“There’s not much Del Curto in us”: The Von Arx brothers wake Chur from her sleep as a coaching duo

“We have certainly put our finger on a number of things, because we always want quality and intensity on the ice,” says Jan von Arx. But the key is “that we have very good guys here who like to train, are willing to do honest work and have confidence in us.” The symbiosis between the Von Arx brothers and the EHC Chur seems to be something special and lasting. They have been there for two and a half years – and recently extended their contract for another two years.

“Moving companies don’t get rich from us”

This despite the fact that it has certainly been noted in other places that the two HCD legends are doing well in Chur. There were certainly other offers, right? “There weren’t many,” says Reto von Arx. And adds: “Moving companies don’t get rich from us. If we like a place, we’ve never seen a reason to change it.” They repeatedly emphasize how much fun they have working in Chur, “and the club lives in a spirit of optimism and has enormous potential,” says Reto von Arx.

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The task ahead is also new for the six-time Davos champion heroes, who have essentially seen almost everything in ice hockey. As Chur is the only club from the MyHockey League to have applied for promotion, an easier promotion procedure will allow the Graubünden team to reach the semi-finals in the play-offs starting on February 24. All they have to do is win their quarter-final series and then their big goal has already been achieved.

The goal was to work together

This means that Chur’s team does not have to be in top condition at the end, as is usual in hockey, but immediately at the start of the play-offs. “I’ve actually never experienced anything like this,” says Reto von Arx about the initial situation. But he also adds that it still doesn’t matter that much: “We have seen often enough that the first play-off series is the most difficult. It is all the more important that we focus on the journey and not the destination.”

After their joint resignation as HCD icons in 2015, the von Arx brothers initially went their separate ways. Jan came to the coaching profession as a junior coach at HCD, Reto through various coaching jobs at the association. “But it was always our goal to do something together one day,” says Jan von Arx.

In 2021, this opportunity arose in Chur – and they gradually led the club to the top of the third highest division. As an equal coaching duo. And if they don’t agree? Jan von Arx says: “That happens very rarely. And when we do, we’ll meet somewhere in the middle.” Reto adds: “You often notice that the input of others has improved your own opinion. We’ve certainly never had an argument.”

Disagreement with eternal Del Curto

When asked if they will only exist as a duo in their long-term orientation as coaches, Jan von Arx says: “We don’t have to change anything. That is why I assume that this will remain the case for a longer period of time.” Reaching the top as a coaching duo, i.e. reaching the National League, is not necessarily their end goal. Your priorities are different. “The best thing is when, as a coach, you can say that we have made the most of the possibilities and that the team is better at the end of the season than at the beginning of the season, regardless of the level. says ex-striker Reto von Arx. Ex-defender Jan von Arx adds: “You never know what will happen in life. Then we can tell you in ten years what will happen in ten years.”

Compared to other coaches, the Von Arx brothers had only one coach during their playing career due to their loyalty to the HCD club: Arno Del Curto (67). But eventually they had a falling out with him. Nevertheless, the question arises: how much Del Curto is in their philosophy? “Not so much,” Reto emphasizes, “but this has nothing to do with the argument, but with the fact that ice hockey has changed enormously in terms of tactics and training theory. But there are certainly some things that we have adopted, such as the high training intensity, which is also very important for us.”