
CAN: TSN & RDS
USA: ESPN+
CZE / SVK / HUN: Sport1
DEN: TV2
SLO: Šport TV
SRB / CRO / BIH / MNE / MKD: Arena Sport
GBR: Viaplay

The Spengler Cup is a super old and exciting ice hockey tournament. It happens every year in Davos, Switzerland. It started way back in 1923. This makes it one of the oldest ice hockey tournaments in the world. The Swiss team HC Davos hosts the event. Games are played from December 26th to 31st. All the matches take place at the Eisstadion Davos.

The tournament was created by Dr. Carl Spengler. He wanted to help bring together ice hockey teams from German-speaking parts of Europe. This was important after World War I. The tournament grew much bigger than anyone expected. Many famous teams from Europe and beyond have played in it. Teams from 13 different countries have won the Spengler Cup. HC Davos and Team Canada have won the most cups, with 16 each. Switzerland has won the most cups as a country, with 22 wins.

Teams from North America, like Team USA and even Team Japan, have also competed. Since 1990, Team Canada has been the main team from North America. In the 2018 tournament, the Finnish team KalPa won against Team Canada. The game was decided by a shootout, which was a first for the Spengler Cup final.

The Spengler Cup was not played in 2020 or 2021. This was because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the 2024 tournament, the Swiss team HC Fribourg-Gottéron won the cup. They beat the German team Straubing Tigers with a score of 7–2 in the final game.

History of the Spengler Cup

Spengler Cup
The former Spengler Cup trophy on display at the Hockey Hall of Fame, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Many teams that play in the Spengler Cup are club teams. This means they have players from different countries on their roster. The very first tournament in 1923 was won by the Oxford University Ice Hockey Club. This team was made up of Canadians who were studying at the University of Oxford.

For the first 24 tournaments, two teams were super strong. These were the host team HC Davos and the Czechoslovakian team LTC Prague. LTC Prague won 7 times. Between 1965 and 1983, teams from Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union were very dominant. Since 1984, Team Canada has been the strongest team. They have won 16 times and been runner-up 10 times. Team Canada is usually made up of Canadian players who play in Europe.

From the start until 1978, the tournament was played on an outdoor ice rink. This outdoor rink is still there today. It is one of the biggest outdoor rinks in the world. Since 1978, all the games have been played indoors.

The Spengler Cup was canceled in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was planned to return in 2021, but it was canceled again. This was due to teams having players with COVID-19.

Tournament Sponsors

The Spengler Cup is a very big sports event in Switzerland. It's the second largest after a tennis tournament called the Swiss Indoors. In 2016, the tournament had a budget of 11 million Swiss francs. About 40% of this money comes from companies that sponsor the event. Since 1985, UBS has been the main sponsor. Other big sponsors include Würth, Schenker Storen, Škoda, Calanda, and Hostpoint.ch. Each of these main sponsors supports one of the six teams each year.

Watching the Games

The Spengler Cup is shown on TV in many countries. In Switzerland, you can watch it on Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen. In most of Europe, it's on Eurosport 2. Canadians can watch it on TSN and RDS. In the United Kingdom, you can stream it on Viaplay.

