Josi meets former president of Switzerland ahead of Global Series

BERN, Switzerland -- How important is Roman Josi's return to Bern, Switzerland, his hometown and the nation's capital?

Guy Parmelin, a member of the Swiss Federal Council who served as president of Switzerland in 2021, came to see the defenseman before the Nashville Predators practiced Sunday.
The Predators had a 4-3 win against SC Bern, Josi's former team in the National League, in an exhibition at PostFinance Arena on Monday as part of the 2022 NHL Global Series Challenge.
"It's something special for Switzerland," Parmelin told NHL.com.
Josi presented Parmelin with one of his Nashville jerseys.
Parmelin, a master wine grower by trade, gave Josi two bottles of Swiss wine -- one red, one white. With a smile, he said the Predators captain can enjoy them "as soon as they win the Stanley Cup."
"That's definitely a huge honor," Josi said. "… It was pretty special meeting him and just talking to him a little bit today. It definitely means a lot to us to have the support of a Swiss president."

Switzerland does not elect a president the way the United States does. It has a seven-member Federal Council elected by the United Federal Assembly. Each December, parliament elects the president from the council for a one-year term. The president is considered first among equals.
Parmelin served as vice president in 2020 and president in 2021. On June 16, 2021, he hosted a summit between presidents Joe Biden of the United States and Vladimir Putin of Russia in Geneva.
He's a hockey fan. On May 20, 2018, he awarded the silver medal to Switzerland at the 2018 IIHF World Championship in Copenhagen, Denmark. Josi and Predators forward Nino Niederreiter played for Switzerland in a 3-2 loss to Sweden in the final. (Two members of the Predators played for Sweden: forward Filip Forsberg and defenseman Mattias Ekholm)
"I was very proud," Parmelin said. "For Swiss people, young people, it's really an honor to have people such people who are playing ice hockey in NHL, and personally, I follow regularly. Each morning, I'm [logging on at] 6 o'clock. I see highlights of NHL, what are they doing. It's really very interesting for me."
Parmelin has headed the Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research since 2019. He said he can't come to the game Monday, because he'll be in India on a three-day economic mission.
But he once headed the Federal Department of Defense, Civil Protection and Sports. He said he hopes the Predators' visit, from a youth clinic Sunday to the game Monday, will help inspire Swiss youth.
Josi has the most assists (402) and points (542) in the NHL among players born in Switzerland, and he won the Norris Trophy voted as the best defenseman in the NHL in 2019-20. Niederreiter has the most goals (181) in the NHL among players born in Switzerland.
"I think for Bern, for the people, for the players who are actually on the Bern team, it's an example," Parmelin said. "See? It's possible to go to NHL, to win, to win Norris Trophy, to be one of the best defensemen in the NHL.
"It's really special, and I hope that it encourages young people to play ice hockey, and perhaps in one, two, five years, perhaps it is possible for Switzerland to win one day world championship."