International Hockey Roundtable
Vinzenz Rohrer on Austrian team, his summer & coming season
Derek O'Brien - Vinzenz Rohrer on Austrian team, his summer & coming seasonAustrian forward Vinzenz Rohrer was the Montreal Canadiens’ third-round pick in 2022 and is just coming off his first professional season for the ZSC Lions in Switzerland’s National League. After a solid rookie campaign as part of a national championship team, the 19-year-old was selected to play in his first IIHF World Championship in May for an Austrian team that surprised many people and came agonizingly close to reaching the quarterfinals.
At the Olympic qualifiers in Bratislava, the Austrians have lost their first two games by identical 2-1 scores to host Slovakia and Kazakhstan. On Friday, Austria outshot Kazakhstan 44-26, with Rohrer being stopped on a first-period penalty shot and assisting on his team’s lone goal in the third period.
The following day after practise, Rohrer took a few minutes to answer some questions about the Austrian team and his development as a hockey player.
Vinzenz, it’s unfortunate that we cannot meet under better circumstances. After two close losses, what’s the general feeling about how you’ve played?
“It’s tough when you lose two games back-to-back like that, but as a team, I think we’re generally happy with how we’ve played. The outcomes aren’t what we’ve wanted, obviously. To have so many shots against two good teams but when you only score two goals in two games, yeah, it’s tough.”
How would you evaluate your own play individually?
“I think it’s been the same for me. A lot of chances but I didn’t convert on it. But I also think I’ve done a lot of things well, I’ve felt good out there, and I’m happy with the ice time I’ve got.”
I noticed you said ‘it’ when talking about chances. I assume you’re referring to the penalty shot?
“Well, yeah, that’s the first thing that comes to my mind.” (smiling)
It looked like you tried to put a bit of a move on the goalie there.
“Yeah, for the last three years or so, that’s the move I mostly do in shootouts, and I also did it last season in Zurich. It’s worked pretty well for me but this time I didn’t sell it enough so the goalie got it.”
Now you still have one more game this tournament against Hungary. How do you approach that one with nothing on the line for either team?
“It’s not as easy to approach that type of game but, as we talked about this morning, every game counts. Even though we don’t have a chance at the Olympics anymore, as a national team, we’re looking ahead to our next goal, and that’s the World Championship. As a national team, we feel we’ve been trending upward in recent years and we want to continue that trend.”
You played in your first World Championship this year and so you’ve been part of that upward trend. How was that experience for you?
“When you experience something like that … I can only speak for myself, but when you beat Finland, when you score five goals in one period against Canada, it really shows you that in one game, anything can happen. And when you experience that first-hand, that’s where confidence comes from.”
Since then, how has your summer gone?
“I feel like I haven’t had a very long summer. Obviously, there was the World Championship, and then I had nose surgery. After that, I only had three or four weeks of good summer training.”
What’s it like now to have these big games in late August?
“It’s different, for sure. I’ve never been in that situation so far, to be playing what are almost like playoff games right away – especially against Slovakia in the first game. You’ve gotta perform and it’s still August, it’s still warm and sunny outside. It’s different.”
Rohrer’s club in Switzerland, the ZSC Lions, are currently in training camp. After this tournament, Rohrer will join the team. The Lions’ first competitive games will be in the Champions Hockey League, where they’ll travel to Norway and Finland to face the Storhamar Dragons and Ilves Tampere before coming home to face the Straubing Tigers from Germany and Red Bull Salzburg from Austria. Then the National League regular season begins on September 17.
Do you think having played these high-pressure games will help you going into the season?
“Yeah, I think so. If you play hockey at that level, even early in the season, it always elevates your game.”
Do you know how many more years you’ll stay in Zurich?
“I’m signed for one more season, and we’ll see what happens after that.”
Throughout this, do you stay in contact with the Montreal organization?
“Yes. They have people working in player development and we’re in touch every two or three weeks.”
Do you speak with David Reinbacher at all about what goes on in the organization? I know his situation is a little different.
“Yeah, he’s already signed and he’s played in the A, and so for sure, he’s more involved in the whole process. We don’t talk about it too much because, as you said, he’s in a bit of a different situation, but when we’re here together in the same dressing room, I might ask him a question or two about what goes on there.”
You two are the same age. Have you known each other for a long time?
“Yeah, we grew up only 10 minutes away from each other in Austria. We didn’t start in the same club but the first time we talked to each other was probably on some under-11 select team.”
Just to finish up, do you have any goals for the coming season?
“Goals? I’m not too big on looking into the future. I just want to play my best hockey, continue to elevate my game and just control the things that I can control.”
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