Story Summary
SC Bern have appointed Waltteri Merelä as their new captain for the 2026-27 National League season after Ramon Untersander is no longer part of the Bears. Merelä, who has served on the club’s leadership group for the past two seasons, will don the captaincy for the first time in SC Bern’s upcoming game against EHC Biel. He will be supported by assistants Benjamin Baumgartner, Alain Graf and Marc Marchon; Marchon remains from last season’s leadership team while Baumgartner and Graf take on new responsibilities.
Key Facts
- Ramon Untersander is no longer part of SC Bern.
- Waltteri Merelä has been promoted to captain for the 2026-27 season.
- Merelä has been part of SC Bern’s leadership team for the past two seasons.
- Merelä will play his first game as captain this week against EHC Biel.
- Merelä’s assistants will be Benjamin Baumgartner, Alain Graf and Marc Marchon.
- Marc Marchon was part of the leadership team last season; Benjamin Baumgartner and Alain Graf will assume leadership duties this season.
IHM Discussion
The club’s choice to elevate Waltteri Merelä formalises a leadership change following Ramon Untersander’s departure. Promoting a player already embedded in the leadership group offers continuity as Merelä moves into the captaincy.
The appointment also spreads responsibility across a broader group. Naming three assistants retains experience through Marc Marchon, who remains from last season’s leadership team, while Benjamin Baumgartner and Alain Graf take on their new duties.
Merelä’s first match as captain comes this week against EHC Biel, providing the new leadership group with an immediate opportunity to settle into its on-ice responsibilities.
Why It Matters
Captaincy is not merely ceremonial: the captain is the club’s visible leader during games and a key figure in the dressing-room dynamic. By promoting from within, SC Bern retain continuity following Untersander’s departure. Keeping Marchon in the leadership group preserves experience, while the appointments of Baumgartner and Graf bring new voices into the group.
The change clarifies the leadership structure for coaches and teammates. For supporters, it provides an early indication of how SC Bern will be led when Merelä makes his captaincy debut against EHC Biel this week.