Sven Bärtschi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sven Bärtschi
Bärtschi with the Calgary Flames in 2012
Born	(1992-10-05) 5 October 1992 (age 32) Bern, Switzerland
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight	192 lb (87 kg; 13 st 10 lb)
Position	Left wing
Shot	Left
Played for	Calgary Flames Vancouver Canucks Vegas Golden Knights SC Bern
National team	Switzerland
NHL Draft	13th overall, 2011 Calgary Flames
Playing career	2008–2023

Sven Bärtschi (born on October 5, 1992) is a former professional ice hockey player from Switzerland. He played as a forward. Sven started his professional career in 2009 in Switzerland.

He then moved to North America to play in the Western Hockey League (WHL). The Calgary Flames picked him 13th overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Sven made his debut in the NHL in 2012.

Sven's Hockey Journey

Bärtschi with the Portland Winterhawks in 2011.

Sven Bärtschi began his professional hockey journey in Switzerland in 2009. He played for SC Langenthal in the National League B. He decided to move to North America to try and reach the NHL.

The Portland Winterhawks in the Western Hockey League (WHL) chose him in their draft. In the 2010–11 season, Sven was the top rookie in the WHL. He scored 34 goals and earned 85 points. He was almost named the best new player of the year.

Joining the NHL

Before the 2011 NHL Draft, experts thought Sven was one of the best young players. The Calgary Flames picked him 13th overall. The team quickly signed him to a three-year contract.

Sven went to the Flames' training camp but returned to Portland for the 2011–12 season. He was amazing, scoring 94 points in 47 games. His teammates voted him their most valuable player.

Due to many injuries on the Flames team, Sven was called up to play in the NHL on March 7, 2012. He played his first NHL game on March 9. He scored his first NHL goal two nights later. Sven scored goals in his next two games too, quickly becoming a fan favorite.

He played five NHL games and scored three goals before returning to Portland. Sven was the top scorer in the 2012 WHL playoffs. He led Portland to the league championship series.

Professional Career and Team Changes

Sven became a full-time professional player in 2012–13. Because of a player strike in the NHL, he started the season with the Abbotsford Heat. This team was connected to the Calgary Flames. He played well but had a neck injury that made him miss several weeks.

On March 2, 2015, the Calgary Flames traded Sven to the Vancouver Canucks. Sven had asked to be traded from the Flames. He played his first game for the Canucks on April 4, 2015.

Sven had a great season with the Canucks in 2015–16. He scored 15 goals and earned 28 points, which were his best numbers at that time. He signed new contracts with the Canucks in 2016 and 2018.

During the 2018–19 season, Sven missed 56 games. He suffered a serious head injury after being checked during a game. On September 30, 2019, the Canucks placed Sven on waivers. This meant other teams could claim him, but no one did.

After seven years with the Canucks, Sven left as a free agent. He signed a one-year contract with the Vegas Golden Knights on July 28, 2021. He spent most of the 2021–22 season playing for their farm team.

After that, Sven returned to Switzerland to play for SC Bern. He signed a three-year deal. After one season back home, Sven officially retired from professional hockey on August 2, 2023.

Playing for Switzerland

Sven Bärtschi played for the Swiss national junior team several times. He played in the Under-18 world championship in 2009 and 2010. He also played in the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in 2011 and 2012. In the 2012 tournament, he had to leave early because of a head injury.

Sven's Early Life

Sven Bärtschi grew up in Langenthal, Switzerland. His father was also a professional hockey player. When Sven was 11, his parents divorced. His mother worked two jobs to make sure Sven and his brother could continue playing hockey.

Awards and Honours