Sextet travels to the team

KAC high-flyer Bischofberger hopes to make his World Championship debut

KAC ace Johannes Bischofberger (left) wants to play his first World Championship in Prague.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Six players from runners-up KAC will join the national team camp in Zell am See on Thursday, as well as nine players from Salzburg. Johannes Bischofberger, the high-flyer of the season, hopes to make the cut and play his first World Championship in Prague (Czech Republic).

Yesterday, Monday, many of the KAC's cracks had their annual exit meetings with their coaches and general manager Oliver Pilloni. In the afternoon, there was an internal farewell dinner with the players, the staff and all their families in the "Frankies" restaurant next to the ice rink.

Three defenders too
The national team players will soon be rejoining the team. On Thursday, David Maier, Steven Strong, Clemens Unterweger, Johannes Bischofberger, Manuel Ganahl and Lukas Haudum - six Red Jackets from the past season - will join team boss Roger Bader's squad. "I'm still digesting the shock of game seven," emphasizes Ganahl. "But it was a great year without a coronation. Now we want to achieve something with Austria."

Only eight international matches
For Bischofberger - who despite his quality has only played eight international matches for Austria - it would even be his World Cup debut. After his outstanding season with the KAC (27 goals and 26 assists), the speedy forward wants to try his hand in a team uniform. "I'm at the camp and hope to make the cut," says the 29-year-old. Thursday in Garmisch against Germany without the finalists (nine Salzburg players are also taking part) - on Saturday in Zell am See everyone will be there.