Michel Riesen
A skilled Swiss winger who became a Nationalliga A mainstay and a brief NHL pioneer, representing his country's hockey rise on the world stage.
Born 1979 (age 47)·Swiss ice hockey player·Birthday: April 11·Generation X
Biography
Michel Riesen's career traces the arc of Swiss hockey in the late 20th century—a talented homegrown player who got a tantalizing taste of the NHL before returning to become a pillar of the domestic league. A product of the EHC Biel system, his slick hands and scoring touch made him a top prospect, leading to his selection by the Edmonton Oilers in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. His 12-game stint with the Oilers in the 2000-01 season was brief but significant, part of a small wave of Swiss players testing North American waters. Back in Switzerland, he settled into a long and productive career primarily with HC Davos, where he was a consistent offensive contributor and won multiple national championships. Riesen was a reliable option for the Swiss national team during a period when the country began to consistently challenge the world's best, playing in multiple World Championships.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Michel was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Michel Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Michel's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played 12 games in the National Hockey League for the Edmonton Oilers during the 2000-01 season.
- Won two Swiss Nationalliga A championships with HC Davos (2002, 2005).
- Represented Switzerland at three IIHF World Championships (2001, 2004, 2005).
- Enjoyed a professional career spanning two decades, from 1994 to 2014.
Did You Know?
He was drafted 14th overall by the Edmonton Oilers, a remarkably high pick for a Swiss player at the time.
His father, Mark Riesen, was also a professional ice hockey player in Switzerland.
After retiring, he moved into coaching, working with junior teams in Switzerland.
He played the majority of his club career for just two teams: EHC Biel and HC Davos.
“I learned the North American game is played in the corners and the crease.”
