When a South Tyrolean and a German “change fronts”

Simon Seyr is an aspiring physiotherapist. The 33-year-old from Brixen has been working for the German Ice Hockey Association (DEB) for eight years now. However, the South Tyrolean will not be there at the World Cup in Riga. “I decided not to take part in the World Cup for family reasons, as I became a father for the second time three weeks ago,” says Seyr, who spent a week at the German team’s training camp in Nuremberg at the beginning of May.

Seyr has played ice hockey himself in the past. On the one hand for his hometown club HC Brixen, on the other hand for the U19 team of HC Pustertal. “Ice hockey has always been a matter close to my heart. “I came to DEB by chance,” recalls the father of the family, who did physio training in Regensburg for three years after graduating from high school and then worked for a certain Erich “Rick” Goldmann in Munich for five years. About a legend about the job “The former German national player studied medical management at the end of his ice hockey career and then opened a practice in Munich. It was through Rick that we came into contact with the DEB,” says Seyr, who first took part in a training course for the German team in July 2013: “Back then, I stood in for a work colleague who was unable to attend and was then a kind of jumper.”

The 28-year-old German Florian Keinz is working as a video analyst for the Italy team at the World Cup in Riga © Adler Mannheim

Similar to Seyr, Keinz, who supports the Azzurri as a video coach in Riga, also got his job unexpectedly. Diego Scandella was actually intended for this role, as was the case at the last World Cup in Bratislava two years ago. However, the Italian-Canadian had to pass due to family problems.

“It was May 9th when I got a call from Greg Ireland in the afternoon. He asked me if I had the time and desire to work for Italy during the World Cup. I immediately called my friend, who was celebrating Mother's Day with her mother, and told her about my good fortune. She couldn't believe it at first, but she supported me straight away. We were already mentally planning a vacation. “On Monday morning I was already on the train heading to Bolzano at 6.30:XNUMX a.m.,” says Keinz, looking back. Rapid rise Back to Seyr: From the 2014/15 season, the South Tyrolean worked for the German U20 national team and accompanied them to four World Cups. He massaged the muscles of the up-and-coming Dominik Kahun, Moritz Seider and Tim Stützle, among others.

“But our work is not just about massaging. We support the players in preparing for training and games and, for example, put on bandages. After the games, our work continues in the physio room or in the hotel. Ailing players always have priority. The older players get on the lounger before the young ones. During games, we are the first to reach the injured player and then decide whether we need to bring in a doctor or use the stretcher. “Fortunately, that is rarely the case,” says the physio, describing his main tasks.

Simon Seyr and national coach Toni Söderholm, the coach of the German national team.

Since Corona, Seyr and his colleagues have had another task added. “Our work currently consists primarily of testing. During the World Cup preparations in Nuremberg, we subjected everyone involved to a rapid antigen test twice a day and also did 2 PCR tests,” says Seyr, who, as mentioned at the beginning, cannot be there in Riga.

Nevertheless, he will be rooting for the German team - even in the opening game against his home country Italy. “My heart beats for Germany. I have a close relationship with the team and know all the players and supervisors. It's like a family to me. For me, Germany is the favorite and can certainly surprise in these title fights. For the Azzurri, I hope they do well. It is of course bitter that some top performers cannot be there due to corona,” concludes Seyr, who returned to South Tyrol at the end of 2020 after 11 years in Germany and joined his father’s practice. From fan to coach For Keinz, who comes from Bürstadt in southern Hesse, it is not the first time that he has landed an ice hockey job by chance. “I have never played ice hockey myself, but I have been a passionate fan of Mannheim for years and had the Adler season ticket for more than 10 years. It was during the 2018/19 season when I was in the right place at the right moment: I first filmed the Eagles' games before being hired as a video analyst.

He literally read his way into ice hockey and over time understood the game better. “At the end of my first season we became German champions. I don’t know how much I contributed to the title,” adds Keinz with a smile.

Florian Keinz at work.

The German will not be seen on the bench at Azzurri games. “I either sit in the dressing room or somewhere in the stands and get the live signal of the game on my laptop. There I analyze what’s happening on the ice in real time and provide the coaching staff with statistics during the third-period breaks or give tips on where and how the team can improve.”

The main task awaits the video analyst before the first puck is thrown in. He prepares the upcoming opponent down to the smallest detail and gives the coaches the necessary information. “We will then determine the match plan together. This is of course adapted to the respective opponent. “It’s about the game system or the special teams,” explains Keinz. “It’s a privilege that we can be here and play.” Florian Keinz Keinz is aware that Italy goes into every game as underdogs. He has gained a good impression of the team itself in such a short time. “They are players with good character. There is a lot of cohesion. The five players who are still at home are also in constant contact with the rest of the team. The most important thing for all of us is to leave the dreary everyday life of the 'Bubble' or Covid-19 behind us and enjoy every minute on the ice. After all, it is a privilege that we can be here and play. That’s why our families deserve a big thank you. After all, you need strong support from home, especially at this time.”

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When a South Tyrolean and a German “change fronts”

The various national teams not only have players and coaches, but also a whole range of support staff. Everyone is important. The South Tyrolean Simon Seyr and the German Florian Keinz are two of them. Curious: While Seyr is doing his duty in Germany, Keinz has an important task with the Blue Team.

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