Elijah Neuenschwander Interview
ANAHEIM, Calif. - The Anaheim Ducks selected Swiss goaltender Elijah Neuenschwander with the eighth pick of the fourth round of this year’s NHL Draft, adding another young prospect to their pipeline.
The 6’5 goalie played for HC Fribourg-Gottéron U20 in Swiss U21-Elit and was also with EHC Chur in the Swiss League. With the EHC Chur, he had a 6-2-1 record and a .909 save percentage in the recent season. Neuenschwander also represented Switzerland at the 2025 U20 World Juniors.
Neuenschwander, 18, recalled how emotional it was receiving the call that the Ducks were drafting him. “I felt the real emotions kick in when I hung up the phone and was with my family, hugging them… that’s when the emotions started to take over.”
During development camp, Neuenschwander got to bond with other draft picks, gain practice and important lessons from coaching and staff, and even wear John Gibson’s gear. “So the thing was, my equipment didn't arrive, so I stood there with nothing, and they told me they would have John Gibson's gear, because it's basically almost the same size as me, and when I heard that, I was like, yeah, it's pretty cool…,” he said. “But I think during this week, I also told myself, I'm going over there to really, to perform and to show them that it was the right decision to pick me. And I think at the end, there was, like, nothing that could have stopped me of performing and going on the ice.”
According to him, the hardest forward to stop was Roger McQueen, who was the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft by the Ducks.
Neuenshwander noticed right away how different Anaheim’s style of development is compared to his home country. “The staff is way bigger, you've got so many people for everything. That’s something we don’t have in Swiss,” he said.
“The coaches and also my goalie partners were really great to me, they gave me an easy time. So it was at the end, I felt really good on the ice,” said Neuenshwander. “And I think that was the most important thing, to feel comfortable as well and be able to perform.”
His biggest takeaway from Anaheim’s staff is to stay consistent. “If you’re a goalie and you have a lot of ups and downs, it’s not good for the team,” he said. “If your movements, skills, and mindset are consistent, you can go very far.”
Still, Neuenschwander isn’t letting the draft define him. He pointed out that he doesn’t have a contract yet and refuses to change the training habits that got him here.
“The draft was just the first step,” he said. “I need to keep working hard and smart. That’s what will help me move forward.”
He carefully structures his off-ice routine, from early practices and video sessions to recover, alternating between sauna sessions and ice baths depending on his schedule.
Looking ahead, Neuenschwander prefers short-term goals rather than long-term ones. But he has one dream always in the back of his mind.
“Five years from now, of course, the goal is the NHL,” he said. “But I try to take it step by step.”
The young netminder has gained valuable perspective from international play as well, representing Switzerland at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship.
“The biggest difference is speed and how smart the players are,” he said of facing top nations like the United States and Canada. “In Swiss juniors, it can still feel a bit chaotic on the ice. At World Juniors, it’s structured, faster, and stronger. For us, the only way to compete is to really stick together as a team.”
Back in Switzerland, where the season began earlier, Neuenshwander has already been facing challenges. The team lost its first three games, but he believes they’re heading in the right direction.
For the past couple of seasons, the goaltender has always been wearing a white mask to remind himself of where he stands currently. “Usually I went with the white mask because I felt like that was kind of my, my sign to tell myself I'm not there yet where I want to be, so I haven't painted it,” he said.
When asked what is one thing he wants Ducks fans to know about him, Neuenschwander replied with a lighter note, and said he is a dog person. “I have two cats and one dog, but dogs will always be my favorite. My first best friend was a dog, and he’ll always be with me,” he said.
During his time in Anaheim, Neuenscwhander had the chance to bond with the other Ducks prospects, hosting a European dinner. However, he has yet to try In N Out, as he said, “he tends to stay away from that stuff.”
Rapid Fire Questions
Q: If you weren’t playing hockey, what career would you pursue?
A: Football (American Soccer)
Q: Dream shootout opponent (past or present)?
A: Patrick Kane
Q: Favorite NHL Goalie growing up?
A: Carey Price
Q: Go-to cheat meal?
A: Subway
Q: One word teammates would use to describe you?
A: Calm
Q: Last show you binge-watched?
A: Peaky Blinders
Q: How many unread messages did you have when you got drafted?
A: Over 200
