Latest / StarsCast / 2 Matts, 820 NHL-Spiele im Stammbaum, Maultaschen & baldige Verstärkung
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- Flo Dietrich: Wo sind die beiden aufgewachsen? Wie haben sie Eishockey-Spielen gelernt? Dessen Opa hat 820 NHL-Spiele bestritten und ist nicht nur sportlich, sondern auch menschlich das größte Vorbild eines unserer heutigen Gäste. Matt Fontaine und Matt Struthers, das heißen sie, in der Kabine nur Fonzi und Strudzi genannt. Zum ersten Mal bei Starscast verfolgen wir den Weg unserer Gäste auf eigens für euch gestalteten Karten. Man könnte meinen, die beiden spielen ja schon ihre ganze Karriere zusammen. Begegnet sind sie sich aber zum ersten Mal als Rivalen. Und einer von beiden erzählt von einem seiner größten Momente Gold mit Kanada 7 zu 2 gegen die USA. Wir schauen natürlich aufs letzte Wochenende und ein Thema, das sicher für uns alle überall steht und uns sehr beschäftigt. Was gibt's Neues von Odin Taftow und wie geht das Team mit seinem Ausfall Und ihr seht Bilder der Maske, die Matze Nemetz für Ilya Scharipov. Gestaltet hat und die am Sonntag für Kinder und ihre Familien, die mit uns im Rücken gegen Krebs antreten, verlost wird. Dazu jede Menge Fanfragen von euch, das Starscast-Tippspiel und der Blick aufs Wochenende in Bietigheim und eben gegen Kassel. Und bei einem Gericht, da stand ich auf dem Schlauch. Vielleicht kennt ihr die richtige Antwort, postet sie in die Kommentare. Die Folge läuft komplett auf Englisch, wer sie auf Deutsch übersetzt haben möchte, klickt am besten auf YouTube rein. Wir haben hier mal. Ganz kurz eingeblendet, wie das aussieht, wo ihr da klicken müsst. Und wenn jetzt alles richtig eingestellt ist oder ihr Bock auf die Folge auf Englisch habt, dann kann es jetzt endlich losgehen mit zwei ganz sympathischen Sportlern und Menschen. Viel Spaß jetzt mit Folge 28 von Starscast. Matt Fonteyne: you This is the season 26-27. DDL2, these are our Ravensburg Tower Stars. And this is Starscast. Presented by Getränkepol with your host Flo von Helga. now, have fun! Flo Dietrich: Hi everyone, and welcome to Starscast episode 28. And for sure, I'm not alone. I'm with Matt and Matt, Matt Fontaine and Matt Strutters. Welcome to the show. Matt Struthers: Thank you. Thanks for having us. Matt Fonteyne: Thanks for having us. Flo Dietrich: You joined your time together during the last two years, three years, let's say. but we look even farther in the in the back where you grow up, how you spend your time growing in hockey and personally. So I'm pretty excited. who came up with Stratsi Fuensi? That's a question I need to set first. Matt Struthers: I think I think Stretzy comes from, you know, minor hockey when I was probably twelve or thirteen years old. pretty self explanatory nickname. My last name is Strethers, so something that just stuck and yeah, I kinda like it. So Matt Fonteyne: Same for me. Just Fontaine's not the super, super easy last name to pronounce. yeah. Fonz, Fonz is kind of just typical for me for the nicknames. Flo Dietrich: Good to know. So not to miss anything. And it's as you said, it's easy to to remember. You've been here for a few months now. What is the one German word you use the most? Matt Fonteyne: for me, would say chow chow. like, being in Switzerland before, I think it's a familiar word that I kind of knew came in coming into this and hearing people speak at it kind of brought back good memories from that. Flo Dietrich: Chow ciao, yeah. I when I was young I learned that ciao is is not what you expect. It's not goodbye, it's high. but but as I know, the Italian also use it for for goodbye. So we're pretty fine with that. And for you Matt Struthers: You yeah, probably Guta. I always hear on some Gir saying it's in the locker room and on the bench. So I asked him what it means, kind of in one of the first games and I kinda liked it. I I like the way it rolls off the tongue. Yeah. Flo Dietrich: Yeah, yeah. I hear the people say telling me that I need to I need to tell you Schaffe Schaffe Häusle Bauer, which means gute arbeit. And if you do good arbeit, you earn money and you can build houses. So that's pretty common at the area. You both have traveled a long way so that everyone can keep track. Here are all your stops at a glance. Fonse spent his career in the west and Stratzi in the east. Let's start with you, Stratzi. You were born in London, Ontario, and grew up in Milton near Toronto, playing minor hockey for the Halton Hurricanes. And as a teenager, you made it to the Ontario Hockey League. Quick context for everyone at home: the OHL, Ontario Hockey League, is one of Canada's three big junior leagues for players aged 16 to 20, and it is the main road to the NHL. Strutsi played there for the Owen Sound Attack and the North Bay Battalion, and in 1819. You had eighty one points in sixty one games. But first, who put you on skates and when did you realize that hockey could be more than a hobby? Matt Struthers: Yeah, for sure. I think you know, I was the oldest. I have two younger brothers, so I think there was just some maybe mini sticks or something lying around. both my parents. actually my dad never played, you know, he played when he was younger, but nothing nothing serious. what did he do? he skied and played rugby in the summer. So I think he played rugby at university. So actually not not much hockey. Big hockey fan, big Toronto Maple Leafs fan. unfortunately I am too, but Yeah, no, I think there was just hockey on the T V. I must have taken a liking to it and picked up a stick and kinda never put it down and and then that's that's how it all started. Did you see Flo Dietrich: The the big Austin Matthews goal he he scored like catching the puck and Matt Struthers: Yeah, yeah. I watch the highlights every morning. That's the the one thing that's kind of tricky, you know, different than home is the games here are obviously kind of in the middle of the night. So I don't miss many of the highlights though. Flo Dietrich: Yeah, but you can at least see them next next morning. Yeah. See Matt Struthers: Exactly. Flo Dietrich: the results. Good. Every summer the NHL Glub picks the best young players in the NHL draft. Before the eighteen draft, one rider called you starts the impossible steal, a player you get late, who turns out