Release from 16.05.2017

Raphael Andergassen talks about the World Championship

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After Slovenia, the Italian national team missed to stay in the top flight of ice hockey, too. With ten players of Sky Alps Hockey League on their roster, the team of head coach Stefan Mair also lost the last game of the IIHF World Championship in Cologne against Denmark, 0:2. Despite relegation, HC Pustertal forward Raphael Andergassen could find a lot positive from the tournament.

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Italy played some very good games at this WC, having the top flight in sight until the final minutes of the last game. But do you think you forfeited the chance of staying up earlier?
Raphael Andergassen: We let the games against Slovakia and Latvia slip away in the final minutes. These were the decisive reasons for relegation. We have also played well against Denmark, losing it once again late. It's a great pity that we have to go down now but we can be satisfied with our performances for long periods. Taken as a whole we have played a good tournament.
 
Your team only scored six goals that's fewest of all teams. Is this a main reason when recalling the tournament?
Raphael Andergassen: We definitely scored too few goals. We played world's top teams who have all great defense available and we did not contrive ways and means. Probably we also missed necessary experience in the crucial moments.
 
It was your first top flight World Championship. What impressions and insights will remain alive in your memories?
Raphael Andergassen: The pace of the game really impressed me. Playing against the world's best, you can see what is just missing and that's very positive.
 
It's your third year with the national team, how do you see the development and the way which has been chosen?
Raphael Andergassen: The team has done good work in the past two, three years with Stefan Mair. After two second division World Championships, we managed to promote with a very young squad. Relegation now really hurts but we have to continue our way. Then we can make the immediate comeback.
 
Let's talk about your own future. You'll play your second Sky Alps Hockey League season as you have one more year of contract with HC Pustertal. What's your opinion after the first season in this league?
Raphael Andergassen: It was very positive, I really enjoyed it. The level of play was high, I knew some foreign teams from my time in INL. It's good that this league was founded now. It's the only one with future.
 
After a strong regular season you guys surprisingly lost against Cortina in the quarterfinals. How painful was the defeat?
Raphael Andergassen: We played a really good season until this point, it hurt so much to end the season like this. Moreover we picked the opponent ourselves. It would have been better without it but as a player, you are growing with this experience.

Photo: Carola Semino