Beni Waidacher is making his World Juniors debut 46 years after his father.
photo: Micheline Veluvolu/IIHF
If you look way down in the bottom left corner of page 679 of the IIHF’s 2026 Guide & Record Book, you will see that Ludwig Waidacher played all five games for Switzerland at the 1980 World Junior Championship. No goals or assists, and two penalty minutes. It’s not much of an entry, but it’s something.
Who knew, 45 years later, that Ludwig’s far greater legacy would be as the father of one of the most amazing hockey families you could imagine?
Consider that between 1990 and 2006, he and his wife had three girls and five boys, all of whom were born in Arosa, Switzerland, and all of whom have played hockey at a high level.
The first three children were all girls. Monika was born in 1990, followed by Nina (1992) and Isabel (1994). They all played at all levels of IIHF competition, starting with the Women’s U18 World Championship. Nina played in 2008 and 2009; Monika in 2008; and, Isabel in 2011 and 2012. Monika played in six Women’s Worlds between 2009 and 2017, Isabel in four (2013-19), and Nina in three (2012-16). Nina played in the 2014 Olympics and then all three sisters played in PyeongChang in 2018.
Then, incredibly, came five boys: Thomas (b. 1996), Markus (b. 1998), Leo (b. 2001), Rico (b. 2003), and Beni (b. 2008).
Beni is the first to play at the World Juniors, making his debut this year an incredible 46 years after his father.
“I didn't know it was 1980!” he exclaimed when notified of his father’s U20 debut year. “But he told me stories from when he played at this tournament, and that I should enjoy the moment. It's the biggest event for junior players. He talked about how it was to play against the best players. I don't know against who exactly, but he said it was awesome.”
For the record, Ludwig and the Swiss team played Canada, Finland, and the Soviet Union in the preliminary round, and then West Germany and the United States in the Relegation Round. Notable players he would have skated against include Hall of Famers Larry Murphy, Jari Kurri, and Igor Larionov.
Thomas, the oldest son, had to retire in his early 20s because of a concussion, but he played in the Swiss junior system for several years. Markus has played in the Swiss league for many years and is currently with Rheintal in Division I. Leo also played junior at home and is a teammate of Markus’s. Rico also played with Leo in Davos as a junior. Beni is playing in the top National League in Switzerland with Davos, following his brothers through the junior ranks to the top. He is the first of the five brothers to play an IIHF event.
“I watched my sisters play when I was much younger,” Beni recounted. “They all played at the Olympics at the same time, which was really special. It's not a normal situation. Whenever we went out to play, I always wanted to be better than them, but they were good players. They had good hands. I wanted to be like that.”
It was no different as he got older and played with his brothers. “I always wanted to be better than my brothers as well, but at my age it wasn't that easy playing against them. But it was always fun.”
“I'm really proud to be the first one [to go to the World Juniors], and I made a lot of jokes with them,” Beni continued. He is here in Minnesota not only with the Swiss team but is joined by his father, mother, and brother, Leo.
Despite the exceptional hockey bond, all nine have never gone out and played shinny as a family. “It’s something I would love to do one day, but we haven’t yet,” Beni lamented.
For now, he is making the World Junior connection from 1980 to the present, hoping to help the team play its best, knowing he has seven siblings and hockey-mad parents cheering him on.
Who knew, 45 years later, that Ludwig’s far greater legacy would be as the father of one of the most amazing hockey families you could imagine?
Consider that between 1990 and 2006, he and his wife had three girls and five boys, all of whom were born in Arosa, Switzerland, and all of whom have played hockey at a high level.
The first three children were all girls. Monika was born in 1990, followed by Nina (1992) and Isabel (1994). They all played at all levels of IIHF competition, starting with the Women’s U18 World Championship. Nina played in 2008 and 2009; Monika in 2008; and, Isabel in 2011 and 2012. Monika played in six Women’s Worlds between 2009 and 2017, Isabel in four (2013-19), and Nina in three (2012-16). Nina played in the 2014 Olympics and then all three sisters played in PyeongChang in 2018.
Then, incredibly, came five boys: Thomas (b. 1996), Markus (b. 1998), Leo (b. 2001), Rico (b. 2003), and Beni (b. 2008).
Beni is the first to play at the World Juniors, making his debut this year an incredible 46 years after his father.
“I didn't know it was 1980!” he exclaimed when notified of his father’s U20 debut year. “But he told me stories from when he played at this tournament, and that I should enjoy the moment. It's the biggest event for junior players. He talked about how it was to play against the best players. I don't know against who exactly, but he said it was awesome.”
For the record, Ludwig and the Swiss team played Canada, Finland, and the Soviet Union in the preliminary round, and then West Germany and the United States in the Relegation Round. Notable players he would have skated against include Hall of Famers Larry Murphy, Jari Kurri, and Igor Larionov.
Thomas, the oldest son, had to retire in his early 20s because of a concussion, but he played in the Swiss junior system for several years. Markus has played in the Swiss league for many years and is currently with Rheintal in Division I. Leo also played junior at home and is a teammate of Markus’s. Rico also played with Leo in Davos as a junior. Beni is playing in the top National League in Switzerland with Davos, following his brothers through the junior ranks to the top. He is the first of the five brothers to play an IIHF event.
“I watched my sisters play when I was much younger,” Beni recounted. “They all played at the Olympics at the same time, which was really special. It's not a normal situation. Whenever we went out to play, I always wanted to be better than them, but they were good players. They had good hands. I wanted to be like that.”
It was no different as he got older and played with his brothers. “I always wanted to be better than my brothers as well, but at my age it wasn't that easy playing against them. But it was always fun.”
“I'm really proud to be the first one [to go to the World Juniors], and I made a lot of jokes with them,” Beni continued. He is here in Minnesota not only with the Swiss team but is joined by his father, mother, and brother, Leo.
Despite the exceptional hockey bond, all nine have never gone out and played shinny as a family. “It’s something I would love to do one day, but we haven’t yet,” Beni lamented.
For now, he is making the World Junior connection from 1980 to the present, hoping to help the team play its best, knowing he has seven siblings and hockey-mad parents cheering him on.