At 39, Thomas Raffl does not think of the end of the career. In an interview with Laola1, the long-time team player talks about the historical World Cup quarter-finals, the success factor team spirit and his future.
Rafffl proudly looks back on the ice hockey world championship, in which Austria was able to move into the quarter-finals for the first time in decades. “It was just incredible, an overwhelming feeling,” he says in an interview with Laola1. He was particularly impressed by the team’s appearance: “The team performed perfectly over these two weeks in Stockholm.”
As one of the most experienced players in the squad, it made him particularly proud of how professionally the entire team presented. “In the games against Slovakia or Latvia, in which we have mostly pulled the shorter in recent years, we felt a dominant feeling on the bench – that was incredible.”
When asked why it is currently going uphill in Austrian ice hockey, RAFFL gives a clear cause: “The team structure also always had the highest priority for team boss Roger Bader. Everyone has blurred and respects their role in the national team, even if they deviate from that in the club.”
Despite the hard competition in the league, the interaction in the national team works. “Of course, there is a certain hatred in the league when you meet each other – you have to have it to be ready for the games. But everyone in the national team gets along with everyone.”
Despite his age, Raffl is currently not thinking of resigning from the national team. “At the moment I am not ready to end my national team career,” he clarifies. Nevertheless, he remains realistic: “I am 39 for the first time. I don’t know how the body and regeneration will change.” At the moment he still feels in top shape: “So far I don’t notice anything. I think I need this challenge. As long as I can accept it, I will do it. The rest is in the future.”
Image: Pa pictures – Gintare Karpaviciute
