Paul Vinzens: "The feeling was incredible"

Your team turned a 0:2 into a 3:2/OT in the quarterfinal opener. Was it the tough opening game you expected?
"I think game one in the playoffs is always one of the toughest, especially when you're playing an opponent who has already played in the Pre-Playoffs. Unterland gained confidence in the Pre-Playoffs and was already in playoff mode. It was also the first playoff game for many of us, so we knew it would be a difficult game. The fact that we were able to turn the game around after trailing 0:2 naturally makes us very proud."

You made a significant contribution to the win with two goals. It was also your first brace in the league. Briefly describe how you felt after the game-winner.
"The feeling was incredible, of course. I couldn't really realize it at first. But in the end it was just one win, we have to look ahead and hopefully we can celebrate the next win on Thursday."

What makes Unterland dangerous? The Cavaliers already showed on Tuesday that they are a tough opponent.
"Unterland is a team that lets its opponent play a lot. They mainly focus on their strong defense and their powerplay. So it's important not to fall behind in the upcoming games, because then it will be difficult to come back and we certainly won't always be able to turn the game around."

What do you expect from the upcoming games in the series?
"I'm expecting very intense games with a high tempo. I'm looking forward to seeing how they play at home. The game on Thursday and the following games will certainly be difficult, but it was important for us to win the first game."

At just 18, you are already a formative player for the Juniors. It's also your first season in the league. Did you feel comfortable in the team and the league right from the start?
"I felt very comfortable in the team right from the start. We have very good chemistry and a good mix of young and more experienced players who also support you in difficult situations. Of course, it was a change from junior hockey to adult hockey. The first phases of the season were difficult and you had to adapt, but I now feel very comfortable."

You've already scored a total of 30 points this season. Where do you see your strengths?
"I definitely see my strengths in skating and I also think I have a certain witty playfulness. I think that I can also help the team win more and more by scoring points. I see myself as a leader and want to support the team as best as I can."

What are your personal goals for the coming years? At just 18, you're still at the start of your career.
“Of course, I want to continue to develop and establish myself in professional hockey and then play a lot of games for the first team in the near future. A big goal for the near future is the U20 World Championship, where I want to draw attention to myself with strong performances. In the coming years I want to play in the best European leagues and of course I also have the dream of playing in the NHL, but the Swiss league is also very appealing to me. But the most important thing is to finish the current season very well."

What are your goals for the playoffs? Last season, the Juniors reached the semifinals for the first time. Are you aiming for more this year?
"Of course we set ourselves goals before the playoffs and the biggest goal is of course to win the championship. But we have to look from game to game and series to series. We have a difficult quarterfinal opponent with Unterland and depending on how we overcome this opponent, we can look further ahead."

Game two of the quarterfinal series between the Red Bull Hockey Juniors and the Hockey Unterland Cavaliers will take place on Thursday at 20:00 in Neumarkt. Watch the match live in the PPV livestream on valcome.tv.