Ice cop Schneider:

“I always try to ignore the pain”

The 2024 play-offs in sight: ice bull Peter Schneider.(Bild: Tröster Andreas)

The perfect precision landing before the play-off start on Sunday: Bulls top scorer Peter Schneider - like Bourke and Thaler - reports fit for the quarter-final duel with Linz. 

The ice was really sharp, the tension was palpable for the Bulls ahead of the start of the play-offs on Sunday against Linz with the first game at home. Just like afterwards in the dressing room, which was open to journalists yesterday before the start of the quarter-finals.

Peter Schneider and his Lena (with dog Danger) are expecting a baby in April.(Bild: ZVg)

Coach Oliver David was particularly pleased that all the Bulls were on board. Even the recently absent Bourke, Thaler and Schneider, who is also looking forward to the birth of his daughter in April. Before the start of the fifth season, in which the Bulls are chasing their third title in a row, he reported on . . .

. . . how he is feeling after a month out injured:
Physically, the physios, the off-ice coaches, the doctors with us have done an insanely good job with me. We worked very well in the weeks when I wasn't able to play. They got me to a fitness level that's better than in the last two years because I had the break. And we'll see about the ankle, it feels good so far. Now we have to wait for the games.

. . . about how he deals with pain:
I try to ignore it. (grins)

. . . Emotions after the long injury:
I'm insanely, insanely excited in a positive sense. I'm really looking forward to the games. It's just incredibly nice to be able to play ice hockey - I realized that even more after the injury. I was incredibly excited.

. . . the state of the team:
We're doing very well, we've trained hard over the last week. And now we're looking to be ready for the first game on Sunday after the break. We want to set the tone right away.

The dressing room as a second living room: Schneider with Harnisch (right).(Bild: Tröster Andreas)

. . . the picked quarter-final rivals:
A very tough opponent. When you're picked third, you don't have that much choice. There are only strong opponents left. We sat down together beforehand, looked at the scenarios and drew up a list. Then Linz and Villach were left over. We decided to take the slightly shorter journey.

. . . the time for a special preparation for the opponent:
We want to spend the last two days adjusting to them, seeing what they do particularly well so that we can hold our own against them.

. . . the fact that we have already played many play-off series:
It's always exciting, from the very first minute. Games, series are tight, you want to get ahead. It's simply the best time in ice hockey.