The club came first
HC Davos was founded in 1921 on the initiative of Paul Müller, according to the history published by Davos Klosters. Its first Swiss championship followed in 1926. It is the club representing the town throughout the season; the Spengler Cup is an international tournament with its own identity and trophy. Winning one title does not mean winning the other.
A cup that opened doors
Carl Spengler donated the trophy in 1923. The initiative aimed to strengthen HCD on the ice and encourage international contacts. The tournament archive recalls Oxford University, Berlin SC, Vienna EV and HC Davos at the start of the first edition; Cambridge joined in January 1924. Oxford became the first champion. This international story therefore began before Davos won its first national title.
The host also competes
The present relationship makes more sense when you separate two roles: HCD is both host and participant. Invited teams travel to Davos for that tournament, not to join the Swiss league. The official Davos calendar lists the 98th edition for 26–31 December 2026. That is a scheduled event, not a prediction about who will lift the trophy.
Reading the honours correctly
When a report mentions a Davos victory, check the competition name and year. A national championship tells a different season story from a December cup. Keeping that distinction helps you enjoy both histories: the continuity of a mountain-town club and an international gathering connected with its home for more than a century.