After a period of suffering, now Nati debut: SCB-Lehmann: “That is compensation for everything”

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“I feel enormous joy and am proud that I have achieved this,” says Marco Lehmann (24) on the phone from Tampere, Finland. The first Nati team – it is a special moment for the Zurich native at SC Bern. “As a boy, I dreamed of playing for the national team one day when I watched the World Cup matches on television,” he says.

Now this dream is becoming reality. This is emotional. Especially since he has just come out of a long period of suffering. In 2021/22, the rising young star, then with the SCRJ Lakers, was held back by a concussion. Last season he wanted to go on the attack again with his new employer SCB. But that wasn’t possible.

Disastrous holiday in Greece

An infection transmitted after a holiday in Greece in the summer of 2022 left him out of action. Lehmann’s stomach rebelled, he could barely eat and lost ten kilos of body weight. Although he was weak, he played four games last fall because he wanted to show himself to SCB. But then the emergency brake had to be pulled. “My condition was not compatible with professional sport.”

Lehmann’s condition improved only slowly, but top-level ice hockey was out of the question until the end of last season. “If someone had told me in the spring that I would play for the national team that same year, I wouldn’t have thought it possible,” he says now.

The miracle of Bern

Lehmann actually achieved this miracle. It was very important that he could finally train under normal conditions again in the summer and build up his body. And then that he has started the new season excellently, that he has got going and has been able to gain self-confidence. He already has five goals and nine assists to his name.

His goal for the season was simply to “enjoy hockey again, because I haven’t been able to do it for so long.” Now he is extremely grateful to receive such a rich gift. And after the unpleasant aspects, you can also get to know the beautiful aspects of the sport. “A lot has come together lately. What I experience now is compensation for everything,” says Lehmann.

“I saw how quickly it can happen”

His biography will help Lehmann always stay in the moment and remain humble as he continues his career. “I saw how quickly things can happen – in one direction or the other. “That also helps me when I go through another difficult phase to continue,” he is convinced.

The SCB striker wants to enjoy his debut in the national team “and have fun”. And with the Swiss cross on his chest, he also brings the strengths that currently characterize him at Bern: “A lot of running and increasing the pace.” It starts for the national team on Thursday in the Karjala Cup against Finland (5.30 pm). At the weekend, Sweden (Saturday, 12 noon) and the Czech Republic (Sunday, 12 noon) are waiting. All matches can be seen live on SRF info.

Source : Blick