great, but in the end no team picked you. How did that feel and what did it change for you? Matt Struthers: Yeah, for sure. I mean, I ended up actually going to the draft in person. That's kind of a choice, you know, you make. obviously all the first and second round players kind of know and have an idea that they're gonna obviously be drafted. you know, the people around me and my agent kind of said, you know, I was pretty fifty fifty. I I got traded that year and I had a a good finish to that season. So there was definitely a possibility, but in the end I decided to go and and you know, it was something that I decided I wanted to. be there even if I don't get drafted rather than be at home and and get picked. I wanted to experience it and, you know, it didn't work out for me, but that's okay. You know, it it teaches you at eighteen, you know, humility and you know, just just grateful that, you know, I had my family there with me and and whatnot. But it was it kind of taught me that, you know, you gotta get back to work. You know, I had a big summer and ended up having a pretty good season the next year. So You know, at the end of the day it is just a game and you know, those things happen, it teaches you it's a whole whole bunch of lessons that you learn from the game, so Flo Dietrich: Pretty healthy if you can see it like that. Yeah. Matt Struthers: For sure. Flo Dietrich: Nice. And every summer, as we said, and after the draft, life goes on. And at the end of the eighteen nineteen season you got the first taste of pro hockey in the AHL, the American Hockey League, that is the second highest league in North America, where the NHL clubs develop their young players. and your team was the Laval Rocket, the forum team of the Montreal Canadiens. So not the Mabel Leafs, but still still pretty good. Matt Struthers: So yeah. Flo Dietrich: In April two nineteen you scored your first pro goal for Laval on the power play. Do you remember it? Matt Struthers: Yeah, I do. It definitely wasn't the nicest goal I'll ever score, but yeah, I think it was kind of at the end of the power play. I just kind of threw it on that. I think it caught the goalie by surprise and I was lucky enough to go in. So yeah, it was a special moment. My grandpa and mom were both there, so that was cool. Fuck Flo Dietrich: And you get still got the Matt Struthers: with you. Yeah, for sure, for sure. Flo Dietrich: Nice. And after your junior years you signed with the Cleveland Monsters again in the AHL. Then you took a different path. University hockey at Saint Francis Savior in Nova Scotia. In Canada, that is called U Sports, Canada's University Sports Association. Players study and play at the high level at the same time. Why university hockey and what did you study? Matt Struthers: Yeah. you know, after you play a year in in pro hockey at home, you kind of have a choice to make. When you come out of the OHL, they kind of provide like a schooling package for you as part of their draw to come play in those leagues when you're, you know, fifteen or sixteen. So after my year in Cleveland, I had a a few options to go back to the AHL and, you know, really not go to university. But I think ultimately it just came down to The fact that realizing hockey's not forever, you know, even if I made the NHL, I think something that I always wanted was to get my degree and, you know, going to university is important and is important to my family. So, you know, they were supportive and whatever I wanted to do, but I ultimately decided that was that was best. And, you know, I'm super grateful. it was a great experience. I played, you know, three years at school. So, yeah, I met a whole whole lot of new friends and Got to see, you know, another part of Canada that I wasn't really familiar with. So, you know, just another great experience that like I said, I'm I'm grateful for. Flo Dietrich: And something you can also be grateful for is gold at the Universiat or Universiate in twenty twenty three in Lake Placid, seven two against the USA in the final. How did that feel? Matt Struthers: Yeah, that was cool. You know, the whole thing was a super cool experience to be able to play the Americans at Her Brooks Arena, you know, in Lake Placid, New York. It's you know, definitely up there for hockey memories for me and something I'll cherish for a long time. Flo Dietrich: Pretty tough for the American, I guess. Yeah. And Fonse, your journey starts about three thousand kilometers further west with a name they still remember in Detroit. you're from Wetaskevin, Alberta. Is that right? Matt Fonteyne: Yeah, we're tasking. Flo Dietrich: With Taskwin. Just like your grandfather Val Vontain, Val played eight hundred and twenty games in the NHL for Detroit, the Rangers, and Pittsburgh. And in his whole career, he collected only twenty six penalty minutes. I was thinking if that was that was type. Matt Fonteyne: boy. Flo Dietrich: But it wasn't right. Matt Fonteyne: No, no, it's a pretty impressive statistic. Yeah. And I think it just kind of, if you meet him, I think you can kind of see how it happened. He's one of the most humble guys I've ever met and something that I've tried to pattern my life and my, my hockey game after him too. So, super cool to chat with him and hear his stories about when he played and different guys he played with and everything. So. I super fortunate to have him as my grandfather and he grew up four or five blocks away from me. So I got to see him every week, which is awesome. Flo Dietrich: Nice. And how much did he shape your view of the game, especially? Matt Fonteyne: Yeah, I think huge. think he's obviously somebody that I, as I said, tried to pattern my game off of and he kind of prided himself on doing the little things well and being good on the penalty kill and just doing anything he can to help the team win and keep it between the lines. And yeah, just play an honest game. So I think that's something that I've tried to bring to my game as I've grown as an hockey player. Flo Dietrich: And that got rewarded in twenty three you won an award for sportsmanship and this season you have two penalty minutes is fair play, so to say, a family thing. Matt Fonteyne: For sure. Yeah. Yeah. I think you always respect your opponent to, to be able to play a