One for the future: defender Simon Mayr (27) stays with SC Riessersee

Created: 04/07/2022, 18:00

By: Christian Fellner

A smile on his face: Simon Mayr is looking forward to more successful times with the SCR.

Next goal is top six © Andreas Mayr

He had enough offers, but he remains loyal to SC Riessersee: Simon Mayr feels "very comfortable" at his home club

Garmisch-Partenkirchen

– This moment of farewell in Füssen made Simon Mayr ponder a little.

The players stood in a trellis, with Benjamin Kronawitter, Toni Radu and Florian Vollmer marching through.

"It's such a shame that a few guys are quitting for a variety of reasons." Mayr sees it from two perspectives: On the one hand, something "from the local core of the team" is breaking away again, on the other hand, SC Riessersee is about to start again, at least from a sporting point of view.

“It will be a while before the new team is found.

Let's hope that this finding phase goes faster, that we can pick up where we left off this year."

Simon Mayr will remain part of this framework.

A very important one - it goes to Pana Christakakis.

"For me, he has absolutely become a leader," emphasizes the managing director of Spielbetriebs-GmbH.

"It's no coincidence that he received the 'C' from the coach when Florian Vollmer was out." After the first few departures - more will follow - it was extremely important for Christakakis to keep the 27-year-old.

As sign.

Because: "Simon is a very important building block for us - and above all a figure we can identify with."

In Kaufbeuren, Simon Mayr lost his self-confidence

The Söcheringer has experienced a lot in recent years.

After the vice championship title of the SCR and the subsequent bankruptcy, Mayr initially moved to Bayreuth.

Of course he wanted to stay in the second division.

"I also showed there that I can play DEL2," he says confidently.

The reward was a contract in Kaufbeuren.

Nominally a stronger team.

But: "It just didn't fit," he says in retrospect.

"That annoyed me, annoyed me." And it robbed him of his self-confidence.

Mayr came back to the SCR, first on loan, then permanently.

Since then things have been going uphill.

He leveled off again.

"At home," as he says.

He definitely sees the SCR as home.

"Of course it's in the premier league now, and maybe everything is a little easier here, but that doesn't bother me." It's important for him: "Here I'm an important part." Here he enjoys trust.

“I just know what I have at the SCR.” And he can tinker with his studies at the same time.

Mayr could have gone.

There were enough offers.

"Yes, yes," he confirms.

Christakakis knows that too.

"He could have chosen his new team," chats the GmbH man from the sewing box.

"Good German defenders don't just grow on trees and wait to be picked." But Mayr stayed.

"I just feel really good here," he says.

Christakakis really appreciates that.

Being able to keep a defender who scored 13 goals in the past season is good for squad planning.

A value that Mayr also liked.

"Of course that's part of my game." He wants to set offensive accents.

"But that's not the top priority." He will never set a bar.

"It's not my thing."

Simon Mayr sees Mission 2024 positively: he would like to climb again with the SCR

Even more so when it comes to goals with SC Riessersee.

The fact that those responsible have declared Mission 2024 with a view to the DEL2 has not escaped the attention of the team.

"I think that's good, Garmisch-Partenkirchen is an ideal ice hockey location." He doesn't see such requirements as pressure.

More like an encouragement.

After all, he alone will not be able to shoot up the SCR.

He names the top six as his personal goal for the coming season.

"If we're talking about promotion, then we have to deliver," he says clearly.

It is important to take the positive trend from the end of the season with you.

What role Mayr will play in this team is ultimately up to coach Pat Cortina.

Whether he might take over the “C” from Florian Vollmer – only time will tell.

"I'm certainly not claiming that," says the candidate himself. "If it should come to that, I'm ready for it." In any case, he wants to be a role model for everyone from the defensive.

Christakakis leaves no doubt that Mayr will succeed.

"Simon actually always marches forward, he's also very important in the dressing room." And he's one for the future - despite all the farewells.