Spengler Cup Winners and Runners-up

Coppa Spengler
A representation of the current Spengler Cup trophy.
Spengler Cup 2013 19
Team Canada playing against the Rochester Americans in the 2013 tournament.
Year Winner Runner-up
1923 United Kingdom Oxford University Weimar Republic Berlin SC
1924 Weimar Republic Berlin SC Switzerland HC Davos
1925 United Kingdom Oxford University Switzerland HC Davos
1926 Weimar Republic Berlin SC Switzerland HC Davos
1927 Switzerland HC Davos Weimar Republic Berlin SC
1928 Weimar Republic Berlin SC United Kingdom Cambridge University
1929 Czechoslovakia LTC Prague Switzerland HC Davos
1930 Czechoslovakia LTC Prague Switzerland HC Davos
1931 United Kingdom Oxford University Weimar Republic Berlin SC
1932 Czechoslovakia LTC Prague
United Kingdom Oxford University1		 Switzerland HC Davos (3rd place)
1933 Switzerland HC Davos French Third Republic Paris Rapides
1934 Italy Diavoli Rossoneri Milano United Kingdom Oxford University
1935 Italy Diavoli Rossoneri Milano Switzerland HC Davos
1936 Switzerland HC Davos Czechoslovakia LTC Prague
1937 Czechoslovakia LTC Prague Switzerland HC Davos
1938 Switzerland HC Davos Czechoslovakia LTC Prague
1939 Tournament not held due to World War II
1940
1941 Switzerland HC Davos Nazi Germany Berlin SC
1942 Switzerland HC Davos Switzerland Zürcher SC
1943 Switzerland HC Davos Switzerland Zürcher SC
1944 Switzerland Zürcher SC Switzerland HC Davos
1945 Switzerland Zürcher SC Switzerland HC Davos
1946 Czechoslovakia LTC Prague Switzerland HC Davos
1947 Czechoslovakia LTC Prague Switzerland HC Davos
1948 Czechoslovakia LTC Prague Switzerland HC Davos
1949 Tournament not held due to high Cold War tensions
1950 Italy Diavoli Rossoneri Milano Sweden AIK Stockholm
1951 Switzerland HC Davos West Germany Preussen Krefeld
1952 West Germany EV Füssen Switzerland Zürcher SC
1953 Italy HC Milano Inter Switzerland HC Davos
1954 Italy HC Milano Inter West Germany EV Füssen
1955 Czechoslovakia Rudá Hvězda Brno Switzerland HC Davos
1956 Tournament not held for financial reasons
1957 Switzerland HC Davos Czechoslovakia Rudá Hvězda Brno
1958 Switzerland HC Davos Italy Diavoli Rossoneri Milano
1959 France ACBB Paris West Germany EV Füssen
1960 France ACBB Paris Switzerland HC Davos
1961 France ACBB Paris West Germany EV Füssen
1962 Czechoslovakia Sparta Prague West Germany EV Füssen
1963 Czechoslovakia Sparta Prague Austria Klagenfurt AC
1964 West Germany EV Füssen Sweden Modo Hockey
1965 Czechoslovakia Dukla Jihlava Sweden VIK Västerås HK
1966 Czechoslovakia Dukla Jihlava Belgium CP Liège
1967 Soviet Union Lokomotiv Moscow Canada Kingston Aces
1968 Czechoslovakia Dukla Jihlava Sweden Rögle BK
1969 Soviet Union Lokomotiv Moscow Switzerland HC Davos
1970 Soviet Union SKA Leningrad Czechoslovakia Dukla Jihlava
1971 Soviet Union SKA Leningrad Czechoslovakia Dukla Jihlava