fair and honest game. think that's something that I kind of grew up watching or kind of hearing about him. So something that I've always tried to do myself. Flo Dietrich: So a lot of values that that also help you in help you in the life after hockey, I guess. But let's start with junior hockey in the Western Hockey League. the Western counterpart of the OHL we talked about before, five years with the average silver tips near Seattle and in your last season as assistant captain with eighty eight points. What did those five years in average teach you? Matt Fonteyne: Yeah, I think they were really good for me to grow up, obviously moving far away to another country when you're 15, it's, it forces you to grow up pretty quickly. So, but it also just like you're left for the game. You're there with your best buddies. You're going to school with them or going to the rink with them. It's kind of your first taste of semi-professional hockey. So I think you grow a lot as a person and grow a lot as a player going through those five years with, with everybody there. Flo Dietrich: And then like Stratzi, you went to the AHL, to the San Jose Barracuda, the farm team of the San Jose Sharks, and after that you also choose University Hockey, the University of Alberta in Edmonton, where you were a captain and studied business. You were a captain. What did leading a team at university give you as a player? Matt Fonteyne: Yeah, I think it's obviously just a privilege and an honor to be able to captain the group of players that we had. We had a lot of leaders on that team and a lot of great guys and it's such a kind of storied franchise or storied university in U-sport. So the history and kind of the teams and prior captains that have been there, it's obviously an honor and something that I'll remember for the rest of my life for sure. Flo Dietrich: So when I look at the at the States and North America, Canada, we think or we might think that hockey is is all, but there is a lot about about history, right? So of the different universities and of the different organizations and and stuff. So how would you say does that play a role? Do you choose it before you go somewhere, or is it just you you're interested if you're there or what it is? Matt Fonteyne: Yeah, I think it's, it's probably different for a lot of different guys. think for me, the U of A was 45 minutes away from where I grew up. obviously going, being able to go back home and kind of be close to family again was a huge factor, but also it helps that the organization had a proven track record of sending guys to pro hockey after. And then the school itself, it provides you with a really good education. So. I was lucky that I was able to get all three in the university that I picked. Flo Dietrich: Nice. And when I had a detailed look at your career, I found out that after San Jose there was a year without hockey. How did you what what did you do first and how did you find your way back? Matt Fonteyne: yeah. So there's a similar where it was a rule. it's called red shirting after you play professional hockey, you, in order to go back to university, you need to gain your eligibility back and you do that by not playing games that full season. So I practiced the whole year and everything and still was around the team. But for the most part, I was just a student and was able to kind of start my education and maybe get a leg up a little bit. that sense, so yeah, it's, it was kind of a way to kind of find yourself and kind of figure out who you are away from hockey a little bit, but, it's definitely challenging not to, not to play games that year for sure. Flo Dietrich: I guess so what do you love to do? And from here on your two careers look surprisingly similar on the map. both of you played in the AHL, both went to university, and in twenty two you were both at the University Cup. Fonse came to Europe first in twenty three to end up in at Calamar, where you played together first in Europe. Did you know each other back then at the university or did you only meet in Calmar? Matt Struthers: Yeah, I think well we obviously didn't know each other before Kalmar. Not obviously, but he played in the Western League and I played in the Ontario League and he's also two years older than me. So you know, sometimes you play at Team Canada events or something with the guys your age, but like I said, we're not the same age. So I think the first time I had heard about him we were playing actually at like the national tournament for our U Sports teams and We were doing video, I think we were playing them in the semifinals and we were doing video the day before, obviously on their team and you know, the coach was like, Here's the line that you're gonna match up against and it happened to be Fontaine and might just remember it was a nightmare because he was so fast and they ended up beating us. But yeah, I obviously thought he was a really good player and then, you know, we ended up together in Kelmar. So that was it was kinda kinda cool. Flo Dietrich: How about your memories? Matt Fonteyne: Yeah, very similar memories. think playing that game, obviously I remembered him and his line mate who we ended up playing with in Cal Mar as well, but I knew they're great players and it was a nightmare matchup for us too. I don't think our line did much that game. So you got to give credit to the rest of the team for that win. But yeah, when I, when I talked to Daniel, the general manager and Cal Mar, he mentioned that Struthers was one of another players that he was looking at. And I remembered playing. against him and everything so I was super excited to be able to play with him. Flo Dietrich: Nice. So you know each other pretty good, I guess. tell us one story about the other Matt that nobody here knows yet. Matt Fonteyne: I would say that he is a great tennis player, sandbagger on the golf course a little bit, depending on who you are. Flo Dietrich: Sam Beggar. Matt Fonteyne: He, he's a good golfer, but sometimes he, too humble and he doesn't say he's as good as he is. Matt Struthers: Yeah. It both of those really depend on the day. And more often than not, I'm right that I'm not a good golfer. I have my moments. I would say for him he's a really, really good chess player. He's an intelligent guy as