After ten years at EC-KAC, first as a player and then as a coach, David Fischer closes the sporting chapter with the Red Jackets. The American addressed the club and the fans again in an open letter. Now the question arises: who will follow him?
Open letter from David Fischer:
To the KAC community,
Fans, sponsors, officials, players and colleagues
After careful consideration and extensive consultation, my family and I have decided that my special chapter at EC-KAC has come to an end. After ten years at the club there are a lot of lessons learned.
I matured here as a player and as a person.
I met my wife here
I started my family here.
This is where I ended my career as a player and started my career as a coach.
I learned and developed here.
I can say with full conviction that I gave my best for this club. I wanted to help ensure that the awesomeness of this Kub endured while I was part of Red and White.
There comes a time in every person’s life when it is necessary to pursue a new or different career path. This one has come for me now.
The last three years in particular have been a wild ride, full of victories and successes. I was pleased to see that the stands at the Heidi Horten Arena were full of fans who enjoyed watching a team play a successful and winning brand of ice hockey and who are proud of it.
To the players and former teammates: We have shared great moments in our battles together, we have seen each other at our best and our worst moments. I love this. Thank you for allowing me to be your coach, teammate and colleague.
A special thank you to Kirk Furey: We lost together, we won together. We sat together every day in our “fox hole,” the trainer’s office. Kirk allowed me to be myself, created space for me to grow as a coach, and was there to offer advice when I needed help. He is a special person.
To Oliver Pilloni: Thank you for believing in me and being willing to take risks. Likewise for trust in character and the role as a mentor.
To my wife Anna Maria: She was always right next to me on this rollercoaster ride. In championship titles, failures and victories. During injury and health. When I transition from playing to coaching and when a disgruntled coach comes home and needs an outlet, she’s always there for me. Thank you, I love you.
Klagenfurt is a special ice hockey location. A leader in Austria. Never loses this status.
Kind regards,
David Fischer
Speculation about the successor
Now the Red Jackets have to find a successor for Fischer, who has worked as an assistant coach for the last three years. The “Crown newspaper” brought the name Alexander Mellitzer into play, among other things. But he was already seen as a possible successor to the current general manager Oliver Pilloni. Christoph Brandner, who stormed for the KAC for many years and now works in the Carinthians’ substructure, could also be an option.
kac.at , Image: EC-KAC Betriebs GmbH
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