Early Swiss Hockey

This article details the early bandy and ice hockey activities in Switzerland.

History
Bandy was first played in St. Moritz and Davos in the 1880s, largely due to the influence of English tourists. The 1885 Varsity Match between Oxford and Cambridge is said to have been played in St. Moritz. 100 years later, the International Ice Hockey Federation formally recognized the 1885 game as having been the first ice hockey match played in Europe. However, there is no contemporary evidence that the 1885 match took place, and Oxford now claim that it was a bandy match.

An annual series soon begun, pitting a team from Davos against one from St. Moritz. Later, the Pawson brothers, Wynyard, Fleming, Scoones etc. continued with the tradition of annual games between Davos and St. Moritz. The prestigious Davos International Bandy Tournament and Grindelwald Cup were played in Switzerland during the first decade of the 1900s.

Davos also had many North American visitors, and they picked up hockey with a puck much earlier than St.Moritz who predominantly played bandy on the larger ice surface using a ball and larger goals, playing eleven aside. This was popular up until the outbreak of World War I.

Game results
Games @ Davos - Jan 14 January 22 January 15 January 21 January 26 January 15 January 20 January 14 January 16 January 11 January 14
 * 1901
 * Berlin Club - Anglo-American Club 5:1
 * Berlin Club - Anglo-American Club 2:6
 * Berlin Club - Anglo-American Club 4:4
 * St. Moritz - Davos 9:2
 * 1904
 * Davos - St. Moritz 6:2
 * Davos - Haarlem (Netherlands) 3:0
 * Davos - St. Moritz 3:2
 * 1905
 * Haarlem (Netherlands) - St. Moritz 7:6
 * St. Moritz - Davos 8:1
 * 1906
 * Davos - St. Moritz 6:2 @ Davos - St. Moritz had been favored
 * 1909
 * St. Moritz - Davos 7:0
 * 1910
 * Oxford Canadians - Leipziger SC 3:2 @ St. Moritz
 * Leipzgier SC - Davos 9:0 @ Davos