Rotter quits

“It’s not so bad behind the boards either”

In Vienna, Rafael Rotter became an ice hockey legend with the Capitals. In Kitzbühel, where he last played in the Alps Hockey League, the 36-year-old is now starting his coaching career.

Now it's over for good. "The intervertebral discs are no longer cooperating," sighs Rafi Rotter in an interview with the "Krone". With his tireless efforts in 684 games for the Vienna Capitals, he became a crowd favorite and a legend in Vienna. His number 6 has been hanging under the roof of the Steffl Arena since he left a year ago.

After a total of 807 games at the highest national level and most recently 41 appearances for Kitzbühel in the Alps Hockey League, the 36-year-old is now switching to coaching as an assistant coach. "It's not so bad behind the boards either," smiles Rotter. He has never coached before in his career: "I've never even coached anyone in the junior ranks. So I'm very grateful to the club for giving me this great opportunity to develop alongside head coach Marco Pewal. "As a fan at the World Championships, Rotter will be at the World Championships in the Czech Republic before things get underway. "I'll be watching games and cheering on Austria. We have top players and I am convinced that they will make it again."

A return to Vienna is always an option for Rafi: "Of course, being coach of the Capitals would be a very exciting task."