HCB legend Zisser: “Life is one big challenge”

“In the team sport of ice hockey, I found myself standing in front of a pile of broken glass several times and literally had to pull out my claws and fight with my teammates. Fight until you drop. My sister Barbara, my partner Mara and I will do everything we can to take on the steep task that has fallen upon us. We want and will rebuild the life's work of our parents Marlene and Helmuth, who live between despair and resignation, and to do this we will also go into the corners where it hurts. Ice hockey taught me not to give up at all costs, even in hopeless situations,” says Stefan Zisser. Stefan never had it easy. But this mammoth task will demand everything from him. Giving in is not an option for this bundle of energy. Never. “We had an attentive guardian angel” The Hotel Eberle, which was partially overrun and crumbled by a destructive rockfall at 15.15:5 p.m. on that fateful January 2021th, XNUMX, is set to rise from the ruins. The Zisser families are faced with the ruins of their existence, indeed their entire lives. Within a few moments, home and work, in short, their entire livelihood, became rubble and ashes. “However, I always see the glass as half full: we all had a wonderfully attentive guardian angel who looked down on us,” says Stefan Zisser, haltingly but gratefully.

The rock fall at the Hotel Eberle in January this year. © private

Mara, the mother of their children, was in the kitchen. The parents in their apartment in the next building. His sister Barbara wasn't in the children's playroom with Stefan and Mara's daughter Anadia (5), as was so often the case, but happened to be in the wellness area when the misfortune struck with force. “The playroom no longer exists,” says Stefan, his voice choked with tears. It lies under meter-high boulders. After lunch, he went to bed with his younger daughter Dalia (3). Dramatic moments “We had to fight our way out through a window after the thunderous rockfall that shook the entire house to its foundations. Some doors were stuck, others could no longer be opened because of the rubble. And many others simply didn't exist anymore. We slipped from the bedroom onto a terrace outside via a sun awning. Thank God no one suffered any physical harm, that's a positive thing. But the soul suffers heavily. It really affected our parents very deeply. The existence built up by our grandparents from 1938 onwards, which our parents had rounded off into a beautiful family business over half a century of backbreaking work, was from one moment to the next nothing more than a field of rubble. If there hadn't been good friends who supported us straight away, we would probably have gone crazy," says Stefan Zisser.

He found living space for his small family with his former ice hockey teammate and good friend Harald Oberrauch. His parents first found a roof over their heads with the Steiner family of hoteliers they were friends with in Leifers. They currently live with Helmuth's brother Horst and Stean's cousin, Tomas, at the Eberlehof in St. Magdalena. “It is unimaginable what a catastrophe there would have been if South Tyrol had not been in lockdown. On a normal January 5th in recent years, there were always around 100 guests staying at the “Eberle,” says Barbara Zisser. When you see the impressive avalanche of boulders, it is actually a miracle that there was “only” material damage. By the way: The furnishings and kitchen appliances that are still usable are currently being packed up for transport. They are being put to a new use in Moldova thanks to Caritas. “The future is full of puzzles” Sure, Stefan had often looked at the chained rock wall behind the hotel. “We felt completely safe, we never had the slightest doubt. Before the last renovation, the complex slope stabilization was carried out using the latest knowledge and knowledge. For many decades, no large stones had ever come loose from the wall.” Nature does not know absolute security, and there is no such thing, said state geologist Volkmar Mair. A house in the city can also disappear into a suddenly opening crater or collapse. Or a bridge that has been considered completely safe for decades can collapse. With fatally terrible consequences, as was shown in Genoa.”

Stefan Zisser in action.

What will become of the Hotel Eberle now? “The uncertainty about our future is actually grueling. There is no other option for me than rebuilding the house. I am fully aware that it will be a long and thorny road. But our fate is not solely in our hands,” says Stefan Zisser. He doesn't want to give up under any circumstances, there is no plan B. Only question marks. An infinite number of question marks. The fact is that the hotel ruins are in a so-called red danger zone. But there is also an approved expansion project from 2017. “Perhaps that could be a viable option. Perhaps…" “I won’t let myself get down” Giving up is never an option for a hockey player. Especially not for Stefan Zisser, who took over the “Eberle” from his parents together with his sister Barbara in 2018. “I'm used to fighting. Otherwise I certainly wouldn't have gone to Finland alone, at the age of 16, for four seasons to study in the country of the (current) world champion. This step was very exciting for me. In Finland, boys are almost born with ice skates. And someone comes from a developing country (from an ice hockey perspective) and pretends to keep up? “I was initially laughed at (my nickname was, tellingly, “Maccheroni”) and later appreciated,” says Zisser.

