HCD high-flyer Nussbaumer found help in dark times: “Our first meeting was almost an emergency.”

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HCD sports director Jan Alston (54) says about Valentin Nussbaumer (23): “A young player who has blossomed. He worked hard for that.” And the striker made a groundbreaking decision. But from the beginning.

As part of a player exchange, Nussbaumer and David Ullström (34, Sd) will move from Biel to Davos in January 2021. Perttu Lindgren (36, Fi) and Luca Hischier (28) take the opposite approach. For Nussbaumer, the trade is not a big surprise; he already has a contract with HCD for the 2021/22 season.

But instead of getting started at Davos, the Jurassician was left sidelined by a long-term hand injury. Yet you trust the talent. In September 2022, Nussbaumer extended his contract early by four years until 2027. He describes the following season as difficult, “with many ups and downs”. You should know that the former junior international is very ambitious. “I expect more and more from myself and put pressure on myself.”

The pressure blocks him

That requires revenge. Nussbaumer can no longer cope with the high expectations he has of himself. She blocks him. “I wanted to prove that I was worth the four-year contract. I wanted to regain the club’s trust.” He is looking for solutions to improve himself. But when it comes to training intensity and quantity, he is at the limit. In December 2022, the young striker made a decision that was the most important of his career. so far it turned out to be: Nussbaumer turned to mental trainer Tina Dyck, with whom the club works.

“I was in a hole,” he says, “I really needed this help.” Nussbaumer can talk to her about everything that is bothering him. Sometimes you need a neutral person for this, not the family or the agent. «Our first meeting was almost an emergency. She pulled me out of the hole, I was able to let it all out,” he remembers.

“She was there for me”

Nussbaumer is proud that he called for this help at the right time. “And I’m grateful that she was always available to me when I needed someone to talk to. Even after the games. She was there for me when I was in the hole.”

Dyck’s support is a game changer for Nussbaumer. Improve performance. He is also working intensively with her this summer. “The meetings were stressful, she asked a lot of questions.” The HCD attacker can handle everything better and catches himself.

Everything is coming together well for Nussbaumer now – in the team and especially with new coach Josh Holden (45, Ka/Sz). What that means can be seen on the ice: Nussbaumer plays freely, he is the best goalscorer of the Graubünden team behind Matej Stransky (30, Czech Republic).

Source : Blick