The most important thing in advance: all players are fit and healthy! Even very fit, like Head coach Roger Bader emphasizes: “We have had a very good athletic program over the last few weeks. Many players have been there for several weeks and you can see the progress. The team is in top shape and is presenting itself well on the ice.”
Slovenia as the final friendly opponent, after Canada in the last two years, is a deliberate plan. We want to perform exactly the same against our neighbors as we did next week at the start of the World Cup against Great Britain and Hungary. “Put pressure on the opponent, play quickly with the disc, defend well and hopefully score goals,” sums up Roger Bader together.
In the last three encounters, Austria always won. We would also like to continue this series and complete our World Cup preparations with success.
“We have decided that we will play the way we want to appear at the World Cup. We want to play the same ice hockey – not as complicated, even if we may have more time than at the World Cup. We have improved day by day, have a young team and are looking forward to this game and the World Cup,” explained David Maier.
PREPARATION FOR THE WORLD CUP
Austria vs. Klagenfurt
Sat., May 9th, 4:20 p.m., Heidi Horten-Arena, Klagenfurt
ÖEHV ticket shop, live on ORF SPORT +
eishockey.at , Image: ÖEHV/Christian Rothmund
