Tampere, about an hour after Team Austria managed to stay up after a 5-3 win over Great Britain. There is a jubilant atmosphere in the Austrian dressing room before 33-year-old Brian Lebler takes the floor. “I got up, asked for their attention and thanked the team. This World Cup was an exciting experience for me, but I told them it would be my last,” said Brian a week later in the catacombs of the Linz AG Ice Arena.
After the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, three world championships at A level and three in category 1A, Brian Lebler ended his national team career with a total of 86 international matches under his belt, in which the Austro-Canadian managed 39 goals and 20 assists. At the B World Championships in Katowice, the man from Linz even led the team onto the ice as captain. “I’ve seen a lot and been able to experience a lot with the national team. Now it’s time to make room for younger players,” says the player from Linz.
The reason for the decision was the family. “I missed a lot at home this year. First the loan to Salzburg and then the World Cup – those were exciting experiences for me. But I was only able to see a lot of the things that my children have achieved in pictures via Whatsapp. And in the future I would like to I dedicate the time after the season completely to the family.” Daughter Blakely and son Tucker will be happy about that. Definitely wife Kelsey too. And probably the Black Wings as well somehow.
Source: Nachrichten
