Brian Lebler retires from the national team

Image information: A beaming winner! Thank you, Brian Lebler, for 87 unforgettable appearances for the team - Copyright: GEPA pictures/Daniel Götzhaber

Brian Lebler is therefore bowing out in the same way he arrived: with a win! The then 25-year-old prolific forward made his debut in Innsbruck. Austria defeated Slovenia 2:0. It was an international friendly as part of the Euro Hockey Challenge. His win in his final international appearance was far more significant. With the 5:3 victory over Great Britain in the final preliminary-round game at the 2022 World Championship, Austria finally secured its place in the top division. As usual, Brian Lebler played a major part in the many successes throughout the tournament.

His goal for 1:1 against the Czech Republic, which took Austria into overtime in the first place and made the historic shootout victory possible, will go down in history. It was certainly not only his last goal in national team colours, but above all one of the most important.

“I was fortunate enough to have incredible experiences, travel to so many countries and meet so many people. I am very grateful for these opportunities and for my national team career, which I look back on with pride,” says Brian Lebler.

The 33-year-old cites his family above all as the reason for his retirement, as well as wanting to focus more on his club in future: “I want to spend more time with my family in future. The children grow up so quickly, and with all the commitments at the club, it is difficult to be away from home for another month and a half. Now it is the young players’ turn.”

Together with Roger Bader, Lebler secured top-division status twice: in Denmark in 2018 and at the World Championship in Finland which has just concluded. At the 2014 World Championship Division IA in South Korea, where Austria earned promotion back to the top division, Brian Lebler was the top scorer with six goals and was selected for the All-Star Team.

This tournament is also among his personal highlights: “The 2014 Olympic Games were certainly the greatest thing. Playing in South Korea afterwards was just as incredible. In general, every tournament had its own special features.”

For Brian Lebler, however, the tournaments and games were not the main focus: “It was the guys, it was the team. It was simply always incredible to play alongside them. In the league, we face each other as opponents, but in the national team we fight side by side.”

Lebler was equally appreciated in return. For six years, Head Coach Roger Bader worked with the sniper, as he likes to call him: “First and foremost, we had a very good personal relationship. I always met and spoke with him on my business trips. He was always modest with the national team, never demanded special treatment, and was always a good team player and teammate. I am very happy to have worked with him over the past six years.”

The Swiss coach also looks back fondly on that time because of the successes: “The promotion in Kyiv, the successful World Championship in Copenhagen and now in Tampere. Brian is truly a sniper par excellence, with a very good shot and a nose for scoring goals. He goes where it hurts, right in front of the net, and wins many battles. He will be missed both personally and sporting-wise.”

Nevertheless, the step back from the national team is understandable for Bader: “I 100 per cent respect his decision to focus more on his family and club now.”

The Austrian Ice Hockey Federation thanks Brian Lebler for his tireless commitment in national team colours, his exemplary conduct and demeanour at all times, and wishes him all the best for the rest of his career.