Release from 27.12.2020

Jens Gustafsson replaces Doug Mason

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At bet-at-home ICE Hockey League’s eighth-ranked Moser Medical Graz99ers Jens Gustafsson replaced head coach Doug Mason and Patrick Harand will become the new assistant.

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After eleven losses in the past twelve games the Moser Medical Graz99ers recalled Doug Mason. The 65-year-old took over Graz on December 15th, 2016. "It was definitely a tough decision, but inevitable after eleven defeats from twelve games. Doug Mason has built up a lot in Graz in the last four years and has done a very good job. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Doug very much and of course we wish him all the best for the future," said General Manager Bernd Vollmann. Mason had his most successful season in 2018-19: He led his team to win the first phase of regular season, clinched a spot in the Champions Hockey League for the first time and reached the semifinals.

With the 46-year-old Swede Jens Gustafsson, the assistant coach takes over from Doug Mason. Gustafsson has already been with the 99ers since the 2018-2019 season. Before that, he washead coach of Frölunda (J20 SuperElit) in the youth sector and two years head coach at Borås HC in the Allsvenskan. "In the long-term planning Jens was always intended as a successor, this step has now been brought forward. We still have the chance to reach the top-5 and directly enter the playoffs," Bernd Vollmann summarizes. Gustafsson will be assisted with immediate effect by Patrick Harand, who ended his playing career in the summer and most recently worked as a coach in the Eishockey Akademie Steiermark. The two will already lead the first training session tomorrow, Monday.