Club denies, but:

Whatsapp message makes even more talents tremble

In ice hockey, it's not only in Linz that young players often have a hard time.

(Bild: zVg)

The economic problems with young talents in ice hockey Linz, which culminated in the sudden dissolution of the second division team Steel Wings, could now not only affect talents from the liquidated Black Wings farm team, but also younger ones. An ex-official hints at this via Whatsapp. 

Is Linz's junior ice hockey team in even worse shape than just bad? One week after the Black Wings farm team Steel Wings' lightning exit, a Whatsapp message from an ex-official on vacation suggests so.

It literally says:

" . . . when Bobby Lukas and I went on vacation, all was still right with the world. I've obviously received a lot of information since the AHL withdrawal, but I want to get a personal overview of what's going on again first. Apparently after the AHL, the youth also comes under pressure. I don't understand why, there have already been very good internal talks . . . "

But even though the news item mentions at the beginning that things are "as usual going haywire" in ice hockey Linz, the cryptic suggestion that the youth team of the EHC Black Wings could now also be affected by the austerity measures is particularly worrying. Does this even mean that the entire Linz substructure is shaky?

President Peter Nader: "Nonsense!"
"Nonsense," says President Peter Nader, "the rest of the youth team will actually benefit because they will have more ice time than before!"

The Steel Wings are leaving the ice in Linz for good.

(Bild: JohannesRadlwimmer)

In the early evening on Monday, Nader will have talks with the talents who are on the street and who currently have little chance of finding (reasonably) good clubs for the coming season for various sporting, educational and professional reasons, regarding the contract terminations requested by the club.

"Situation for talents is insane"

Which may not cast the best light on the Black Wings boss. However, Patrick Harand from the players' union involved in the case attests to his "good work" in this matter, even if Harand remarks in the direction of the talents concerned: "The situation is really shit . . . - It's madness!"