is, but really, really good chess player. It's kind of an interesting fact. Flo Dietrich: Nice. So we know it right now. I know that a lot of you guys play golf. So most of the most of the guys who were here just just said, I need to go play golf this afternoon. but I don't know that one in the team plays chess. So who's your opponent in chess when you're here? Matt Fonteyne: I'm gonna have to find somebody I think. Shrutz plays a little bit but we haven't. Matt Struthers: We're not on the same level. He's here, I'm here. Matt Fonteyne: So maybe by the end of the year we'll be playing. We'll get a crew together. Flo Dietrich: Nice. After two years in Sweden, you moved on together. our listener Dou T wants to know how did it happen you both moved to Ravensburg? Was it just coincidence or Matt Struthers: Yeah, I think Marius reached out to to our agents, our respective agents, and obviously, you know, when we both got word that they were both interested and you know, we were speaking to each other and it seemed like a really good option and you know, got to be afforded the opportunity to continue playing together. It was kind of seemed like a no brainer. So things move along pretty quickly and yeah, here we are. Flo Dietrich: Here you are. So now you're in Oberschwaben, thousands of kilom kilometers away from home. Which brings us to the question what home actually is? Matt Fonteyne: The Schmieder and partner home feeling. Flo Dietrich: called Heimatgefühl by our sponsor, Schmidon Partner Immobilion. your old home is in Ontario and Alberta, but how does the new new one feel? Like how does it feel here and what what is home for you if you would define it? Matt Fonteyne: I'd say for me, I think when you're living away from your, where you grew up, your, guess, like home that you once knew, I think you start to realize that home's very much just the people that you're surrounded with. think being here specifically, I think it's obviously I'm here with my wife and I think we're able to kind of build a home wherever we are. But being here, it feels like home. think it was, it's familiar in the landscape and everything. Obviously the language is quite different, but just how welcoming the team is and people around the city. I think your family who you kind of surround yourself is kind of how we, or how I at least kind of see how home is. I would say the team and the team very much is home for me. Flo Dietrich: So no energy floating away unnecessarily. Yeah. Matt Fonteyne: Sure. Flo Dietrich: Nice. How about you? Matt Struthers: Yeah, I would say the same. I don't have a wife or or girlfriend here with me, but you know, anywhere you go, I think like he mentioned, it's the people around you. And since I've been in Europe, I've come alone every time. So, I've been lucky to have super, super great teammates that make make it super fun to be here and you know, you feel like you're a part of something and you're a part of the community and you're you know, you're playing for something. So to me that's that's what makes it feel like home and Ravensburg's been amazing. You know, the community's been super welcoming and you know, the Saturday market and going to spend time lunch with the guys and whatnot. It's it's been great. I'm super fortunate. Flo Dietrich: Thanks. That's nice that you're saying saying it with the people and we also see that the people are very interested in you guys, said a lot of questions and that what we see next. Matt Fonteyne: Heimatgefühl wurde euch präsentiert von Schmider & Partner Hausverwaltung nach WEG und Immobilienvermittlung Flo Dietrich: We have one question of a fan. Monika Schmidt eighty one has a very important question. You have been in Oberschwaben for a while now. Is there a Swabian dish, savory or sweet, where you say, Wow, that tastes really good, or do you prefer the food from from home? Matt Fonteyne: I would say for me, it's the, I'm not going to pronounce them right. The malt. Flo Dietrich: Moltash. Matt Fonteyne: Those ones. Yeah. Yeah. I had it. We've, we've had it a few times at a restaurant and now we've picked it up at the grocery store and we, I'm sure we do it a very non-traditional way, but we love it. And it's, it's kind of a staple that we have every week now. Flo Dietrich: I'd say it depends on the people you ask because there is a lot of way ways to to to do the dish. Like you can cut it in pieces and then put it into a pan with like onions and stuff. You can also put it into like a soup or you can put it into yeah, let me just auslachen, but in brühe. I don't know how you do it at home, but there is a lot of traditional ways. Matt Fonteyne: Good to know. You're welcome. Your way. Good. How are you? Matt Struthers: I would say three Schnitzel, obviously. that's like pretty traditional for all of Germany, maybe not specific to just this region. Yeah. I won't say this right, Katz, but the what we talked about off off air. Yeah, that's really good. And then I don't know the name, but I think it's pretty famous. Sarah Reichel, Thomas's wife, made it for me. it's like meat and you wrap it and there's like onions and pickles inside and bacon, maybe, and it's kind of in like a gravy. I don't know what it's called, but it was really good. Flo Dietrich: I know I know what you're talking about. Matt Struthers: I think it's pretty like famous, but yeah, she did a great job, so shout out Sarah Reichel. Flo Dietrich: It's I know, you roll it around. Matt Struthers: Yeah, and you like stuff it and it's like meat and you have it with potatoes. So yeah, it it was really good. Flo Dietrich: Shame on me. I don't I don't have the word right now, but I'm focused on like the questions and stuff. Thanks for sharing that. Matt Struthers: Good. No problem. Flo Dietrich: And thank you, Monica, for setting the question. Then there is another one from Matze SLK. He asks, How hard is it to find your place in a new team, especially in a country where so much is different? Matt Fonteyne: Yeah, I would say obviously, anytime you go to a new team, you and new league, you're, you're trying to find how you fit in with system, everything kind of how the league operates and, different leagues at different styles. So I think it helps being able to come here quite early being in training camp and having