Anton Bernard returns to the ice hockey stage

Anton Bernard played in 3 final series in the EBEL and ICEHL during his career as a striker. In 2014 and 2018 he triumphed against Salzburg with HCB Südtirol. A year ago he had to admit defeat with the “White-Reds” against Klagenfurt AC in the final. On Tuesday he celebrated his final comeback in Salzburg, where he won the Karl Nedwed Trophy twice. Not as a striker, but as a co-commentator for commentator Martin Pfanner on the Austrian private broadcaster “Puls2”.

“A final is always something special. I also have enough finals experience. Being active on the ice is of course nicer. But the role of the commentator is also tough. It was quite a special experience. “Also because, as an international expert, I was allowed to comment on a game by an international team,” assures Bernard. Anton Bernard would have liked to play himself The father of two, who recently started a job as a financial advisor in Bolzano, was quite nervous at the beginning: “I was excited and tense. In addition, it was too cold in the little room where we were standing. It was great fun working alongside Martin, who is very competent and always reads the daily newspaper during the game Dolomites quoted. The game was interesting and exciting and somehow grabbed me. I would have liked to play myself. In the end, I witnessed the longest final game in this league so far, which was only decided after almost 85 minutes. But after about three and a half hours I was exhausted and tired.”

Puls24 commentator Martin Pfanner and co-commentator Anton Bernard (from left) in the Salzburg Volksgarten.

Bernard did not specifically prepare for the game, but was provided with countless statistics and balance sheets before the first puck drop. “Martin took over the facts and figures during the game because I already had enough to think about. I already knew the two teams, where there are several parallels, quite well because we analyzed them repeatedly throughout the season. There is a difference whether you play yourself or watch the game from outside. You can see more from the stands and the game from a distance. Above all, you can recognize the tactical things better. Everything happens much faster on the ice. It’s very difficult to get an overview there,” says Bernard. After the final defeat, the offer came Contact with Puls24 came about immediately after the former Bolzano captain's last game. “After the 0-7 defeat in the pre-play-off against Klagenfurt, which meant an early end to the season, Martin Pfanner asked me whether I would be interested in commentating on games with him in the future. I was immediately enthusiastic about the idea because it was a completely new experience for me. I was also convinced that my experience in front of the camera would allow me to add my two cents. “But in retrospect, I know it’s not that easy,” says Bernard. “It was impressive to be able to look behind the scenes for the first time.” Anthony Bernard Because Philipp Lukas, who previously served as a co-commentator, was no longer available as the new head coach of EHC Linz and Greg Holst doesn't always have time to comment on games, the broadcaster came under pressure to find a second expert alongside Daniel Welser , which is why everything suddenly happened very quickly. Bernard was on Puls2 for the first time last Friday in the 5th semi-final game between VSV and Fehervar in Villach. “I followed the game from the broadcast van and was able to get an initial overview. It was impressive to be able to look behind the scenes for the first time,” explains Bernard.

The former center forward traveled to Salzburg in his own car on Tuesday at lunchtime, where a meeting took place in the stadium at 17.15:2.30 p.m. at which the exact schedule and program were explained. Bernard went home immediately after the game, arriving around 3:5 a.m. “On Saturday I will return to Salzburg to commentate on Game XNUMX. Then I'll take the whole family with me. We will stay there overnight after the game. And I would also be scheduled for Game XNUMX – if there is one. I was also offered this job for NHL games. “But I politely declined because I don’t know my way around there very well,” Bernard admits. Words of praise from the commentator Martin Pfanner only has words of praise for his new co-commentator: “With some players, you get an inkling during their career that they would make excellent TV experts if they wanted to. With Anton there was this premonition and it was impressively confirmed with his brilliant debut. If you consider that Anton was recruited at very short notice, this is even more impressive for me personally. I know experts who after 1 or 2 years were not as good as Anton was on his first day. Calm, analytical, personable, eloquent and all coupled with the incredible knowledge of a person who has actually seen everything in the sport of ice hockey. I am sure that Anton will give fans many more hours of entertaining TV.”

ICE Regular Season ICE	SP	TV	P
1. Klagenfurt	47	183:101	102
2. Fehervar	46	146:126	89
3. Salzburg	46	142:107	87
4. HCB South Tyrol	46	137:125	76
5. Linz	46	146:116	75
6. Villach	46	155:136	74
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Anton Bernard returns to the ice hockey stage

On March 4th, Anton Bernard ended his playing career after the early end of the HCB Südtirol Alperia season and said that he would not stay in ice hockey. On Tuesday, the Kalterer surprisingly returned to the big ice hockey stage - but in a slightly different role.

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