Release from 30.10.2024

Youngster Patrick Söllinger on his first league goal: “Really cool feeling”

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Last Friday, 20-year-old Patrick Söllinger of the Steinbach Black Wings Linz scored his first goal in the win2day ICE Hockey League - a moment that the defenseman describes as a “really cool feeling”. In his first full season with the Upper Austrian team, Söllinger also talks about his strengths and weaknesses as a player, his sporting goals and his role models at national and international level.

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Patrick Söllinger is one of the biggest young talents in the win2day ICE Hockey League and he scored his first goal in the league last Friday. Söllinger describes this moment as “a really cool feeling.” After a long wait of 53 games, in which he has never scored a goal but has already scored seven assists, it's “just cool that I've finally scored,” says Söllinger. The defender hopes that it was just the beginning and “hopefully many more goals will follow.”

At the age of 20, Söllinger is one of the younger players in the league. He sees his strengths as “physicality and physical play”. However, he is self-critical and sees potential for improvement, especially in terms of speed. With regard to his unexpected playing time, he explains: “To be honest, I didn't expect so much ice time. After the Steel Wings dropped out of the Alps Hockey League, it was initially difficult for me to plan the season. I'm really pleased that it's turned out this way now and that I'm getting regular ice time, but it was also secretly my goal. I wanted to fight my way up the lineup.”

When asked about a role model in the league, the Upper Austrian mentions defender Dominique Heinrich of the spusu Vienna Capitals. He was able to learn a lot from him, especially during their time together in the national team. “Dominique Heinrich is one of the best defenders in Austria. You can learn a lot from him, especially when it comes to game overview and reading the game,” says the 20-year-old. At international level, he sees Moritz Seider from the Detroit Red Wings in the NHL as an inspiration: “I'm impressed by his physical play and the toughness he brings to the game.”

Patrick Söllinger's next game with the Steinbach Black Wings Linz will be on Friday. The third-placed Moser Medical Graz99ers will then play at the LINZ AG Eisarena. The game will be streamed live on www.live.ice.hockey from 18:00.