Denis Hollenstein played for Genève-Servette in the Swiss NLA last season. Next year, he moves from one CHL team to another -- his hometown Kloten Flyers.

By Dominik Tobola

MINSK - The IIHF World Championship annually attracts some of the best hockey talent from around the world, so it should come as no surprise that 82 players from the rosters of Champions Hockey League clubs are wearing their home countries' colours in Minsk right now.

One of those players is 24-year-old Swiss winger Denis Hollenstein, who was a member of last year's surprise silver-medal-winning team. In the midst of chasing another medal for his national team, he spoke about the upcoming international club competition.

"I've never played in something like that before, so it's tough to predict how it will look," he said. "Nevertheless, I'm really looking forward to these games."

This past season, Hollenstein recorded 37 points in 41 regular season games for Genève-Servette in the Swiss NLA. This off-season, however, he is moving back home to the Kloten Flyers, another CHL team.

"I lived there as a child and developed as a hockey player there as well," he explained. "It's my hometown, and despite the fact that we had a successful season in Geneva, Kloten is my home."

Undoubtedly, the fact his father Felix Hollenstein is head coach of the Flyers contributed to his decision to come home. The elder Hollenstein was captian of EHC Kloten for many years and also a played for the Swiss national team.

"It's a well-organised club. They were very upfront with me as well and the negotiations went quickly,"he said, explaining that his decision to change teams was really an easy one. "The fact that we're going to play in the CHL in my hometown makes me look forward to it even more. "

Like every player, Hollenstein gets a thrill out of representing his home country against international competition. Representing his hometown against some of the top clubs from around Europe should be no less of a thrill.

"All the teams from Sweden, Finland, the Czech Republic and teams from our country as well will want to show their skills in an international contest. So will everybody else." He concluded by adding, "I think there will be some great games which will make everyone more knowledgable about the talent in other leagues."