“I became under-18 champion with Turku in 1996. For someone who only spoke English to a limited extent, attending the English-speaking high school was a real challenge. I am infinitely grateful to my parents and my sister for giving me this valuable experience for the rest of my life and for not having me, who could have worked in the hotel. I had to fight my way through in Finland and today that helps me to somewhat master this seemingly hopeless and bleak situation,” he emphasizes. Zisser becomes a crowd favorite In terms of ice hockey, “Zizzi” (born March 26, 1980) grew up at EV Bozen 84 and advanced to the A-2. As a center, he played a key position for 2 seasons. Later, in his youth at TPS Turku, he matured into a stubborn, beefy rascal who didn't avoid a duel, even against physically larger opponents. Back in Bolzano, he won the “Millennium” championship crown under HCB coach Bernd Haake and became a real crowd favorite because of his exemplary effort. Zisser was supported by the following players for his first championship title with the HCB: Christian Alderucci, Alex Avancini, Gianluca Baggio, Manuel Bergamo, Armando Chelodi, Georg Comploj, Alex Egger, Philipp Eheim, Samuel Ermantraud, Michael Forer, Daniele Giacomin, Günther Hell, Brian Loney, David Mattivi, Martin Mair, Mario Nobili, Martin Pavlu, Marco Poulsen, Ruggero Rossi de Mio, Christian Rottensteiner, Michael Schluderbacher, Roberto Stefani, Christian Timpone, Enrico Turetta, Michael Wassilijew, Harald Zingerle and Demian Zuccal.

Stefan Zisser and association president Andrea Gios. © kp

After this white-red experience, Zisser went to HC Milano Vipers in Lombardy Milan for two years. There he won the championship title in 2, only to return to his parent club at the end of this season. With the HCB there were several championship titles (2002, 2008 and 2009), 2012 cup victories (3, 2003 and 2007), and 2009 Supercup triumphs (3, 2004 and 2007). “The 2008 championship title will remain in my memory forever: on the one hand, it is the last one that the HCB will win, but on the other hand, I was able to forge wonderful friendships that are still valuable to me. I fondly remember Christian Walcher, Enrico Dorigatti, Günther Hell, Alex Egger and Christian Borgatello. “We were the “old ones” who had to assert ourselves against strong competition,” says Zisser.

In autumn 2013, HC Bozen Südtirol faced a completely new challenge: in the first, absolutely sensational triumph in the international EBEL (Erste Bank Ice Hockey League), the HCB broke all chains and Stefan Zisser was not only there, but right in the middle of it. This was the very first time that a league newcomer, and a non-Austrian club, won the 18 kilogram trophy. In extra time of the all-important final game in Salzburg, Ziga Pance scored the winning goal on a millimeter-perfect pass from McGregor Sharp, but no player embodied that legendary team of champions as much as Zisser. Despite being 34 years old at the time. Impressed by Pokel Zisser fondly remembers the tremendous jolt that went through the team at some point. “When Tom Pokel, who I remember as my best and most competent coach of my playing days, explained moves and tactics in the dressing room, you could have heard a pin drop to the floor. He was the brilliant architect of this victory that was hardly thought possible. In the beginning it was all rather easy. We had a lot of awkward and difficult characters in the team. “But Sebastian Pichè and Mark Santorelli also gradually put themselves at the service of the team when big things became apparent,” remembers Stefan Zisser.

Years later he said in an interview: “There were certainly some players in the successful team who were better than me. Through my work on and off the ice, I was able to make my contribution and work on team cohesion. I succeeded. That was, if you will, my master’s test as a “problem solver”. In fact, with the EBEL triumph (which achieved the feat again 4 years later), the HCB sparked a new enthusiasm for ice hockey throughout the country, which continues unabated to this day.

