The DEL, his plans & old friends: Spornberger in an interview

The first DEL season is certainly not easy for a young player. What was your role in the team?

“First and foremost, I was still the young player trying to fight for a place in the team. I don't think that much will change in the coming season. But of course I will try to increase my status in the team, and with experience perhaps comes the self-confidence to make some comments in the dressing room. In the first year it was a bit easy because not much is expected of a rookie. Therefore, the coming season could be more demanding and difficult as the pressure will be higher. But most of the time it’s me who puts pressure on myself.”

“Most of the time it’s me who puts the pressure on myself.” Peter Spornberger

Are you currently in the preparation phase?

“Because it was the World Cup this year, the break for us national players is relatively short. Here in Schwenningen it starts again next week. I did the preparatory training alone this summer because I was at the sports university in Cologne and still had courses to complete there. I also had the opportunity to take part in various sports seminars such as tennis, swimming and badminton. It was nice to do something different and get a change from the usual dry training.”

Spornberger went to Germany in 2015. © Valentina Gallina

You've moved several times in recent years and had to constantly reintegrate, which certainly wasn't easy...

"That's part of it. I always moved to go somewhere where the level was better and where I could improve. Of course it's a shame when you no longer see certain people as often or can't go home often. The bottom line is that it's worth it to me and I would do it again. That's why you're happy to accept the stress. We have a good group here in Schwenningen and, especially at my age, there are some players with whom I get on really well.”

You have been abroad for a long time now. Do you miss your home?

“When I went to Germany, I thought to myself: I have to try this now, otherwise I will never know what it is like. Luckily it worked for me and I was able to make playing ice hockey my career. I'm happy with how things are going at the moment and I hope it continues like this. Nevertheless, I miss my home very much. I hope that I can go home again in the summer next season, as that wasn't possible this year. I would also do the preparatory training at home because there is nothing better than spending the summer at Ritten. Even later, when I'm no longer actively playing, I could imagine playing the Ritten again. But that's easy to say now. In 10 or 20 years things might look completely different.”

Do you feel the support of South Tyrolean ice hockey fans in Germany?

“Maybe I would feel it more if I was at home more often, especially since I'm convinced that more people follow ice hockey than you might think. But sometimes one or two messages come up on social media. Then I'm always very happy. But I also think that it is very time-consuming to watch the games. You have to have a subscription and that costs money. That's why I understand that people can't watch every game. I'm happy when my parents watch all the games, I've organized that now. They’ve become quite fanatical (laughs).”

“I’m happy when my parents watch all the games, I’ve organized that now.” Peter Spornberger Do you still follow your former clubs and teammates in South Tyrol?

“I look at every result and all of Rittner’s highlights. Also because I know almost all of the players personally, for example I trained with Buam during the Olympic break this winter, which was great. I grew up in this hall. It was once again a cool feeling to be able to go on ice there. This means that I follow the Rittner the most, but also Bolzano and Pustertal and now also Asiago. Also with a few young players from Italy like Tommy Purdeller I try to stay up to date. I constantly keep an eye on players who are probably the future of South Tyrol and Italy in ice hockey.”

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The DEL, his plans & old friends: Spornberger in an interview

Peter Spornberger plays for the Schwenninger Wild Wings in the DEL and is considered one of the best ice hockey players in South Tyrol. In an interview with us, he talks about his life abroad, his role in the team and his connection to his homeland.

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