Andrighetto was one of the stars of the 2025 World Championship in Stockholm.
IIHF president Luc Tardif was in Zurich last night for the start of a new Swiss league season, but he wasn’t there for a team or game so much as for a player—ZSC Lions forward Sven Andrighetto.
Andrighetto was voted the IIHF’s Male Player of the Year for 2024-25, and Tardif presented Andrighetto with his trophy prior to the Lions’ home opener, a thrilling 4-3 win over Biel thanks to a goal by Yannick Weber at 19:59 of the third period.
After the game, Andrighetto reflected on a season that was sensational in so many ways, except for the final game of the World Championship in Stockholm.
“We lost the gold medal to the Americans in overtime, but despite that disappointing part we had a great tournament and had a lot of fun,” Andrighetto said last night. “I like looking back at the team we had, the atmosphere we had during the whole tournament. It’s too bad we couldn’t finish it off with gold, which is our ultimate goal.”
Andrighetto finished second in goal-scoring at the WM with seven, the highest total at any World Championship in his career. But it wasn’t so much a new talent that got him the goals so much as the players around him.
“I try to contribute however I can,” he explained, “and at this World Championship, I found the back of the net, for sure, but I have to thank my teammates and linemates for that. It’s a team effort, and I’m happy I got to contribute to the team’s success.”
Andrighetto is not only happy to look back at his past success but also to look forward. Switzerland was supposed to host the 2020 WM until COVID forced the IIHF to cancel that year’s event, but now, six years later, Zurich and Fribourg will be centre stage next spring.
“We’re all really excited for the World Championship to come here,” he continued. “For the past couple of years when we lost in the finals, it makes the hunger even greater for next year with the motivation. I think the two losses are a hard pill to swallow, but if we use it as motivation, it can help us in the future.”
In addition to winning silver at the Men’s Worlds, Andrighetto was a key player for the Lions, which won the league championship and the Champions League finals in 2024-25.
“We have a great team overall, and a great core that has been together the last couple of years. And we won both the league title and champions title it gives us the feeling we can do it again this year. The team is mostly the same, and the hunger is still there.”
Indeed, this double proved to be Andrighetto’s most enduring memory for the last season, and key reasons why the voting members saw fit to give him the IIHF Player of the Year.
“Last year was special for the organization and the team, and me personally,” he continued, “but I can pick two highlights—winning the Champions League at home and also defending the league championship in Lausanne. These are my two greatest memories from the last year.”
Despite the team successes this past season, there is also a measure of personal success, which Andrighetto acknowledges by deflecting the direct praise for being named Player of the Year.
“This is a really big honour. To be honest, I didn’t think I would win it. But I’m honoured that I did. I have to say, thanks to my teammates in the Swiss national team and in Zurich, because obviously without them I wouldn’t be able to achieve that. And it’s a team sport, so it’s special for everyone.”
Andrighetto was voted the IIHF’s Male Player of the Year for 2024-25, and Tardif presented Andrighetto with his trophy prior to the Lions’ home opener, a thrilling 4-3 win over Biel thanks to a goal by Yannick Weber at 19:59 of the third period.
After the game, Andrighetto reflected on a season that was sensational in so many ways, except for the final game of the World Championship in Stockholm.
“We lost the gold medal to the Americans in overtime, but despite that disappointing part we had a great tournament and had a lot of fun,” Andrighetto said last night. “I like looking back at the team we had, the atmosphere we had during the whole tournament. It’s too bad we couldn’t finish it off with gold, which is our ultimate goal.”
Andrighetto finished second in goal-scoring at the WM with seven, the highest total at any World Championship in his career. But it wasn’t so much a new talent that got him the goals so much as the players around him.
“I try to contribute however I can,” he explained, “and at this World Championship, I found the back of the net, for sure, but I have to thank my teammates and linemates for that. It’s a team effort, and I’m happy I got to contribute to the team’s success.”
Andrighetto is not only happy to look back at his past success but also to look forward. Switzerland was supposed to host the 2020 WM until COVID forced the IIHF to cancel that year’s event, but now, six years later, Zurich and Fribourg will be centre stage next spring.
“We’re all really excited for the World Championship to come here,” he continued. “For the past couple of years when we lost in the finals, it makes the hunger even greater for next year with the motivation. I think the two losses are a hard pill to swallow, but if we use it as motivation, it can help us in the future.”
In addition to winning silver at the Men’s Worlds, Andrighetto was a key player for the Lions, which won the league championship and the Champions League finals in 2024-25.
“We have a great team overall, and a great core that has been together the last couple of years. And we won both the league title and champions title it gives us the feeling we can do it again this year. The team is mostly the same, and the hunger is still there.”
Indeed, this double proved to be Andrighetto’s most enduring memory for the last season, and key reasons why the voting members saw fit to give him the IIHF Player of the Year.
“Last year was special for the organization and the team, and me personally,” he continued, “but I can pick two highlights—winning the Champions League at home and also defending the league championship in Lausanne. These are my two greatest memories from the last year.”
Despite the team successes this past season, there is also a measure of personal success, which Andrighetto acknowledges by deflecting the direct praise for being named Player of the Year.
“This is a really big honour. To be honest, I didn’t think I would win it. But I’m honoured that I did. I have to say, thanks to my teammates in the Swiss national team and in Zurich, because obviously without them I wouldn’t be able to achieve that. And it’s a team sport, so it’s special for everyone.”