like an extended training camp. think you, kind of get close with the team quite, quite fast, which I think is important. And then from there. I think everything gets a little bit easier just like having a tight knit group and everything. So, but it for sure takes a little bit of time to be able to find the style of play. Matt Struthers: Mm-hmm. Yeah, I would agree. I mean, I think this team and kind of the core group has been together for for quite a while now, quite a few years. So that's kind of made it easier, I would say, for us coming in. Also, you know, coming in together versus, you know, we kind of are familiar with each other and we've played together before. So, but yeah, the guys have been, you know, super welcoming and the coaching staff and you know, everyone surrounding the team has been great. So I think that's made it Easy, 'cause it it can be tricky. That's that's a good question. Flo Dietrich: Yeah, I mean everyone's trying to lower the barriers and try to help you guys. Mm-hmm. And it's it's it's good if that helps. And B. Jenny twenty two wants to know, do you notice a difference to the to the I Svenskin, to the league you played before? And if so, what is it? Matt Struthers: I mean no, no not really. I think you know it's it's pretty pretty similar leagues, you know, a lot of good players in both leagues. It's maybe just the language is different. Yeah, I guess so. Yeah, yeah. No, that's a dumb answer, but it's it's true. There's a lot of similarities and you know, both both nations are both full of, you know, a lot of good hockey players and and good people. So, you know, it's fortunate I've played in two two good places. Matt Fonteyne: I would agree. Yeah. think for us to having Johan, a Swedish coach, I think it might make it seem a little bit more to what we're used to in Sweden. would say just his philosophy on the game and everything. But yeah, I would say for the most part, it's, it's a fast league. There's a lot of skilled players and it's a very tight, I think it's a very tight lead to, think every team can beat everybody on any game. So. It's a fun league to be in and you have a chance to win every night. So I think that's why we came here, why I decided to come here. I think it's just to have a chance to win and to go far. Flo Dietrich: One more thing about the Dell two, Germany's second division. Every team is allowed only for import players, so players without a German license, that means a lot of ris responsibility. do you feel that pressure and what does the role mean to you guys? Matt Struthers: Yeah, I mean I I think, you know, it's kind of a cheesy saying, but pressure is a privilege, you know? that's kind of the reason you play hockey. The reason you play sport in in general is you want that pressure, you want to be relied upon, you know, in an organization to in a positive way. And, you know, there's obviously always gonna be ups and downs in hockey. And like you said, that comes with a little more pressure, you know, in the in the German league because there's only four imports in this league. So I think it's just You know, dealing with it and and realizing that, you know, like you're gonna be relied upon but but you should be, you know, proud of that and hopefully that's what I can do and continue to do. Flo Dietrich: I mean it's it's also smart, not not given any energy and and seeing pressure as a bad thing. Right. Okay, how about you? Matt Fonteyne: Yeah, same thing. think, like you said, pressure is a privilege and it's obviously you're putting a place to be able to have the opportunity to help your team win every night, which is a huge reason why people come here and why it's sought after to be an import in this league. think there's a lot of people that obviously want to get here for the league, for living in Germany, for a lot of different reasons, but to be given the opportunity to have an impact positively on your team and do what you can to win. think it's fun to be able to have an impact on a game. So I think it's important to have positive and to kind of do well with the opportunities. But at the same time, like you said, just focus on having it being a positive thing and doing everything you can just to help the team be successful. Flo Dietrich: It also means bringing action into the game, bringing character to the game, but also bringing numbers to the game. Let's let's have a quick look on that. After ten games, Tratzi has three goals and four assists, two of the goals on the power play, which is important for us because last year was was horrible. All of us know that in power play. This year is is is good to see. And not a single penalty minute yet, is that right? Yeah. Yeah, that's that's his wish. Matt Struthers: Yeah. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. Flo Dietrich: Yeah, and Fonse also brought five assists to the game. The first goal is still missing, although you actually have one in Weiden. I was I was like suffering with you because I didn't even see the puck. I mean you could guess that the stick was a little bit too high, but no matter what, the refs decided. So Fonsi, that goal in Weiden, what went through your head during the video review? Matt Fonteyne: I think I wasn't, yeah, obviously when it goes in, you, it's your pump to score a goal, especially it's, I've been a bit snake bitten here, obviously, but after it happened, I think I realized that there was a pretty good chance it was getting called back. I sometimes my height might not help me kind of leaning up. Maybe if I was a taller guy, it would have looked like it was a little bit lower, but. yeah, I think, I think they obviously, I think they made the right call. They've, they've got all the video, but, that one would have been nice to have for sure. Flo Dietrich: So the good thing is you can be pumped next time for Matt Fonteyne: Exactly. Flo Dietrich: Andi I said it two power play goes what makes you what makes our power play work right now? Matt Struthers: Yeah, I think it's a testament to, you know, the the work the coaching staff puts in for us and then us trying to go out there and execute that. You know, we we've had the same five guys since like day one of preseason. I know I missed a little bit of time due to injury, but other than that, you know, we you