There are lows and highs in every career - but how best to deal with them. Up to the NHL, down to the AHL, up on the ice and soon afterwards back in the stands. Just Toronto, the next day a move to Anaheim. National player Korbinian Holzer has just learned in ten years in North America how unstable the life of an ice hockey professional can be, how close joy and frustration can sometimes be.
In the current edition of DEB-Podcasts “Coach the Coach” Holzer shares his experiences in conversation with Karl Schwarzenbrunner, the national coach for science and training. In addition, sports psychologist Dr. Tom Kossak is there, analyzing the topics from his professional perspective.
Holzer recently finished the North American chapter and joined the Russian team Awtomobilist Jekaterinburg, where Olympic silver hero Brooks Macek is also active. Holzer first reports on the reasons for the change and also on the short episode at his last NHL station, the Nashville Predators, when, after a successful first three games, the forced Corona break also abruptly ended the adjustment period. “Under these circumstances, it was difficult to make contacts and integrate,” describes Holzer. Kossak agrees with the 66-time national defender: It is difficult for both coaches and players to create team cohesion without personal contact.
Another reason for moving to Russia was the still unclear situation regarding the start date of the new season in North America. "I want to play ice hockey again," says Holzer, who made his debut in the KHL for Yekaterinburg on St. Nicholas Day in a 0:2 loss to AK Bars Kazan. He is not afraid that there will be problems with integration in Russia. "Games in the KHL are running relatively normally," explains the 32-year-old, "perhaps there will be a road trip, which will make it easier to get into it. You can go out to eat together and integrate straight away." Even if the move comes in the middle of the season, he feels prepared thanks to his experience in the NHL. Kossak emphasizes: "The athlete has to manage to feel comfortable there."
The beginning of his time overseas was particularly difficult for Holzer. “In North America you are one of many. There is no longer as much communication with each individual,” he describes. Holzer persevered and can look back on a remarkable journey, especially since there were always difficult phases. The defensive player learned a lot from this and acquired mental strength. However, he warns against wanting too much and compares it to quicksand. “The more you try to get out, the deeper you sink in.” On the ice it is important to “do the simple things right and play to your strengths,” explains Holzer. In order to overcome a low point, “family and the right environment also help immensely”. But the right mentality remains the key: “Control what you can control!” This is important advice, especially for young talents, adds Karl Schwarzenbrunner.
From his perspective, Kossak concludes that “self-reflection” is extremely helpful in such lows. It is also important to develop a tolerance for the unpredictable. “Anything I can control, I should control. I have to trust the rest. Or have tolerance if it doesn’t turn out that way.” Dealing with failure correctly is also part of it. “Failure hurts,” says Kossak, but the mental attitude can be influenced. Talented athletes in particular will eventually reach the point where talent alone is no longer enough.
You have to draw strength from the highs of your career and store the positive experiences much more intensively than negative ones. “You need a balance in order to keep good memories and suppress bad ones,” says Holzer. In this context, Kossak criticizes the German mentality, which is based on looking for errors instead of highlighting the positive aspects. Holzer confirms this statement with his experience from the NHL: “The players deal with situations more quickly. They have this confidence and a healthy arrogance. There is a noticeably different mentality over there.” Schwarzenbrunner would ultimately like to know from Tom Kossak whether athletes also sought his advice during a high phase. “It’s important for me to be there for the positive moments of my athletes,” explains Kossak. He wants to be a "companion in all phases" for his athletes, but it is widespread that his profession is seen as problem-oriented - according to the motto: "I don't have a problem, I don't have to go to you." The corona pandemic is without question such and Kossak expertise helpful. He pulls Parallelen to a long injury period. "You have to proceed with patience and foresight and act with common sense."
Here go to the podcast episode with Korbinian Holzer and Dr. Tom Kossak.