Swiss goaltender Reto Berra, a consistent backstop for the Eisgenossen for over two decades, today confirmed his retirement from the Swiss national team, announcing he would continue his pro career, at age 39, with HC Fribourg-Gottéron of the Swiss National League.

A product of the Zürich Lions junior system, Berra would make his senior debut in 2004 with Küsnacht of the National League B in 2003, debuting for the “A” club in 2006. Berra would bounce between clubs in his first few pro seasons, moving between Zürich, Davos, Zug and Langnau between 2006-09, winning his first National League Championship with Davos in 2008. Joining Biel in 2009 would bring Berra some consistency, spending four straight seasons there, winning consecutive league Top Goaltender honours in 2012 and 2013, along with winning the 2012 Spengler Cup while on loan to Davos.

Berra’s Swiss success saw North America come calling seven years after first being drafted by St. Louis, with Berra joining the Calgary Flames in 2013. Berra would have a similar journeyman career in the NHL, with three seasons in Colorado being his longest stint amongst shorter stops with Calgary, Florida, Anaheim, often between the NHL and their minor-league affiliates. Berra would return to Switzerland for good in 2018, joining Fribourg-Gottéron (where he has played since), playing his most successful club hockey of his career, thrice leading the NL in wins, and leading Fribourg-Gottéron to their first two championships in franchise history, first the Spengler Cup in 2024, followed by their first National League title in 2026.

First joining La Nati at the 2005 Under-18 Worlds, Berra would appear at both the 2006 and 2007 World Junior Championships, finishing seventh at both. Berra would not make his senior team debut until 2011, making his World Championship debut the following year. In his eleven Worlds appearances between 2012 and 2026, missing all but three tournaments, Berra would amass 23 wins and a .900 save percentage in 42 matches, capturing four Silver medals in 2013, 2018, 2024 and 2026. Berra would also appear at the 2014, 2022 and 2026 Olympics, and would compete at two Deutschland Cup and three Euro Hockey Tour tournaments.

Berra would capture the IHLC six times over the course of his career, winning his first in 2010 at the Arosa Challenge, with his final coming sixteen years later en route to his final World Championship Silver medal in 2026. We wish Reto and his family the very best for his retirement and the things to come!

Photo Credit: IIHF Worlds 2026 – IIHF – HHOF – IOC