know, we really take pride and you know, we'd obviously heard last year there was some struggles a little bit. So yeah, something that we wanted to factor in on coming here and and help that out. So yeah, the power play's definitely been a positive, but I think it's also important to to continue and not get comfortable and obviously, you know, teams see what you do well and then they're gonna counter that. So you need to, you know, keep keep one upping yourself and and everyone around you. So yeah. Flo Dietrich: That's something that's that's pretty exciting to me and what I thought about a lot from time to time the other team knows what you play. What role does changing your play during the season? Because all all the the players after after the game in the in the interview they say we need to just keep playing our game. But I guess it can be also good tactic to like change small things to not make others make the right guess on your play. Matt Struthers: Mm-hmm. Yeah, sure. For sure. I think on the power play, you know, like we all kind of have our spots and obviously, you know, you move around a little bit and sometimes those spots end up getting, you broken a little bit. But maybe just switching things or showing them one breakout that you haven't done before and makes them go back and start thinking. And, you know, there's so many games within the game. And I think, you know, as a player, it's something you can appreciate. It's always been, you know, so interesting how you can kind of coach and But your tactics to try to mess with the other team. but yeah, like you said in interviews, mostly guys will say, Yeah, we worried about our game, but we're worried about theirs too for sure. Flo Dietrich: Okay, so let's take a quick look on on last weekend. On Friday, we lost 6 3 at AV Landsuit. After the first period, it was still 2 2. You had tied it with an assist from Fancy, but then we gave up three goals in the second period. On Sunday, we beat the Ice Piraten Krimichow five to four in overtime. We were up four to one, gave the whole leadaway, and conceded the equalizer two minutes before the end in overtime, Janu Keki. Hit Tufto with a knee check and got five plus twenty minutes on the power play. Ras scored the winner like he always does, I'd say. And assisted by you. But Tufto had to leave the ice injured. Strazi, your goal for the two to two in Landsuit came off a fancy assist combo connection, kind of. Matt Struthers: Yeah, yeah, for sure. he obviously made a really good play to Nick to kinda see that Nick was coming through and you know, not a lot of guys can see that to make the little slip play there. So yeah, definitely some chemistry. Flo Dietrich: Four to one up, then four four on Sunday. That's something we need to talk about. What goes through your head on the bench? Matt Fonteyne: Yeah, I think when you're in those situations, you, try and not change too much about your game. You try and keep pushing forward and yeah, giving up a lead like that. We will take a look at it and see things that we can change and kind of how we can grow. think the only positive about going through situations like that is it's still early in the season. And I think we're a good group. We've got an experienced group. We'll learn from the mistakes that we did. And Ideally not have those mistakes happen later on in the season, maybe towards a little bit more of crunch time. So as much as it is tough struggling through games, think struggle is where you can kind of grow and learn and a little adversity early on might be good so that you can kind of build and kind of go throughout the season. Flo Dietrich: I mean there's from my not pro, non-pro perspective, there's like two options you have if you have like a four to one lead. One is just keep going and push in and make the lead even bigger. Like the bad thing that can happen if is that you're too offensive and you receive goals. The other thing is to like let them come and use like how you say counter counter counterattacks counterattacks, yeah. But there is no right and wrong, I guess. So what is the learning? I ask myself. Because I'd say just go with the flow, but then it's twenty two players. which flow do we take? Matt Struthers: Mm-hmm. Yeah. No, I think it's important to, you know, when you have leads to to not change how you got there. And you know, you you make a good point. It is balance because you wanna you keep trying to score and but you kinda have to do it the right way. You know, you need to continue to fore check 'cause if you do sit back, they're gonna have a lot of the puck and then that's not the spot where you wanna be, you know. So you pick your spots on, you know, when to continue pushing and and when to chip it in and, you know, maybe get a change or or sit back a little bit in that case. But overall I don't think you want to sit back when you have a lead because then, you know, like I said, you're giving up the puck and and that's never a great recipe. So yeah, but like Fawn said, we'll we'll learn from it and we'll be better off for it. So Flo Dietrich: You agree. Matt Fonteyne: Yeah, I would say yeah, I think for the most part it's Flo Dietrich: Yeah. Something you need to accept, which which happens. Matt Fonteyne: It, if I mean, it for sure happens, you obviously don't want it to happen. Ideally it happens once and you figure it out from there. But, I think you, as you grow as a team and as you play more games, you, it, it's probably not a great answer, but you almost learn how to play with the leader. learn how to seal games kind of thing, whether that is for a team, maybe you keep playing the exact same way and you just accept that you might give up a few chances like you have throughout the same game or. you pull back 10 or 15%. And that's a way to be successful. I think it's not always going to be the same way for each group. think you just kind of have to figure out what works for your group for the rest of the season. Flo Dietrich: Yeah. I mean you said it's not a great a great answer, but I I guess it's like in like in real life. the the more you are with the people you know, the better it gets usually. For sure. If not you need to split, but that's not something we want to do right now. one thing I wanna talk about because everybody's