LAOLA1: How was the first training session back on the ice?
Jan Mursak: It was tough. I also had a bike test before that, so my legs weren't quite there yet. But it was a really good start. I feel like the guys are hungry and we were ready to go. Now it's important to recover well between training sessions and stay healthy.
LAOLA1: Your hands and legs are still heavy, but I can imagine you're happy to be back on the ice?
Mursak: No matter how hard you train in the summer, it's completely different on the ice. Of course, it can help if you've trained well in the summer, but it still takes a while to get back into the swing of things. Right now, it's mainly about conditioning, high pace, and some basics – the rest will come naturally. There are hardly any breaks, we're giving it our all.
LAOLA1: Last season you said it would be your last, but now you're back. Why did you decide to return for a final year?
Mursak: I've been saying it's my last year for three years now. (laughs) Actually, I wanted to quit before my first year in Klagenfurt. It's not that easy when you get older. Recovery takes much longer, and in the middle of winter, when there's hardly any sun, energy dwindles, your body aches, and you ask yourself: Why should I even play anymore?
Ich glaube, dass das frühe Ausscheiden im Playoff mich dazu gebracht hat, mir zu sagen, dass ich so nicht aufhören will.
LAOLA1: And?
Mursak: This summer, I took some time off, recovered, cleared my head, and told myself: I'll play one more year, give it my all, leave nothing out, and hopefully, we'll go further than last year. I believe that the early playoff exit (quarter-finals, editor's note) made me say to myself that I didn't want to stop like that. Hopefully, we'll have a good season and stay as healthy as possible – myself included. And then go far in the playoffs.
LAOLA1: In June, you said in an interview that you would only continue if KAC fielded a team with which you saw a chance for the championship title. Obviously, that's the case, otherwise, you wouldn't be here.
Mursak: It looks like we really have four strong lines. We've signed several players; all import spots are filled. That helps a lot. At my age, playing over 20 minutes or almost 20 minutes per game is a lot. Since we now have such a broad squad, we might be able to distribute ice time a bit better, and I'll have more energy when I'm on the ice. We have a lot of experience, some young players who provide energy. Now it's about chemistry and finding the right combinations. Who plays with whom, who plays on special teams? Our power play wasn't exactly the best last season. That's an area where we can improve.
LAOLA1: Can you reveal when you made the final decision to add another year?
Mursak: About a month ago, I decided that I would continue playing. We didn't really have to work out the contract details; everything had already been discussed.
LAOLA1: What then were the negotiations about?
Mursak: We talked about whether I would stay with the organization in the future or not. The organization, management, coaches – everyone around me has been more than great to me. They didn't put any pressure on me all summer. They made it clear that they really wanted me back. They tried to help me and figure out if there was anything they could do to assist me in making the decision to play one more year. From my side, I can only say the best about it.
Ich habe das Gefühl, dass ich viel zu bieten habe. Ich kann mit Spielern an ihrer Entwicklung arbeiten, an ihrer Arbeitsmoral, ihrem Verhalten.
LAOLA1: During the contract signing, it was decided that you would work as a development coach in the youth academy starting next summer. Was it important for you to already have a firm perspective for the time after your active career?
Mursak: I had to start thinking about my future – where I would be and what I would do. I finished school, but what I know best is ice hockey. And it would be a shame if I didn't do something in ice hockey after my professional career.
LAOLA1: Why?
Mursak: I earned really well during my career, but I want to stay active in ice hockey and do something I enjoy. I feel that I have a lot to offer. I can work with players on their development, their work ethic, their behavior, and those kinds of things. I firmly believe that I can truly impart these things. I have many contacts from all the leagues and teams I've played for. That's why I believe I can help the club develop even better players. Even if they might eventually move to North America or Sweden, they could eventually return here because this is their club and where they grew up. And I believe there's much more potential here than has been tapped so far. I think I can help with that.
LAOLA1: What is special about Klagenfurt for you and your family?
Mursak: It's a great place to live and play hockey. I wouldn't say I'm on vacation here, but the atmosphere away from hockey is fantastic. The lake, the mountains are very close. I really love nature. The older I get, the more I appreciate nature, peace, and quiet. I'm also close to my hometown (Maribor, editor's note), which is two hours away. We just love it here. I feel that many players who come here truly appreciate the organization. Players stay here longer and even accept pay cuts or less money because it's a great arena, the fans are great, and it's a wonderful city to live in.
LAOLA1: Over the last three years, you've repeatedly experienced injury problems. How do you feel currently?
Mursak: I don't want to complain about my age; I feel good. When I'm completely healthy, I still have a lot to offer. Of course, old injuries sometimes resurface, but nothing serious. I felt quite fit last year. I did break my foot, but that was all. The year before, I had that training injury where I broke a transverse process in my spine, but that's long in the past. Hopefully, I'll stay reasonably healthy and perhaps only have to miss a game here and there to recover.
LAOLA1: And to conserve energy for the crucial part of the season?
Mursak: I also need to be a bit smarter. I only know one speed, and that's full throttle. But sometimes it might be better to just skip a game and then play normally again, rather than play every game in pain. Sometimes less can be more, and hopefully, I can manage that – even though it will be hard for me.
LAOLA1: You always demand a lot from yourself, but also from the entire team. Is that part of the winning mentality needed to be successful?
Mursak: We can talk about mentality, but we are all different people. I wasn't always as vocal as I am now. It took a while for that to develop, but all I expect from the guys is that they fight and give their all. I expect others to put in as much effort as I do and challenge me. Sometimes I might come across as a bit rough or very harsh in the heat of the moment, but ultimately, it's for the best of the players, the team, and everyone involved. It's nothing personal. As quickly as I get loud, I can also calm down again and be someone's best friend. That's just my mentality, shaped by my background.
Wir sind nicht die alten Hasen, die nichts leisten. Wir setzen die Maßstäbe, legen die Messlatte immer höher und lenken die Mannschaft in die richtige Richtung.
LAOLA1: Finally, looking at the squad: the average age is 30.19 years. Some claim there are too many older players. Couldn't the resulting experience also be an advantage, since you've seen a lot in your careers and little can shake you?
Mursak: Here in Klagenfurt, a certain standard is aimed for when signing players. Perhaps we're not always looking for the most technically skilled players, but rather good, hardworking guys for the locker room. I agree that the core of the team is quite old. While this brings a lot of experience, it also carries an increased risk of injury or the danger of players getting fatigued faster. But we're not old dogs who don't perform. We set the standards, always raise the bar, and steer the team in the right direction.
LAOLA1: But?
Mursak: We still need the young players to step up. I feel that some of them made a step forward last year during the regular season. In the playoffs, there might have been a small dip, but that's part of the process. We need to trust the young players and give them even more opportunities this year. Give them some time on the penalty kill or in the last minute of a game. Maybe also give Flo (Florian Vorauer, editor's note) more starts. He's a younger goaltender and needs those minutes. We have good young players, but we need to integrate them a bit more strongly this year, as we know that older players might need a bit more rest. Nevertheless, we still have a lot to offer. We have four strong lines. We can rotate them and let every player play. Then the ice time will be distributed and won't be too high.
LAOLA1: Thank you for the interview!
