Stefan Zisser remembers 2014: “It sends a chill down your spine”

In Salzburg's Volksgarten, the fifth and all-important final between the almost overpowering Salzburg team and the blatant underdog from Bolzano was under extra time when Pance hit the mark in the 72nd minute of the game after preparatory work by MacGregor Sharp and put all HCB fans on cloud nine.

This video summarizes the last minutes of the game and the subsequent emotions on the ice:

It was the first time that a newcomer to the league and a non-Austrian club won the 18 kilogram Karl Nedwed Trophy. A team that dared to make the leap from Serie A to the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga with countless nobodies not only wrote Bolzano ice hockey history, but also caused a stir across Europe with its unimagined run of success. And no player embodies that championship team as much as Stefan Zisser.

The beefy striker, then 34 years old, moved forward with a lot of passion and acted as the undisputed leader alongside other veterans such as Alexander Egger and Günther Hell. A year later, after 14 seasons in the HCB jersey, four Italian championship titles, three Italian cups and three Supercups, he ended his great career. He now works full-time at the Eberle Hotel at home and, as FISG President, is also the highest ice sports official in the country. In conversation with SportNews Stefan Zisser remembers... ...the moment when Ziga Pance put the puck into the net:

“Everyone’s fuses blew, which is probably why I can’t really describe that moment. But all I can say is that even today, every time I see this picture on the internet, it still sends shivers down my spine.”

...the key to success:

“That was the extreme bond within the team. There has always been a certain winning mentality in Bolzano, but what developed within the team that season is something I have never experienced before or since. With every victory, we players grew closer together until it finally became clear that we could achieve great things and then we plunged into a kind of tunnel. Every single one of them was extremely focused and willing to make sacrifices.”

“We initially had great concerns about Pichè or Santorelli” Zisser about initial difficulties in the team ...difficult characters within the team:

“There certainly were. With a Sébastien Piché or a Mark Santorelli, for example, we veterans in the squad initially had great concerns. They didn't care much about team play; they came to Bolzano and thought that with a little talent they could get into the limelight. These players have made an incredible transformation; they ultimately subordinated everything to success and thus made a decisive contribution. But that only worked because this team was so close together and so focused on winning.”

...his role in the championship squad:

“Let's put it this way, there were definitely a few players on that team who could play ice hockey better than me (laughs). Through my work on and off the ice, I was able to make my contribution, especially when it came to the cohesion within the team. In the late autumn of my career, I never imagined I would win such a big title again.”

Stefan Zisser wore the white and red jersey for 14 years, but also played in Finland and at HC Milan.

...special moments within the team that are not intended for the public:

“There are some, but they remain top secret (laughs). But I can give an example of our team spirit: When we hold up the ball as a warm-up, usually a handful of players take part or small groups form. For us, hours before the game, there was such a big crowd that we had to make a plan about who was allowed to kick before which game in order to prevent 25 men from passing a single ball to each other at the end. It was just a lot of fun and everyone wanted to join in. It was similar later in the game.”

“We’ll shoot the Italians back home straight away” Zisser about the perspective of the competition ...the great amazement in the league:

“It wasn’t just huge at the end of the season. Beyond the Brenner, the initial opinion was that 'we'll shoot the lower-class Italians straight back home.' But that motivated us incredibly and our opponents finally experienced their blue miracle.”

...the importance of the first EBEL title for Bolzano, South Tyrol and local ice hockey:

“This woke up the HCB and really fueled the euphoria that arose from joining the EBEL. This was noticeable in Bolzano, but also in the surrounding area. At the same time, this breakthrough also showed us that Serie A was probably not as bad as many people made it out to be.”

...his current relationship with HC Bozen:

“I wanted a warmer, bigger farewell in 2015 instead of quietly disappearing from the scene through a simple contract end. But that's probably how most players feel at the end of their careers. As a native of Bolzano, my heart somehow always beats for the HCB. The relationship with the club's top management is also quite intact, simply because of my role as South Tyrolean FISG President. There are many interfaces and contacts, which is why I still come to Eiswelle as a guest today.”

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
View all

Football

Italy

International leagues

International

Winter sports

Tennis

Other sports

Motorsport

Cycling

Watersports

Events

Favorites

Stefan Zisser remembers 2014: “It sends a chill down your spine”

Suggestions

Comments (0)