concerned about Odin, how is he doing? Matt Struthers: Yeah, he's doing well. I think obviously it was an unfortunate play in overtime. I actually think their guy felt pretty badly too, you know. Sometimes these things happen. But yeah, no, we're we're thinking about him and and you know, he's he's gonna make positive steps and yeah, obviously injuries suck, but they are part of the game and I think he knows that and I think we all know that. But yeah, no, he has a lot of support here and yeah, we're thinking about him for sure. Yeah. Flo Dietrich: We keep fingers crossed for him as well. And I guess you guys read it in the in the news a few days ago. We were producing on on Tuesday and there was like news going out today. and I also had the chance to talk to our sporting director, Maius Edel, and he told me earlier today that the Tower Stars are actively looking at the market and are willing to strengthen the team with a new signing, so stay tuned. Losing a player like Odin Hurt, so how does a team handle that? I mean, obviously on on Sunday you handled it pretty good, just took the action and and won the game. But in total, how do you handle it as a team right now? Matt Fonteyne: Yeah, I think anytime you lose a player like Tufts, it's hard for the team and he's a huge part of our success thus far. So I think it's obviously going be difficult, but I think guys step up and it gives guys different opportunities to maybe take on a bigger role that maybe they weren't provided initially. So we have guys that are hungry and guys that are capable of kind of adding a little bit. think everybody adding a little bit extra to your game can help a bit, yeah, we'll see what we can do and kind of how things shape up in the next couple of days. think obviously it's a shock and it's sad and like Stratt said, we're supporting Tufts any way we can. Matt Struthers: Yeah, I would agree. I think injuries suck, but like I said, they're part of the game and that affords guys new opportunities. So I'm excited to see, you know, who steps up and like he said, we have a lot of hungry guys and we'll we'll manage for sure. Flo Dietrich: And I'd say one of the highlights of Sunday was that the fourth line was pretty, pretty tough and pretty successful and good to see. Yep. So now it's your turn, Starskars community. We already fit four of your questions in. Here come the rest. Kamaro Moritz asks, What do you both think about the future of hockey in Ravensburg? whether in the Dell or Dell two. Matt Struthers: Yeah, I think the future's really bright. You know, I remember our first preseason game, early August kinda, and it was pretty much packed. I'm not really used to seeing that in hockey, you know. Generally in August when the weather's good still and it's just preseason hockey. But no, it was it was impressive the crowd and it's been like that every game, every home game since. So you know, as a player All you really can ask for is passionate fans and people who support you and and maybe sometimes maybe want more or less from a player which is part of part of sport. So you can appreciate the passion and and Ravensburg definitely has that. So I think the future is the future is very bright. Flo Dietrich: Simbe eighty one wants to know how important is family for you? You already said that you're here with your wife and I guess your brothers are also important for you. So how what is family right now for you? Matt Fonteyne: Yeah. I've also got an older brother and younger sister. So we try and FaceTime them as much as we can. My parents were just here for a few weeks. They left last week. So anytime you can get people from home or trying kind of have that connection at home, it obviously makes being away a little bit easier. having my wife, Carly here, it makes the distance a lot easier just having someone to come home to every night. to kind of go through this experience together. So, super fortunate for her and just lucky to have a good support system here and at home. Matt Struthers: Yeah, same for me. Family is super important. I mentioned two younger brothers. So the one is still playing hockey at at school where I played. So I get to see him and my whole family at Christmas. They've come the last two years to Europe over Christmas, which is super nice because I'm the one here and they're all at home, but they still make the trip to come see me. So super fortunate. My middle brother was just here, actually, same as his parents last week and he really he really enjoyed the city and the surrounding areas. So Yeah, super fortunate, like he said, to have a great support system, you know, that come visit and also from from a distance. Flo Dietrich: Good to hear. Kane zero nine is curious about your jersey numbers. you were the twelve and and you were the seventeen fancy. Is there a special reason for your numbers? Matt Fonteyne: for me, I, I was always 12 growing up. playing minor hockey, was 12, but, I was given 17 and in Everett when I was first there and, playing there for five years and then sticking with it. at U of A it's just kind of something that stuck with me and, it just kind of feels right. So no, significant meaning, just something that I was given and kind of felt familiar. Matt Struthers: Yeah. When I went to university actually I had worn fifteen in junior in the OHL, which I really liked. and then they didn't have fifteen available, so I chose twenty one actually. I wore that at school and then also in Kalmar and I really liked it. And then I came here and obviously Mazda wears twenty one. So I thought twelve is the opposite. It's does the job the same. So yeah, no significant meaning, but yeah, I don't mind it. Flo Dietrich: Good. Thanks for all the answers. And thank you for all the questions. now it gets exciting. We come to the stars cast Tippspiel. Matt Fonteyne: The Starscast Tip Game is brought by Plastico. Flo Dietrich: 10 match days, Grozilu leads with 91 points, five points ahead of Osna and Ulbot 48 with 86 each. 163 of you are playing along. Our expert and former pro Yannick Bayer is in 84th place. You need to push up a little bit, Yannick. And me, 43rd place, that is also not too good, with 72 points. So for once I'm a ahead of the expert, but it won't last long. Our stars cast vlogger Hannah only