In the end, tears flowed - even for himself, admitted Valentin Busch.
With the Grizzlys Wolfsburg he lost the decisive third game against the Eisbären Berlin 1: 2 in the final of the German Ice Hockey League (DEL).
It was a razor-thin decision after a strange season in which the Busch team had developed into an absolute surprise team.
Wolfsburg / Langengeisling - For the 23-year-old from Langengeisling, it was also the most successful year so far that brought him another personal highlight in the last game of the season.
Busch provided the assist for the only Wolfsburg goal in this game.
Without a helmet, by the way, because it had blown off his head a moment before in a duel.
The personal sense of achievement was of course little consolation for the ambitious young professional, as he himself says.
“Good, you have the silver medal in your hand.
But it could have been gold too. "
It became particularly emotional when the old warrior Jeff Likens said to his boys in the dressing room: "That was the best team I have ever played in." Manager Charly Fliegauf also praised the team in the highest tones.
“At some point, however, our pride came back for what we had achieved,” says Busch.
You can imagine the consequences: “We celebrated the next few days.” The wages earned after strenuous weeks.
You get the puck and immediately someone comes up to you and wants to do a check.
Valentin Busch on the intensity during the final series
“The playoffs are much tougher and more intense than the main round anyway,” says Busch.
"But the finals are a completely different house number." Before the game he was "brutally nervous" - "much more than usual. You go to the warm-up on the ice and always see the trophy in the stands." The tension is unbelievable during the game - for all of them.
"You get the puck, and immediately someone comes up to you and wants to do a check."
After the high-tension ice hockey, Busch had a lot of fun afterwards - but in a different way.
“After the last game, my cell phone literally exploded.
Everyone wanted to congratulate me on our performance, ”says Busch.
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Has prevailed among the grizzlies: Valentin Busch from Langengeisling.
© imago images / osnapix
Not because of a car or dormitory city - the successes of the grizzlies would be noticed in Wolfsburg.
“It may not be as blatant as in football, but as a hockey player you will be recognized immediately in the city.
People congratulate you on your performance and stand in line for an autograph. ”That's just how it is in Corona times: There are“ autographs to go ”.
It took me three weeks to get back inside properly after the infection.
Valentin Busch about the time after his corona infection
It was a strange season anyway - without spectators, but with five infected players.
“The hygiene concept was very strict with us.
We didn't expect that it would hit us, ”says Busch, who was corona-positive himself.
In contrast to his teammate Janik Möser, who had to take a two-month break after suffering from an inflammation of the heart muscle, the Langengeislinger was not hit badly.
“I only had a loss of smell that lasted five days,” he says.
“What was really bad was that I was completely isolated for two weeks.
It's really hard for the psyche. "
Everything had gone perfectly before the infection. Busch played in the second row of attacks, was second best on the scorer list and extended his contract by two years. Then then the corona-related compulsory break. “It took me three weeks to get back inside properly after the infection,” he says.
Busch regained his place in the second row before an adductor strain slowed him down for two weeks.
“During that time we won everything.
It goes without saying that our coach doesn’t change much, ”says Busch, who was now in the fourth row.
“But I still got a lot of Ice Age,” says Busch, who still fondly remembers the game against the Düsseldorfer EG.
He contributed a goal and an assists to the 4-3 victory, and in the end he was voted “Player of the Day”.
His season record - seven points in 23 games - makes him proud.
Physically, I still have to improve a lot.
Valentin Busch on his goals
Now, for the time being, corona-compliant vacation is the order of the day, says Busch.
In two weeks he will then start summer training.
The fitness trainer had already informed him of the corresponding program.
He does the units partly at home in Erding, partly with the team in Wolfsburg.
“And then in August we will go to the training camp,” says Busch.
And then he will make a new attempt.
Wolfsburg was so close to the DM title, it should work next year.
He personally wants to fight his way back into the top three ranks.
"And physically I still have to improve significantly," he says self-critically.
