New Jersey Devils center and captain Nico Hischier has been named an alternate captain for Team Switzerland at the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina. The announcement, made on Tuesday, marks a significant honor for the 27-year-old Swiss native, who is also the captain for the New Jersey Devils in the NHL.

Hischier's leadership qualities have been evident throughout his career, both in the NHL and on the international stage. His role as captain for the Devils and now as an alternate captain for Switzerland underscores his influence and respect within the hockey community. This will be the first Olympic experience for both Hischier, and his New Jersey Devils teammates, Timo Meier and Jonas Siegenthaler.

"I'm super-excited," said Hischier. "I mean, technically, this could have been my third Winter Olympics, so that's kind of crazy. The whole event must be incredible". He also noted the proximity of Milan to his hometown, "And Milan is a two-hour train ride from where I grew up (Naters). I'm going to try to soak it in as much as I can".

Hischier was drafted first overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. In 2021, he was named the captain of the Devils.

Internationally, Hischier has represented Switzerland at numerous junior tournaments and the World Championships. He was part of the Swiss team that won a silver medal at the 2024 World Championship. In the 2025 World Championship, Hischier was named captain of the Swiss team. However, he sustained an injury during a game against Germany and could not complete the tournament.

Hischier's NHL career has seen him develop into a reliable two-way forward. The New Jersey Devils are the only NHL team that has more than one Switzerland-born player on its roster. Alongside teammates Timo Meier and Jonas Siegenthaler, Hischier contributes to a strong Swiss presence on the team.

With the Olympics approaching, Hischier looks forward to representing his country and contributing to Team Switzerland's success.