We need more space for Austrians in our league, says Gerhard Unterluggauer

The Austrian close victory over Slovenia 3-2 on Saturday gave hope but the deciding game against Latvia sent Austria to a Division I.

Before the championship there were many discussions about the quality of service around the national team. Matthias Trattnig complained about the vast difference among the service Austrian team leaders provide in comparison to the other teams. And Thomas Vanek supported his words.

Vanek wanted to come to the World Championship, but Buffalo Sabres` organization did not allow him to arrive due to the finger injury. Many players who did not come from various reasons, but the biggest problems were with the goalies. Veteran Reinhard Divis got injured in one of the last games in play-offs and Bernd Brückler, a star of Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in the KHL, refused to come due to the family matters.

"We are talking about our problems for a long time, but now we have to start to do convert words into real stuff," said an Austrian coach Bill Gilligan, who have been in his position since 2009.

In his first year he helped Austria to promote to the top division. Now Austria relegated back. "We need to produce much more players who can play at international level," said Gilligan. Many of the Austrian players play in the 3rd or 4th lines in their club. In the Erstebank Eishockey Liga Austrian clubs occupied thenfirst six spots, the remaining four teams from Slovenia, Hungary and Croatia are behind. However, most of the top players in Klagenfurt, Salzburg, Vienna, Villach, Linz or Graz are imports.


Coach Gilligan. Photo: Roman Kucera

"Germany and Norway moves forward much faster than we do. We are behind," said Gilligan. "We need to make changes within our league, referees and also in the clubs," said Gilligan whose mission on the Austrian bench may end, because his further contract was declared just in case of staying in the Top Division.

"It is not important, if I stay as a coach of the national team. Much more important is to make steps which helps our hockey," added Gilligan.

Many of the Austrian top players did not play at the World Championship this year. One of those, who are always willing to come under any circumstances, is a captain Gerhard Unterluggauer, who played the WC for the first time in 1994, when he was 17 years old.

"We have to make many changes. It is important, that our young guys can play at the international level and show if they can hold that. Much more youngsters should be recalled to the national team," said 34-years-old veteran.

"Unfortunately, the chiefs in our Erstebank Liga are interested only in winning the title, they do not care how many young players they raise for the national team, said the defenceman, who played more than 200 games for the national team. "Those guys have to play in top lines, not to sit on the bench."

He also adds critics toward the Austrian Ice Hockey Union. "We should change the whole structure and they way we operate our national association. When we choose players for our U14 teams, we should pick many more players and not just those, who have some linkage to people at our association," he accused.

"There must be somebody, who will take care of raising young players and communicate with the club coaches," said Gerhard Unterluggauer.

 

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