1972 Czechoslovakia HC Slovan Bratislava Soviet Union Torpedo Gorkiy
1973 Czechoslovakia HC Slovan Bratislava Soviet Union Traktor Chelyabinsk
1974 Czechoslovakia HC Slovan Bratislava Polish People's Republic Team Poland
1975 Czechoslovakia Czechoslovak Olympic Team Finland Team Finland
1976 Soviet Union USSR B Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia B
1977 Soviet Union SKA Leningrad Czechoslovakia Dukla Jihlava
1978 Czechoslovakia Dukla Jihlava Sweden AIK Stockholm
1979 Soviet Union Krylya Sovetov Moscow West Germany Düsseldorfer EG
1980 Soviet Union Spartak Moscow Czechoslovakia TJ Vítkovice
1981 Soviet Union Spartak Moscow Switzerland HC Davos
1982 Czechoslovakia Dukla Jihlava Soviet Union Spartak Moscow
1983 Soviet Union Dynamo Moscow Czechoslovakia Dukla Jihlava
1984 Canada Team Canada Czechoslovakia Dukla Jihlava
1985 Soviet Union Spartak Moscow Canada Team Canada
1986 Canada Team Canada Soviet Union Sokil Kiev
1987 Canada Team Canada Soviet Union Krylya Sovetov Moscow
1988 United States USA Selects Canada Team Canada
1989 Soviet Union Spartak Moscow Sweden Färjestad BK
1990 Soviet Union Spartak Moscow Canada Team Canada
1991 Soviet Union / Russia CSKA Moscow Switzerland HC Lugano
1992 Canada Team Canada Sweden Färjestad BK
1993 Sweden Färjestad BK Switzerland HC Davos
1994 Sweden Färjestad BK Switzerland HC Davos
1995 Canada Team Canada Russia Lada Togliatti
1996 Canada Team Canada Switzerland HC Davos
1997 Canada Team Canada Sweden Färjestad BK
1998 Canada Team Canada Switzerland HC Davos
1999 Germany Kölner Haie Russia Metallurg Magnitogorsk
2000 Switzerland HC Davos Canada Team Canada
2001 Switzerland HC Davos Canada Team Canada
2002 Canada Team Canada Switzerland HC Davos
2003 Canada Team Canada Switzerland HC Davos
2004 Switzerland HC Davos Czech Republic Sparta Prague
2005 Russia Metallurg Magnitogorsk Canada Team Canada
2006 Switzerland HC Davos Canada Team Canada
2007 Canada Team Canada Russia Salavat Yulaev Ufa
2008 Russia Dynamo Moscow Canada Team Canada
2009 Belarus Dinamo Minsk Switzerland HC Davos
2010 Russia SKA Saint Petersburg Canada Team Canada
2011 Switzerland HC Davos Latvia Dinamo Riga
2012 Canada Team Canada Switzerland HC Davos
2013 Switzerland Genève-Servette HC Russia CSKA Moscow
2014 Switzerland Genève-Servette HC Russia Salavat Yulaev Ufa
2015 Canada Team Canada Switzerland HC Lugano
2016 Canada Team Canada Switzerland HC Lugano
2017 Canada Team Canada Switzerland Team Switzerland
2018 Finland KalPa Kuopio Canada Team Canada
2019 Canada Team Canada Czech Republic HC Oceláři Třinec
2020 Tournament not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021
2022 Switzerland HC Ambrì-Piotta Czech Republic Sparta Prague
2023 Switzerland HC Davos Czech Republic Dynamo Pardubice
2024 Switzerland HC Fribourg-Gottéron Germany Straubing Tigers