joined on match day seven and has five fifteen points so far on Friday in Biedigheim, she and I will be out and about again for the vlog on the streets in the arena and all around it. Matt Fonteyne: The Starscast-tipshow was presented to by Plastikow from Bavaria, where working is still a real fun! Flo Dietrich: Speaking of predictions, who are we playing next weekend? Our co-host Dennis, the Announcer, takes a closer look in German. Matt Struthers: Yeah. Flo Dietrich: Am Freitag geht es zu den BD-Time Stealers. Unsere Chancen, unser Powerplay trifft mit 32,3%. Nun die Düsseldorfer EG ist besser. Die Stealers stehen in Unterzahl auf Platz 13 und sitzen 11,2 Minuten pro Spiel auf der Strafbank. Das bringt unser Powerplay aufs Eis. Und falls es in die Verlängerung geht, die Toastars haben alle 4 Spiele gewonnen, die Steelers nur einen davon. Die Risiken bietet keimen hat zu Hause in der regulären Spielzeit noch nicht verloren. Und wir haben auswärts nur zwei von fünf Spielen gewonnen. Dazu kommt das direkte Tabellenuell. Es ist nur ein Punkt Abstand und mit einem Sieg nach 60 Minuten ziehen die Steelers an uns vorbei. Am Sonntag kommen die EC Kassel Huskies in die CHG Arena. Unsere Chancen. Zu Hause haben wir vier von fünf Spielen gewonnen. Das Powerplay der Huskies ist das viertbeste der Liga, aber wir nehmen die zweitwenigsten Strafen. Die Risiken. Kassel hat auswärts alle 5 Spiele gewonnen und vier der letzten 5 Spiele insgesamt. Mit 26 Gegentoren haben die Huskies die zweitbeste Abwehr und beide Torhüter halten über 91,8%. Und dann gibt es noch das Duell der Serien. Wir haben alle 4 Verlängerungen gewonnen. Kassel, alle fünf. Thank you, Dennis. Pretty exciting to hear. So coming to you guys, who is the bigger challenge, Biedekheim or Kassel? Matt Struthers: I think that's kind of a hard question for us to answer. Obviously we haven't Matt Fonteyne: I can't imagine the answer. Matt Struthers: Yeah. I actually don't know. I d I don't have an answer. We'll see. Maybe maybe the road game, 'cause it's on the road, but yeah, I'm I'm not sure. Matt Fonteyne: Yeah. First time playing for both. then Castle obviously has made a push every year and I think they're higher in the standing. So based on that maybe, but yeah, I would say we're taking it one game at a time and yeah, we'll be, we'll be ready for both. Flo Dietrich: To focusing on the next game. That's the common answer. Yeah. And on Sunday is not just any home game. October is traditionally pressed cancer awareness month. The tower stars are also putting the spotlight on cancer in children and young people. Together with Cancel Cancer EV, there are special activities on Sunday against the Castle Huskies. When the Tower Stars score their first goal, the teddy bears fly onto the ice and They will be donated to children going through difficult times with their families and with all of us. We support them. If you don't have a teddy bear, you can buy one at the arena for ten euros and join the TOS. And that money is donated too. Ilya Sharipov's special goalie mask will be ruffled off, designed by our goalie coach Matsh Matze Nemet. And because Matze sent me a few pictures, you get an exclusive look right here. And 100% of the raffle proceeds go to cancel cancer if. On top of that, the players' wives sell cakes and snacks, and there are limited pink pucks at the fan shop. These proceeds will be donated as well. So you guys, I guess so. have you ever been part of a teddy bear toss? Matt Struthers: Yeah, for sure. In in in the OHL we had them every year. So it's it's a cool event and obviously for a great cause. So something that we can be a part of. it's a it's a great feeling. Matt Fonteyne: Yeah, yeah, I've been same thing in the Western League. did a few every year, whether it home and playing a few away games. So, yeah, being a part of a good event like that and doing anything we can to kind of give back and give to different communities, I think is important. So it'll be an exciting game. They're always they're always fun. And it's nice to see how many so many bears get on the ice. Flo Dietrich: So a lot of reasons to join on Sunday against the Castle Huskies. I'm pretty excited on that one. And what does a game like this you said at a special game mean for you as as players? Matt Struthers: Yeah, yeah. It's it's obviously exciting to be able to represent such a good cause and feel a part of the Ravensburg community, especially as two import players. So you know, every game is exciting, but these ones that have a good cause behind them are even more exciting and hopefully we can put on a good show for everybody. Matt Fonteyne: Yeah, I think everybody's probably in some way has been affected by cancer. So I think it hits close to home for everyone. think playing in these kinds of games, it's an important and we'll do everything we can to make sure that it's a good event and a memorable one in a positive way. Flo Dietrich: That's sounds sounds pretty pretty good and I guess that brings all of us together, not only for the game, but for the the good and to be honest, the most important point, the health and the the good feelings of all of us. Strazi Fonsi, thank you for taking us along from Ontario and Alberta via Kalmar all the way to Ravensburg. We are really happy to have you guys here and you take on responsibility as two of only four import players and you can see how hard you work week after week. Fonsi, the first goal is coming, I'm sure. And this time it will count. Stratzi, keep it up on the power play. And thanks guys and good luck this weekend in Biedikheim. See you there and against Kassel. Matt Struthers: Thanks for having us. Appreciate it. Thank you. Matt Fonteyne: Thanks. Flo Dietrich: That was Starskast presented by Getränke Po. Let us know what you think in the comments, what the dish's name is that we talked about before. Join the Starskast Tipp Spiel if you want so and see you on Sunday at the CHG arena. See you next time at Starscast. Bye-bye. Matt Fonteyne: Starrskast was presented by Getränkepol. For the for events, for the CHG Arena, forever. Getränkepol. Starrskast is a production by Helga Podcast Studio. Moderator and editor Flo Dietrich. Design, two bear-like guys. and tone, Nian Valenta. All further episodes and links can on starskast.de.