For the new season, the Graz 99ers are already on the ice. Striker Lukas Haudum also has a clear favorite for the coming season.
“The top favorite on the title is Salzburg, if only because of their past. With them you know what you get on the ice-your squad has not got any worse. The bulls can definitely become masters a fifth in a row. But we want to prevent that,” the native Linz to the “Kronen Zeitung”.
“I can’t assess Ferencvaros”
But not only Salzburg has changed his squad. “Pustertal has strengthened well. And Bolzano has always been strong, but this season they are an Alzerl better,” says Haudum. “Likewise, the Vienna Capitals and Laibach – both have improved a lot. It will certainly be very tight in the league and you have to constantly call up your performance if you want to win games.” New in the league is Ferencváros Budapest, about which Haudum is still unsure: “I cannot assess her, I’m looking forward to you. However, I don’t think you can play in the front half.”
“We have the potential for the top”
The Graz itself also intensified their squad: “Our squad has been rebuilt. There have been good changes, the new players fit even better in the team. Overall, I appreciate even more than in the previous season,” explains Haudum. At the same time, however, he emphasizes: “In the end, it is also the question of how we get it on the ice. So it is a bit too early for a prediction. We definitely have the potential for the top!”
Most recently, Coach Harry Lange’s team completed a training camp in Kitzbühel. Haudum reports: “Preparation is going well, but is very intense. This week in Kitzbühel it was in tough.” Already next weekend in Graz the “Energie Styria Trophy” will continue. On Friday (7.30 p.m.) the 99ers meet Slovan Bratislava in the Merkur ice stadium.
Image: HCI/Papa Productions