Notes

1 Oxford University and LTC Prague played to a 0–0 score after overtime. Both teams were declared winners.

Who Has Won the Most Cups?

Club Team Wins

Performance in the Spengler Cup by club
Club Won Runner-up Years won Years runner-up
Switzerland HC Davos 16 25 1927, 1933, 1936, 1938, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1951, 1957, 1958, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2011, 2023 1924, 1925, 1926, 1929, 1930, 1935, 1937, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1953, 1955, 1960, 1969, 1981, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2009, 2012
Canada Team Canada 16 10 1984, 1986, 1987, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 1985, 1988, 1990, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2018
Czech Republic LTC Prague 7 2 1929, 1930, 1932, 1937, 1946, 1947, 1948 1936, 1938
Czech Republic Dukla Jihlava 5 5 1965, 1966, 1968, 1978, 1982 1970, 1971, 1977, 1983, 1984
Russia Spartak Moscow 5 1 1980, 1981, 1985, 1989, 1990 1982
United Kingdom Oxford University 4 1 1923, 1925, 1931, 1932 1934
Russia SKA Leningrad /
SKA Saint Petersburg		 4 0 1970, 1971, 1977, 2010 –
Germany Berlin SC 3 4 1924, 1926, 1928 1923, 1927, 1931, 1941
Italy Diavoli Rossoneri Milano 3 1 1934, 1935, 1950 1958
France ACBB Paris 3 0 1959, 1960, 1961 –
Slovakia HC Slovan Bratislava1 3 0 1972, 1973, 1974 –
Germany EV Füssen 2 4 1952, 1964 1954, 1959, 1961, 1962
Switzerland Zürcher SC 2 3 1944, 1945 1942, 1943, 1952
Sweden Färjestad BK 2 3 1993, 1994 1989, 1992, 1997
Czech Republic Sparta Prague 2 2 1962, 1963 2004, 2022
Italy HC Milano Inter 2 0 1953, 1954 –
Russia Lokomotiv Moscow 2 0 1967, 1969 –
Russia Dynamo Moscow 2 0 1983, 2008 –
Switzerland Genève-Servette HC 2 0 2013, 2014 –
Czech Republic Rudá Hvězda Brno 1 1 1955 1957
Russia Krylya Sovetov Moscow 1 1 1979 1987
Russia CSKA Moscow 1 1 1991 2013
Russia Metallurg Magnitogorsk 1 1 2005 1999
Czechoslovakia Czechoslovak Olympic Team 1 0 1975 –
Soviet Union USSR B 1 0 1976 –
United States USA Selects 1 0 1988 –
Germany Kölner Haie 1 0 1999 –
Belarus Dinamo Minsk 1 0 2009 –
Finland KalPa Kuopio 1 0 2018 –
Switzerland HC Ambrì-Piotta 1 0 2022 –
Switzerland HC Fribourg-Gottéron 1 0 2024 –
Switzerland HC Lugano 0 3 – 1991, 2015, 2016
Sweden AIK Stockholm 0 2 – 1950, 1978
Russia Salavat Yulaev Ufa 0 2 – 2007, 2014
United Kingdom Cambridge University 0 1 – 1928
France Paris Rapides 0 1 – 1933
Germany Preussen Krefeld 0 1 – 1951
Austria Klagenfurt AC 0 1 – 1963
Sweden Modo Hockey 0 1 – 1964
Sweden VIK Västerås HK 0 1 – 1965
Belgium CP Liège 0 1 – 1966
Canada Kingston Aces 0 1 – 1967
Sweden Rögle BK 0 1 – 1968
Russia Torpedo Gorkiy 0 1 – 1972
Russia Traktor Chelyabinsk 0 1 – 1973
Polish People's Republic Team Poland 0 1 – 1974
Finland Team Finland 0 1 – 1975
Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia B 0 1 – 1976
Germany Düsseldorfer EG 0 1 – 1979
Czech Republic TJ Vítkovice 0 1 – 1980
Ukraine Sokil Kiev2 0 1 – 1986
Russia Lada Togliatti 0 1 – 1995
Latvia Dinamo Riga 0 1 – 2011
Switzerland Team Switzerland 0 1 – 2017
Czech Republic HC Oceláři Třinec 0 1 – 2019
Czech Republic Dynamo Pardubice 0 1 – 2023
Germany Straubing Tigers 0 1 – 2024

Notes

1 Slovakia was a part of Czechoslovakia until 1993. So, HC Slovan Bratislava in the 1970s represented both communist Czechoslovakia and the Slovak Socialist Republic.
2 Ukraine was a Soviet republic at the time. So, Sokil Kiev represented both the Soviet Union and Soviet Ukraine.

Wins by Country

Performance by nation
Nation Winners Runners-up
 Switzerland 22 32
 Czechoslovakia1 19 10
 Canada2 16 11
 Soviet Union3 13 5
 Germany4 6 11
 Italy5 5 1
 Russia6 4 5
 United Kingdom 4 2
 France7 3 1
 Sweden 2 8
 Finland 1 1
 Belarus 1 0
 United States 1 0
 Czech Republic 0 4
 Austria 0 1
 Belgium 0 1
 Latvia 0 1
 Poland 0 1

Notes

1 This includes hockey clubs from the First Czechoslovak Republic, the Third Czechoslovak Republic, the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, and the last Czech and Slovak Federative Republic. These were based in today's Czechia and Slovakia. It also includes Czechoslovak national teams.
2 This includes the runner-up 1967 Kingston Aces from the Ontario Hockey Association.
3 This includes hockey clubs based in today's Russia and Ukraine, and Soviet national teams.
4 This includes hockey clubs from the Weimar Republic, the Third Reich, Allied-occupied Germany, West Germany, and today's united Federal Republic.
5 This includes hockey clubs from the Kingdom of Italy and today's Italian Republic.
6 This includes CSKA Moscow's Cup win in 1991.
7 This includes hockey clubs from the French Third Republic, the Fourth Republic, and today's Fifth Republic.
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