The Nations Cup in rink hockey is closely linked to the sporting history of Montreux. It all begins in the early 20th century, when English tourists settling on the Vaud Riviera helped make roller hockey known in the region. In this context, the Montreux Hockey Club (1911) was founded, followed by the idea of an international tournament capable of attracting foreign teams to the shores of Lake Geneva.

 

PIONEERS AND A TOURNAMENT THAT BECAME LEGENDARY

 

In 1921, Montreux HC launched the very first Easter Tournament. Among the initiators often mentioned are Otto Mayer and Fred Renkewitz: the ambition was clear from the start - to bring international opponents to Montreux and offer the local public a major sporting event.
Throughout the 1920s, the tournament grew in stature: the increasing presence of national delegations turned it into a true European benchmark, to the point that it was renamed "Nations Cup".

 

A UNIQUE PRESTIGE IN RINK HOCKEY 

 

Even today, the Nations Cup is recognized as the oldest rink hockey competition in the world, and thanks to it, Montreux has become a historic stronghold of the sport.
Its prestige also comes from its sporting role: traditionally scheduled at Easter and often held in years of major international competitions, it serves as a reference tournament to measure up against the best nations and fine-tune team chemistry ahead of key milestones.

 

BRIEF HONOURS LIST

 

Without going into a complete list, the honours list shows the dominance of the great rink hockey nations:

• Portugal: most successful nation (19 titles)

• Spain: (17 titles)

• England: (8 titles)

 

WHAT THE NATIONS CUP REPRESENTS IN MONTREUX 

 

In the Montreux region, the Nations Cup isn’t "just" a tournament: it is a marker of local identity. Each edition turns the town into the capital of rink hockey for a few days, bringing together volunteers, families, clubs, supporters, and international delegations around the same event. It is an event that keeps tradition alive, sustains passion for the sport in the region, and gives Montreux rare international visibility for such a specialized discipline - a century-old heritage carried by Montreux HC.