The ice in the Linz ice rink has been defrosted since Saturday. But not only on the playing field, but also in the catacombs – more precisely in the office of sports director and head coach Philipp Lukas – the wires are running hot. Nevertheless, the 42-year-old took 60 minutes to talk about transfers, game philosophies and development.
OÖ Nachrichten: We had a conversation with you in the icebreaker podcast last fall. At that time still as head coach of the Steel Wings in the second division. Could you have imagined at the time that we would be conducting the conversation in this new constellation today?
Philipp Lukas: No, I wouldn’t have. But I don’t function that way either. I always try to concentrate on the task at hand and not look too far ahead. I had a great job with the Steel Wings and was able to gain a lot of experience. And that was the most important thing for me at that moment. A good friend of mine always said that everything happens for a reason – and so did I, I suppose.
In January, the Black Wings decided to realign themselves on a sporting and operational level. How long did it take you to think before you said yes?
I wasn’t really aspiring to this task. The Black Wings approached me and it sounded like a very exciting challenge. And I’m a person who is looking for challenges as a person but also wants to develop as a trainer and in this case as a sports director. And this is a very exciting new task that involves a lot of work. And I didn’t want to miss this challenge.
Quite a few fans fear that you could possibly take on too much in the dual function of head coach and sporting director. Do you feel ready for this demanding role? It’s a very big responsibility that you bear there.
Yes, it’s a big responsibility. I knew that quite a lot would hit you. We also have to set up organizational structures to distribute tasks. I’m not afraid of it, but of course I have great respect for this task.
We talked earlier about your past with the Steel Wings. Will there also be a team in the Alps Hockey League next season?
It was important to us that we call for the Alps Hockey League again and continue to play there with the Steel Wings. This gives us the opportunity to compensate for any injury misery. But there are a lot of considerations behind it. How do you structure yourself? How do you recruit players for the ICE but also for the Alps Hockey League? How do you manage to give the players Ice Age at the top? These are the main questions to be answered. And there’s a lot to phone.
How is the squad planning for the ICE Hockey League going?
We wanted to strengthen ourselves in the Austrian sector as best we could, but we also had to accept a few rejections. That’s a shame, of course, but it’s also a learning process for us. We have to look in the mirror and ask where we can improve in order to become more attractive to such players again. And then we have to think about where and how we will fill our squad with import players and what requirement profiles we are looking for.
Does this strong Austrian tribe already exist or will there be further reinforcements?
I think last season didn’t live up to expectations. Still, you have to look to the future and remember that players are getting older and developing young players. A commendable example is Patrick Söllinger, who has already completed his first two games in the ICE Hockey League. Who would have thought that eight or nine months ago? He simply worked very, very well and developed well because he put in the appropriate effort.
One name keeps popping up among insiders. Erik Kirchschläger is currently on the market. Is the native of Linz an issue?
Yes, of course that was an issue. But as far as I have been informed by his agent, he is not yet ready to return to Linz. Which of course is a shame. It was one of the cancellations I mentioned earlier. He would certainly have helped us, but you have to accept the decision.
In recent years you have been an assistant coach for the U20 national team. Does this personal relationship with young players help you?
That was the hope. But even then we had to accept cancellations. This too must be accepted and critically questioned as to how we can become more attractive. (Note: Linz negotiated with both Senna Peeters and Julian Payr, but ultimately lost out)
With how many import places Philipp Lukas is planning, how the Black Wings should play in the coming season and what homework the new head coach has given his players for the summer, you can hear in the 22nd episode of the icebreaker podcast:
Source: Nachrichten
