Release from 17.09.2024

Daniel Frank: “The main goal is the playoffs, but everyone knows what is expected in Bolzano”

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Daniel Frank starts his twelfth season with HCB Südtirol Alperia on Friday. The Bolzano captain has been with the Foxes since they entered the league and was part of the team that won both championship titles. Last season, the South Tyroleans only lost to the champions Salzburg in game seven of the semi-finals. According to Frank, the playoffs are the main goal in the new season, but the club and the fans are of course hoping for more.

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With 582 games, 30-year-old Daniel Frank is already Bolzano's record player since entering the league. The Merano native also confirms that a lot has changed since his first league game on September 8, 2013: “The league has certainly taken a step forward. The spectator and streaming figures confirm that, but you can also see it on the ice. Better and better players are coming into the league and the level has increased.”

Two-time champion Bolzano have been waiting for a league title since 2018. However, the Foxes have reached the final twice in the past four years and narrowly missed out on reaching the final again last season. Accordingly, expectations in the region are as high as ever. “We're thinking from game to game for now. We still have to improve and we know that. The main goal is the playoffs, but everyone knows what's expected in Bolzano,” said HCB captain Daniel Frank.

Despite reaching the semi-finals, last season was a bumpy one, at least at the start. There was a quick change of the head coach and the club got back on the road to success. According to Frank, another weak start to the season is not on the cards this time, and not just because of the familiar coach Glen Hanlon: “I think last season we generally struggled at the start of the season because we played a lot of CHL games and preseason games. We also had a new coach, with a new system, but very little time for training. This season everything is more settled, with a coach we know and a system we know and not too many new additions. That's why I think we're in a very good position.”

Bolzano will play two home games on the opening weekend. First, the South Tyroleans host Linz on Friday (19:45/live.ice.hockey), followed two days later by the first derby against Pustertal (18:00/live.ice.hockey).

Preseason interview with Daniel Frank in German language: