Congratulations Marco! You will receive this title for the second time after 2022. Does it feel different than it did three years ago, especially since you’ve now gained a foothold in the NHL and matured into a top performer on the national team?
Marco Kasper: “It’s different, no question about it. A lot has happened since then. I played an entire season in the AHL, completed my first full season in the NHL. Last season ended great with the World Cup. The year 2025 itself is a little more difficult. There are always ups and downs, but the most important thing is to always give your best and work hard.”
You already mentioned it: You have already experienced some ups and downs in the current season. What was the phase in particular like when you had to show patience until you could score another goal?
Marco Kasper: “It was difficult, of course. I expect a lot from myself. When things don’t go well offensively, it’s difficult. During this phase I tried to do the simple things really well, to work hard and check. It didn’t go the way I imagined, but I kept working hard and always tried to help the team so that we could win. It’s gone quite well so far. Overall, we’ve been able to get a lot of wins and of course we want to keep going.”
Did you have the right support from the team and coaches during this time?
Marco Kasper: “The most important thing is always the family and they always have my back. You have a certain amount of pressure that you often put on yourself. During this time I had a lot of video sessions with the coaches and we talked a lot. The teammates were great and the most important thing was, as I said, that we won, even if things didn’t go well for me personally.”
Did that make you mature mentally again?
Marco Kasper: “It was definitely a difficult time mentally. You hope that you come out of it stronger. It wasn’t the first time that I didn’t score a goal or score a point for a long time, but as I said, you just have to keep working on yourself every day.”
How far can we talk about goals for this season?
Marco Kasper: “I think the top goal of all teams at the beginning of the season is to reach the playoffs. That’s also our goal. We haven’t been in the playoffs for a while and we’re hungry. It’s a very tight division, so it’s difficult to say what’s going to happen. We’re trying to keep winning as many games as possible and get into the playoffs.”
If you are eliminated early in the playoffs, will the World Cup be an issue for you?
Marco Kasper: “The World Cup is always a topic. It’s really fun to play in the national team and for Austria. You saw last year that we’re a great group that has fun together and plays really good hockey. It makes me proud to play for the national team. I hope first and foremost that we reach the playoffs with Detroit and then we’ll see how it develops.”
After your success at the 2025 World Cup, you were awarded the title of Team of the Year at the LOTTERIEN Sporthilfe Gala. How did you receive this award and what does it mean to you personally?
Marco Kasper: “Coincidentally, I even watched the gala live. That was really cool. And it was important for the sport of ice hockey that young players see that the sport has a high status in Austria. We will try everything to develop ourselves further, to establish ourselves as a senior nation and to take further steps, such as reaching the quarter-finals.”
What about Marco Rossi and David Reinbacher? Are you in contact with each other, or is there no time for that given the busy schedule?
Marco Kasper: “Unfortunately, I didn’t play against Marco this season because he was initially drafted and then injured. I would have liked to play against him again. Last year we had dinner together before the game and chatted. I write to David again and again, but with the busy schedule, with currently a game every two days, there is little time.”D
Any advice you can give to upcoming talent?
Marco Kasper: “The most important thing is to just have fun every day when you go to training or to the game. That you have fun and don’t let your head down when things don’t go well. Ice hockey is the best and greatest sport. If you want to develop further, you have to work hard. But that can and should be fun too.”
What do you particularly remember from 2025? Regardless of whether private, sporty or otherwise.
Marco Kasper: “I have to admit, the World Cup was the absolute highlight for me. The fun we had, how well we played, it was just a great experience overall.”
Speaking of private. Tell us a little about yourself off the ice. What hobbies, preferences or favorite food do hardly anyone outside of your family and circle of friends know about?
Marco Kasper (laughs): “Nothing unusual. We athletes often have very similar interests. That’s the case with me too. I like playing golf, I’ve read a lot of books in the last year, I like being in nature and going for walks.”
eishockey.at , Image: facebook.com/DETROITREDWINGS
