Vernon, BC: The Vernon Vipers are pleased to announce the commitment of 2008-born forward Moritz Rüegsegger for the 2026-27 BCHL season.
The Röthenbach im Emmental, Switzerland native will make the move to North America after developing through the SCL Young Tigers program, competing at the U18, U20 and U21 levels.
Despite playing at just 16 and 17 years old, Rüegsegger produced 26 points in 44 games at the U21 level. The 6-foot, 183-pound forward has also been a regular within the Swiss National Team program, including recording 1 goal and 3 assists with Switzerland’s U18 team.
Rüegsegger also helped Switzerland capture a gold medal at the 2025 European Youth Olympic Winter Festival, adding valuable experience competing on the international stage.
“Moritz plays a heavy, puck-dominant game and uses his lower-body strength extremely well to protect the puck and create offence off the cycle,” said Head Coach and General Manager Matt Cooke. “He does a great job shielding defenders when attacking the middle of the ice, but what really stands out is his awareness. He sees the ice at a very high level and understands how to manipulate passing lanes to create quality scoring opportunities for his teammates. He’s been a fixture with the Swiss National Team program and has already experienced success on the international stage. We’re excited about his potential and look forward to helping him continue his development in North America.”
For Rüegsegger, joining the Vipers represents an exciting new chapter in his hockey career.
“New team, new chapter, and I’m ready to give it everything I have,” said Rüegsegger. “I’m very excited to be a part of the Vipers and have the opportunity to play in Vernon. I’m looking forward to meeting my teammates, coaches and the fans, experiencing hockey in Canada and continuing to develop my game. I’ll do whatever I can every day to help the team succeed.”
#NewEraSameVenom