<a data-caption="Stefan Zisser in der HCB-EBEL-Meistermannschaft der Saison 2013/2014. Es war das erste Mal, dass ein Liga-Neuling triumphierte und das erste Mal in der Geschichte der Liga, dass kein österreichischer Verein gewann. © APA / EXPA/JFK" data-fancybox="inline-75894" target="_image" href="https://s3-images.sportnews.bz/_images/scale/1280x1280/img/2021/04/stefan-zisser-in-der-hcb-ebel-meistermannschaft-der-saison-20132014-es-war-das-erste-mal-dass-ein-liga-neuling-triumphierte-und-das-erste-mal-in-de-1.jpg"> Stefan Zisser in the HCB-EBEL championship team of the 2013/2014 season. It was the first time that a league newcomer triumphed and the first time in the league's history that no Austrian club won. © APA / EXPA/JFK

2014/2015 was Zisser's last appearance in the record champions' jersey. The HCB was involved in the Champions League and met TPS Turku. “For me that was an unmistakable sign that the circle would close. A lot of things started with Turku, my active time ended with Turku,” remembers Zisser. The following year he was no longer considered in Bolzano. His continued commitment failed because of the damned EBEL points regulation. From the U18 to the national team “Zizzi” was also a recognized name internationally for many years. All of his coaches appreciated his enthusiasm and his uncompromising willingness to fight for every puck. He was one who saw every action through to the end. At his first appearance in the azure blue jersey, the Under-18 European Championship Group B in Maribor in 1997, he made an important contribution to staying in the league as “Assist King”. Italy also took part in the B-EM in 1998 (in Füssen). The path to the Under-20 World Cup was mapped out and Zisser was one of the architects of the promotion from Group C to Group B. The young “Azzurri” won the final game on January 3, 1999 in Kaunas against Japan 1-0.

A call-up to the B World Cup for 20-year-olds (in Minsk) and at the same time to the first national team in 2000 was the logical consequence. From then on, no selection coach could ignore Zisser, a bundle of energy; he was there at several world championships until 2010. “The crowning achievement of my sporting career was without a doubt being nominated for the 2006 Olympic Games in Turin. Being one of only 287 ice hockey players from a dozen nations was the greatest thing for me. The fact that we drew 3-3 against our traditional opponents Germany and Switzerland was a great satisfaction,” says Zisser. In the end, he was also able to convince the critical selection coach Miki Goulet that he was right to be included in the Olympic team. And Rick Cornacchia didn't want to and couldn't do without him either. He brought him back for the 2009 World Cup in the 1st Division in Torun, Poland. The final international farewell came after the A-WM 2010 in Germany. “I am grateful to be able to give something back” After 14 years in the HCB uniform and a series of impressive successes, Zisser, now 35 years old, retired from active sport in 2015. In his private life he found happiness with Mara, a native of Fassa, which is now really perfect with the two lovely girls Anadia and Dalia. And of course he remains loyal to ice sports. In June 2018, Zisser was appointed new president of the South Tyrolean Ice Sports Association with 510 out of a total of 540 votes. He replaced long-time president Christian Trettl.

It was important to the president of the national ice sports association Andrea Gios that Zisser took over the position of director of the Italian selections. “Sport, my sport, has given me a lot. Ice hockey shaped me. Today I am grateful to be able to give something back. Of course, last year and this season were a medium-sized disaster and very complicated due to Corona. And then there were my problems. The fact is that a mammoth program awaits us all once we get the virus under control. However, how active ice sports can be made attractive to young people again after months of lockdown is still a mystery to me. But we must try to untie this knot. Sport makes many strokes of fate more bearable. Nothing works without sport,” says Zisser, who probably speaks from his own experience. He is still grateful to HC Bozen, and not just because of his new role. “Whenever I can, I like to watch ice hockey games in the Eiswelle - as in other stadiums in South Tyrol. Of course, my heart beats especially for young people.”

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HCB legend Zisser: “Life is one big challenge”

s+ is tracking down South Tyrolean sports legends in the new series “What happened to…?” This time it is the turn of HCB legend Stefan Zisser, who had to struggle with particular resistance this year.

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