Kasper, Reinbacher, Rohrer on Austrian Olympic qualifying roster
Kasper, Reinbacher, Rohrer on Austrian Olympic qualifying rosterIf this year’s IIHF World Championship was any indication, the Austrians should go into this weekend’s Olympic qualifying tournament in Bratislava with a belief that they can win it, even if they’re not the favorites.
The Austrian Ice Hockey Association announced its 25-man roster on Monday in Vienna. They will bring mostly the same team that they had in Prague, highlighted by NHL prospects Marco Kasper, David Reinbacher and Vinzenz Rohrer, Swiss National League players Dominic Zwerger, Benjamin Baumgartner and Bernd Wolf, veteran leaders Manuel Ganahl, Dominique Heinrich and Peter Schneider, and the always reliable David Kickert in goal.
Somewhat surprisingly, the roster also includes 35-year-old forward Raphael Herberger, who is the only returning player from Austria’s last Winter Olympic appearance in 2014 in Sochi.
Notably, the roster does not include Austria’s best player, Marco Rossi of the Minnesota Wild, who has decided to commit himself to training for the upcoming NHL season. Brothers Thomas and Michael Raffl are also absent. Nonetheless, head coach Roger Bader is optimistic.
“We have a good team, with a good mix of young and experienced players,” said Bader. “The team has an impressive level of speed and fighting spirit.”
Austria played two pre-tournament games against Slovenia, winning both 2-1.
“The games against Slovenia helped in that respect,” said Bader. “We were too loose at the beginning, and didn’t play physically enough. We’ll get the finishing touches on Tuesday and Wednesday.”
“The two victories are nice, but we can’t be completely satisfied,” said forward Lucas Haudum, who has represented Austria at five World Championships and two previous Olympic qualifiers. “It was an intensive week and we know what we have to improve. We only have a little time, but everyone knows how it works at this level and what it takes. Everyone knows what they have to do.”
Goaltenders: 29 HÖNECKL Thomas Black Wings Linz, 30 KICKERT David Red Bull Salzburg, 1 VORAUER Florian KAC Klagenfurt.
Defensemen: 19 HEINRICH Dominique Vienna Capitals, 12 MAIER David KAC Klagenfurt, 8 NICKL Thimo KAC Klagenfurt, 4 REINBACHER David Laval Rockets (AHL) / Montreal Canadiens, 26 STAPELFELDT Paul Red Bull Salzburg, 25 UNTERWEGER Clemens KAC Klagenfurt, 32 WOLF Bernd EHC Kloten (SUI), 14 ZÜNDEL Kilian Graz 99ers.
Forwards: 18 BAUMGARTNER Benjamin SC Bern (SUI), 23 BISCHOFBERGER Johannes KAC Klagenfurt, 17 GANAHL Manuel Graz 99ers, 21 HAUDUM Lukas Graz 99ers, 22 HERBURGER Raphael KAC Klagenfurt, 27 HUBER Paul Graz 99ers, 28 HUBER Mario Red Bull Salzburg, 10 KASPER Marco Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) / Detroit Red Wings, 7 NISSNER Benjamin Red Bull Salzburg, 13 ROHRER Vinzenz ZSC Lions (SUI) / Montreal Canadiens, 3 SCHNEIDER Peter Red Bull Salzburg, 15 THALER Lucas Red Bull Salzburg, 9 WUKOVITS Ali Red Bull Salzburg, 16 ZWERGER Dominic HC Ambri-Piotta (SUI).
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