Yanick, this year the Oberwil Rebells will participate in the Pilsen Challenge tournament for the fifth time. You have also played in this tournament before. What does participate in this international tournament mean to you?
It’s always good preparation for the second part of the season which, starts in February. To compete and measure against Czech and Slovak teams is always a good indicator of where we stand physically and mentally.

This year, apart from the host team, the tournament will feature the Czech U20 national team, the Slovak U23 national team, LG Bratislava, and another Swiss team, Sierre Lions. What are your expectations for this lineup of teams?
I expect a high pace from all those teams and that all teams will play at a very high tactical and technical level.

With the Swiss team from Sierre, you have faced off in the finals of the Swiss league playoffs in the last two seasons. Is there any rivalry between the teams?
There is a big rivalry, every game is always competitive, and the course of the game is always unclear.

Both teams are among the best again this year. Your team is currently leading the Swiss NLA standings, but second-place Sierre is just four points behind. What are the strengths of these teams that keep you both consistently at the top?
Everyone always wants to win, of course, and we have already managed to do so twice against Sierre this season. But the season will be decided in the playoffs!

The Swiss league continues during the winter months. Do you see this tournament as an opportunity to measure yourselves against strong teams and identify areas for improvement, or do you perceive its benefits differently?
In January and February, we work on our physical fitness almost every day and prepare ourselves for the second half of the season. But this tournament is also important for us as a team, as we have a very young team. Many players have never played at men’s international level before, so this tournament is a win-win situation for us.

You have already been in the Pilsen arena not only with your club but also with the national team. Most recently, you played there last year during the Three Nations Tournament. What are your memories of this venue?
I remember many trips to Pilsen, it is always a highlight of the season. Playing at such a high level at the Pilsen Challenge is important for me and for our team to develop our game.

The tournament served as preparation for the home World Championship, where you led Switzerland as captain to a fourth-place finish. Do you feel that this success has helped Swiss ball hockey?
The sport is continuing to develop in Switzerland. Since this season, the top league has been played almost entirely on plastic surfaces. Every player who practices and plays the whole season on plastic surfaces develops faster. This has a very positive effect on the general level. Nevertheless, there is still room for improvement, but I am convinced that we can build together a good team again for the 2026 World Championships in Ostrava and continue to chase our goal of a medal.

Several national team players will participate in this tournament, not only in the junior teams but also in the club teams. How will it feel for you to compare your skills with others in this tournament?
Competing with such players is extremely valuable for me and our young team. They can experience what it is like to play against top players and compete.