Holy Cross junior forward Jack Stockfish nearly missed a phone call that was going to shake up his holiday season and hockey career.

Between Dec. 26-31 annually, nearly 100,000 individuals pack zondacrypto Arena in Davos, Switzerland, to watch six teams from all over the globe compete in the world’s oldest club ice hockey tournament.

The event is closing in on a century, as the Spengler Cup has taken place since 1923. This year’s field includes host HC Davos, Team Canada, HC Fribourg-Gotteron, Sparta Praha and IFK Helsinki.

Before the new year hits, the 97th edition of the Spengler Cup will take place, and it marks the first time that a collective collegiate team comprised of student-athletes from NCAA Division I programs will participate.

The U.S. College Selects (USCS) roster features 16 forwards, seven defensemen and three goaltenders representing all six NCAA Division I men’s conferences.

Stockfish became the sole student-athlete to join USCS from an Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) program when his addition to the roster was announced on Nov. 13.

Before Stockfish was named to the roster, Niagara head coach Jason Lammers was tabbed as an assistant coach on Aug. 14 alongside New Hampshire’s Mike Souza and under Penn State head coach Guy Gadwosky.

DIAL TO DAVOS
“I got a call the Monday after we played Niagara from a random number and I actually missed it," Stockfish recalled. "I was doing my laundry, and then I called right back. It was Coach Lammers inviting me to be a part of the team, and I could not believe it. I was just so excited."

Only hours after competing against one another, the pair of AHA opponents were having one of their first-ever conversations, and a significant one to put it lightly.

Lammers felt delivering the unprecedented opportunity to student-athletes and a league rival was special. The Purple Eagles’ bench boss thought Stockfish played well against his squad and knew Stockfish would fit after he spoke with Holy Cross head coach Bill Riga about one of his unit’s most promising players.

"It was exciting for me to be assigned the responsibility to make that phone call on behalf of the group," Lammers said. "The fun part was hearing the thrill of the young men on the other side. One of the coolest things that I have noticed about its uniqueness is how excited everybody has been when you have had the chance to call them and offer them a spot on the team," Lammers mentioned.

The excitement immediately caught Stockfish’s attention, but he also recognized the honor and opportunity that a spot on USCS entails. Additionally, this was the top-ranked honor of the skater’s career.

“Without a doubt, it is number one for sure," Stockfish added. "I can not believe that I get to do this. If you had told me that I would have this opportunity before I came to college, I would say you are crazy."


Holy Cross's Jack Stockfish - Courtesy of Mark Seliger

WHAT IT REPRESENTS
For many hockey players, the Spengler Cup is one of the most highly regarded tournaments in all of ice hockey. It represents an opportunity that few athletes will be able to take. The chance for a group of student-athletes to go and represent NCAA Division I, their respective programs and conferences is unlike anything we have seen in the collegiate hockey landscape in a long time.

“Anytime you can bring together a group of people across college hockey, working with different staff and people I know and don't know, it is really important," Lammers shared. "There is just something very unique about being in the first group of people that get to go over and represent college hockey."

Stockfish and Lammers will offer different perspectives based on the experiences they gather in Davos. However, on a grand scale.

“It is an honor that both Jack and I realize," Lammers added. "To whom much is given, much is expected. I know our league is looking to us to do a great job, and it is our responsibility to fulfill that. I do not want to speak for him, but we are definitely excited. We realize the power and importance of this and how excited people are for us. We want to show up and do our best work."


Niagara head coach Jason Lammers - Courtesy of Niagara Athletics

THE CHALLENGE AHEAD
USCS will have a challenge ahead. One that many collegiate skaters have yet to face in their careers.

Many are professional players, including the host HC Davos of the Swiss National League (NL). The student-athletes know their game will have to be at its highest level to stay competitive. Collegiate players will go opposite seasoned European skaters and professionals.

“These are grown men that we are going to be playing against, and I have to make sure that I am playing heavy and playing hard," Stockfish said. "I need to be disrupting on the forecheck and just hard to play against. That is going to be something that I am going to be focusing on a lot heading into the tournament."

While the competition is certain to be hard, it is a special circumstance for collegiate hockey to echo its name across international waters. The idea of getting an ice-level view of the Spengler Cup and being competitive is thrilling for those involved.

“It is something that I have always wanted to do,” Lammers noted. “To be able to see the world while playing hockey, and this is gonna allow us to do it right and then be in great competition. So it is just surreal for me because it has been a dream, and now it's like whoa, it's really happening.”

Both Stockfish and Lammers agree that this is a more than valid excuse to miss any holiday celebrations in North America.

For AHA’s duo, this is more than a tournament, even with as big a title as it holds. USCS has the chance to grow American college hockey and show it belongs in the conversation on the global stage.

The Spengler Cup will begin Dec. 26 in Davos, Switzerland, with each team playing a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5 contests during the six-day event. USCS will face Team Canada on the tournament’s opening day. All games in the event will be streamed live in the United States via the Spengler Cup’s official YouTube channel. Canadian viewers can watch all Spengler Cup games on TSN.