How did you get into the sport? Why did you choose hockey?
I would say I was a lucky kid in some respect. Growing up my grandparents played hockey, as well as my Mum and big brother. So the first insight with any sport was always hockey.
I never got forced to play, but it was always fun. I’d say a really big reason why I stayed motivated was definitely my brother, to have someone at home who shares the same passion is a hugely motivating factor. I was very pleased with that.
How does it feel to captain your country?
Last indoor tournament our old captain and the coach asked me if I would like to take over the position as the new captain of the Austrian national squad. At first I was a bit unsure about the new position, as I always liked to be in the background (focusing on my role within the team), and only speaking up when we really needed it.
Now as the captain, I have learned to do that permanently (speak up and lead the team), and I am very happy with that because that also gives me a lot more confidence in my own game as a player, and more importantly, in myself as a person. The position as a captain is not always easy but it also shows me that my dedication and hard work pays off.
What’s your ambition with the national team? Where do you see the current team progressing?
After the loss at the Olympic Qualifiers in Valencia earlier this year, everyone was very upset. We strongly felt that it was the first time in a while that we had a really good chance to qualify for the Olympics. Since the setback, we’ve tried to figure out what we have to change. There are obviously large barriers that we must assess in order to change something in our team due our nation having a smaller pool of players to choose from as hockey in Austria is still a hobby for most players. That makes it difficult for our players to commit 100% (to their roles as a national hockey player), especially for those who have a full time job.
So after we missed out on Paris 2024 Olympic Games, we immediately set out our goals to play a part in the qualifications for LA 2028 Olympic Games. We’ve already begun working on these goals, and the biggest step in the right direction has been made. We are pushing our focus now more on our young talents (to develop their skillset ahead of the LA 2028 qualifiers), we try to include them step by step so that we can grow as a team. We had our first big test at the Nations Cup in June to assess that step, and I am confident in our progress. I am looking forward to the coming years for this team.
Why did you move to the Netherlands for hockey? How has that experience developed your game?
It was always a big dream of mine to test myself with the worlds best players. At the U21 World Cup 2016 in India, Eric Verboom first approached me (to play in the Netherlands). Of course, that was a huge honour but I decided to turn down the incredible chance because I wanted to finish my academic studies in sports sciences. In 2021 the interest of Eric, and club Den Bosch was still there and they made my decision to leave Austria to play in the Dutch league really easy.
Year by year my game is developing, and through that I have been rewarded with an important role within the team. This stature for the team makes me really proud of myself and shows that I am still improving as a player and a person.
What’s one bit of advice you would give to aspiring hockey players looking to make it to the international level?
Especially for "smaller" hockey countries, it is sometimes difficult to get seen by the big nations. It’s hard but that’s the reality we are all faced with. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t achieve big things. If the work rate, discipline and motivation is there, everyone has the possibility to reach a high level. A guiding principle I have always followed: “Know why you're doing it, it'll be worth it one day”.
