The Steinbach Black Wings are doing their best before the play-off quarter-final series that begins on Sunday (opponent still unknown).
The Linzers, who finished the basic ice hockey season in fifth place, announced the contract extensions with the sporting leadership.
Head coach and sports director Philipp Lukas as well as his assistants Mark Szücs and Jürgen Penker will remain on the command bridge for three more years. The congenial trio competed at the EHC 2022 and have now led the Cracks into the top eight for the second time in a row.
This red-white-red path should be continued. Continuity is key. “Philipp Lukas, Mark Szücs and Jürgen Penker live for Linz ice hockey like few others. Their passion only really began after their active careers and is evident in the locker room every single day,” said club president Peter Nader.
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“All three live an exemplary culture full of honesty, cohesion and commitment. They create exactly the values in our organization that we want to establish from the young talent right up to the professionals. Only through this sustainable path can we be successful in the long term and become the… absolute top addresses in Austria. On behalf of the entire Steinbach Black Wings, we are very happy that we are continuing on our path together.”
Philipp Lukas is pleased to be able to continue on the path he has chosen. “Linz is my home. After my long history as a player, it is a great privilege for me to be able to continue my work here as a coach. I am very proud and happy about my team and my tasks. Of course I would like to develop further personally, “But the most important thing is that we continue to move the organization in the direction in which it can play at the top and be competitive at the highest level. There is still a lot of work ahead of us, because we are only at the beginning of my journey,” said the 44-year-old native of Vienna.
He came as a player in 2000, later Lukas was promoted to captain and was part of the championship teams in 2003 and 2012. He ended his active career in 2018 and then worked as a fitness and fitness coach for the Black Wings. After an apprenticeship with the Steel Wings, he should return to the professionals as head coach in 2022.
Now it’s time to finish the season successfully. Tonight the Black Wings will find out their quarterfinal opponent, and the best-of-7 series starts on Sunday. And away from home. There are four options: Klagenfurt, Fehervar, Salzburg and Bozen.
