WSV Goalie Jakob Rabanser: "I have found the passion for ice hockey again"

You had a great start to the season and are among the top teams in the Alps Hockey League. To what do you attribute the good start?

A hockey season already starts in the summer. Our fitness coach did a very good job getting us in shape. Then the official ice training started with the whole team already on August 1. I can't remember ever having been on the ice so early in the past with the entire team, including import players. I believe that we have become very close as a team precisely because we made sacrifices together very early on. Our team this year is made up of many great characters, and the team is always in the foreground. You can see that on the ice as well, everyone works for everyone else. I would summarize by saying that this is the main reason for our great start to the season. If we perform together as a team for 60 minutes, we can beat any team this year.

You are one of the teams with the fewest goals conceded in the league, and that's despite a lot of shots being fired at your box. Why are things going so well for you?

That is certainly of enormous importance for us, without good defense you simply don't win much. I have to praise my teammates at this point, who do an incredible job for me every game. They block shots and keep my view clear. That makes my job a lot easier, of course. Personally, I've rediscovered my passion for and enjoyment of hockey this year. That certainly makes a big difference whether you enjoy coming to practice every day or not. Together with my athletic trainer and goalie coach I try to improve day by day to be able to make the difference for my team, to give them confidence and to give back the trust the club and the coaches have given me.

Johan Sjöquist has taken over as your head coach this season. How big is his part in the current success?

Coach Johan is a great man, both as a coach and as a person. He really does a very good job.He always manages to prepare us very well for the next opponent. You can see that he has worked with young players in the past. Our team is also relatively young, but he manages to give everyone their role. The coaching team works very professionally, with Johan getting great support from goalie and assistant coach Áron Kecskeméti. As a trained graphic designer, Áron does incredible things not only as a video coach but also in social media. Personally, I am very grateful to have such a man like Áron by my side.He helps me a lot as a goalie coach. I think that the professionalism of the coaches also has a positive effect on the players.

What is Sjöquist's coaching philosophy?

Johan attaches great importance to professionalism. He teaches us that we can only be successful through hard work together. Like me, many of us on the team have jobs in addition to playing hockey. As a coach, you have to cope with that for the first time. I think Johan is doing a great job so far.

What is possible with the Broncos this season?

The way we have performed so far, together as a team we can beat any opponent and go very far. Personally, I want to play with this team as long as possible this year. We will try to improve every day and strengthen the team even more, because if you let go, it can happen very quickly in hockey and you are out of the race.

Who are the strongest opponents in the league?

For me, Jesenice is always one of the top teams, as it has been in previous years. But I also think Zell am See is really good this year. But there are many other good teams playing in the Alps.

You are also available on call for HC Pustertal this season.Is this an important opportunity for you in your career?

My concentration is fully on mastering the job in Sterzing as good as possible. Through the farm team agreement I am eligible to play for HC Pustertal. The HCP is very well staffed with Andy Bernard and Jacob Smith. But if I get a call to play with the HCP, I have to take the opportunity, because for me the goal is surely to play in a league like the ICE Hockey League.

You've been playing for the Broncos since you were a youngster. How important is the club to you?

I live in Brixen, about 20 minutes from Sterzing.That's actually where my hockey career began. From the U14 there was no team in Bressanone at my age, so I moved to Vipiteno. So I went through the whole youth in Sterzing, so to speak. It's really cool to play with players you've known half your life. So I have really taken the club to my heart and owe a lot to the organization. The story around the old stadium that collapsed is also very special.

What are some other goals you are pursuing in your career?

My biggest goal is to improve constantly and to win something together with my team in Sterzing and to push the status of ice hockey in Sterzing higher and higher. A personal goal would be to play in a top league in Europe.

Foto (c) Brunner