photo: Micheline Veluvolu/IIHF
Finn Bichsel is only 17, but he comes from a family of athletes and hopes to join his brothers among the ranks of the professionals one day.
While Finn is in Frisco playing for Switzerland at the U18s, his brother, Lian, is not far away. Lian is 20 years old and a rookie defender for the Dallas Stars, who are currently fighting the Colorado Avalanche in a first-round playoff series for the Stanley Cup. Previously, Lian played for Switzerland at the U18s in 2021 and the World Juniors two years later.
Joel Bichsel, the oldest brother, is a 23-year-old footballer with Saarbrucken in Germany.
“It's a pleasure to have a family like mine, with Lian and Joel,” Finn Bichsel said. “We all play sports, Lian in the NHL here in Dallas and Joel in Germany in soccer.”
As a kid, Finn had the option of being influenced by football Joel or hockey Lian. He opted for the latter. “My grandparents took us all the time to hockey games, and it was nice to see the big guys out there playing. I decided that's what I wanted to do,” Finn explained.
The timing couldn’t be better for the two hockey brothers to connect, but it’s not so simple. Lian is doing his best to establish himself on the Stars, during a fierce playoff series, and Finn is trying to be a good team player for his country at an IIHF event.
“I haven't seen him play [since we got here], but I saw him in person,” Finn said. “We went for a coffee. It was nice to see him again. When I was younger, I saw him play all the time. He was a really good player, and I watched all of his games. It was nice to see him again.”
The three-year age gap meant they were never teammates at a serious level, but Lian supports and helps the younger Finn whenever possible. “He has helped me a lot, and even now still,” Finn explains. “I'll call him a couple of times a week, and he'll help. If I have questions, I'll call him. I watch many of his games in the NHL and it's nice to see him out there in the best league in the world.”
Although they are both defenders, Finn sees himself more of a rusher and Lian more responsible in his own end. “We are different kinds of players. Lian is more a defensive player and I'm also defensive, but I also play in the offensive zone.”
And just because Joel doesn’t play the puck game, it doesn’t mean he can’t help Finn, whom he credits for other aspects of being a serious athlete.
“I would say it's the mindset,” Finn continues. “Joel has a really good mindset, and I learn a lot from him as well. We talk a lot together.”
As of now, Finn isn’t a top prospect, but he isn't eligibale for this year's draft. He has another year to work on his game, play to hget noticed, and get on the radar of scouts. Indeed, he’s doing everything he can to make an impression and develop all aspects of his game.
“I work a lot on ice and off to improve,” he said. “I don't have a league in my head where I want to play next year. Let's see what doors open and go from there.”
The tournament is coming to an end for Finn and Switzerland. They have one more game to play on Wednesday night, and it’s a big one, against Norway. The winner stays up; the loser gets demoted. That means that, despite the Stars-Avs series shifting back to Dallas, the brothers likely won’t see each other in person this trip.
“I don't think so,” Finn lamented. “We'll watch the game as a group. I'm here with my team, and we're here for Switzerland. My parents will watch the Stars game, but I'll stay with my teammates. We're not done yet. There's still one game left.”
While Finn is in Frisco playing for Switzerland at the U18s, his brother, Lian, is not far away. Lian is 20 years old and a rookie defender for the Dallas Stars, who are currently fighting the Colorado Avalanche in a first-round playoff series for the Stanley Cup. Previously, Lian played for Switzerland at the U18s in 2021 and the World Juniors two years later.
Joel Bichsel, the oldest brother, is a 23-year-old footballer with Saarbrucken in Germany.
“It's a pleasure to have a family like mine, with Lian and Joel,” Finn Bichsel said. “We all play sports, Lian in the NHL here in Dallas and Joel in Germany in soccer.”
As a kid, Finn had the option of being influenced by football Joel or hockey Lian. He opted for the latter. “My grandparents took us all the time to hockey games, and it was nice to see the big guys out there playing. I decided that's what I wanted to do,” Finn explained.
The timing couldn’t be better for the two hockey brothers to connect, but it’s not so simple. Lian is doing his best to establish himself on the Stars, during a fierce playoff series, and Finn is trying to be a good team player for his country at an IIHF event.
“I haven't seen him play [since we got here], but I saw him in person,” Finn said. “We went for a coffee. It was nice to see him again. When I was younger, I saw him play all the time. He was a really good player, and I watched all of his games. It was nice to see him again.”
The three-year age gap meant they were never teammates at a serious level, but Lian supports and helps the younger Finn whenever possible. “He has helped me a lot, and even now still,” Finn explains. “I'll call him a couple of times a week, and he'll help. If I have questions, I'll call him. I watch many of his games in the NHL and it's nice to see him out there in the best league in the world.”
Although they are both defenders, Finn sees himself more of a rusher and Lian more responsible in his own end. “We are different kinds of players. Lian is more a defensive player and I'm also defensive, but I also play in the offensive zone.”
And just because Joel doesn’t play the puck game, it doesn’t mean he can’t help Finn, whom he credits for other aspects of being a serious athlete.
“I would say it's the mindset,” Finn continues. “Joel has a really good mindset, and I learn a lot from him as well. We talk a lot together.”
As of now, Finn isn’t a top prospect, but he isn't eligibale for this year's draft. He has another year to work on his game, play to hget noticed, and get on the radar of scouts. Indeed, he’s doing everything he can to make an impression and develop all aspects of his game.
“I work a lot on ice and off to improve,” he said. “I don't have a league in my head where I want to play next year. Let's see what doors open and go from there.”
The tournament is coming to an end for Finn and Switzerland. They have one more game to play on Wednesday night, and it’s a big one, against Norway. The winner stays up; the loser gets demoted. That means that, despite the Stars-Avs series shifting back to Dallas, the brothers likely won’t see each other in person this trip.
“I don't think so,” Finn lamented. “We'll watch the game as a group. I'm here with my team, and we're here for Switzerland. My parents will watch the Stars game, but I'll stay with my teammates. We're not done yet. There's still one game left.”