Ralph Krueger to be inducted into IIHF hall of fame

Switzerland’s national hockey team made a smart choice choosing Steinbach’s Ralph Krueger to coach their team in 1998.

In the 35 years before Krueger took the helm, the Swiss had only played in the top division six times. Under Krueger, they didn’t miss a year playing in the A-Pool.

Krueger coached Switzerland at 12 world championships and three Olympics and was announced as part of the International Ice Hockey Federation’s hall of fame class of 2026 as a builder.

“The team was always competitive, but most important it believed it belonged at the top and played with a confidence infused in them by Krueger,” his bio reads.

“This confidence and feeling of belief was critical to Krueger’s ability to get the most out of each player and, by extension, the team.”

Krueger began his hockey career in Steinbach, growing up right down the road from the city’s outdoor rink and was one of the first kids to get to play in the newly constructed Centennial Arena after it was built in 1967. He turned his hockey passion into a long playing career in Germany and moved seamlessly into coaching.

Other highlights of Krueger’s career include stints as an NHL coach and a spell as the director of Premier League soccer team Southampton.

With the 2026 world championships taking place in Switzerland, the 2026 class is chock full of Swiss connections.

The IIHF’s Historical Committee waved the normal two-year waiting period for Andres Ambühl, who was a mainstay on Krueger’s teams. He has played in more games than any other player and suited up in an incredible 20 world championships.

Goaltender Florence Schelling is the all-time leader in games played (44), minutes, (2,578:35) and victories (21) at the world women’s championships. For five consecutive years, only Schelling took to the net for Switzerland at the senior level.

More recognizable names to Canadians are also on the list, as the highly decorated women’s forward Cassie Campbell-Pascall and NHL stars Tomas Vanek (Austria), Patrice Bergeron (Canada) and Niklas Kronwall (Sweden) are also part of this year’s class.

“The Class of 2026 represents everything the IIHF Hall of Fame stands for—excellence, leadership, longevity, and profound impact on the global game,” IIHF President Luc Tardif said in a news release.

“These seven honorees have left an enduring legacy that will inspire generations to come.”

The class, including Krueger, will be celebrated during the upcoming 2026 World Championships in Zurich.