Life for sport

Between suit and ice hockey stick

Lukas Garhofer and Patrick Wondra (from left)(Bild: Georg Stagl)

In their professional lives, Lukas Garhofer and Patrick Wondra are managing directors of the Vienna Capitals. In their spare time, they also devote themselves to ice hockey and play for the Hollabrunn Wild Hogs.

At the Vienna Capitals' home games in the ICE Hockey League - such as the 8:2 win against Innsbruck and the 2:4 win against Vorarlberg - Lukas Garhofer and Patrick Wondra are out and about in the Steffl Arena in their suits, taking care of the smooth running of the match days in their role as managing directors. In their spare time, which is scarce alongside their full-time jobs, they swap their fine threads for ice hockey gear. The two of them take to the ice for Hollabrunn in the 2nd regional league in Lower Austria.

Lukas Garhofer (left) and Patrick Wondra (right) with Caps president Martin Reiss in the Steffl Arena.(Bild: spusu Vienna Capitals)

"We've known each other since our youth, played ice hockey together since then, studied together and then started working for the Capitals." The two, who also live in the same neighborhood in Lower Austria, have more than just a job in common. At the Hollabrunn Wild Hogs, the "Wild Boars", Patrick and Lukas are on the ice in the same line as defensemen.

Back in the office, the dual management team ensures "that everything around the pitch and the team is right, that the environment is right and that we as an organization are on a sound footing. We have recently been able to gain many new partners who want to join us on our journey," says Wondra, explaining the economic realignment following the Schmid era.

Patrick and Lukas also need a break.(Bild: Georg Stagl)

Despite their own commitment on the ice, "we would never interfere in the sporting side of things. We have good people who take care of that," says Garhofer, outlining the clear separation of responsibilities between sporting director Christian Dolezal and head coach Gerry Fleming.

Hollabrunn suffered two defeats against Tulln and Zwettl last week. St. Pölten is one of the teams waiting in the play-offs. They have strengthened their squad for the hot phase with former national player Christoph Harand. Looking at the uniforms of the Capitals legends under the roof of the arena, the two of them smile: "We could also call Phil Lakos. . ."