A wild shootout goes to Ice Punkers! Bučič led the comeback and the newcomers will settle their playoff fate head to head

After a wild goal fest in RAHL3, Ice Punkers recorded a valuable 7:5 win over Black Wings. A big share of the win belonged to Patrik Bučič, who scored two goals and added two assists. In the interview he rates his own performance and how the game went for the team, breaks down Ice Punkers' debut season and their chances of moving up into the playoffs, and adds his impressions of the RAHL All Star Game.

1. Two goals and two assists in one game. How would you rate your performance against Black Wings?

Patrik: “First of all, I was happy about the win; the points are just a bonus. On the first goal the puck took a lucky bounce to me in front of an empty net, and on the second I benefited from a good forecheck by a teammate. Individually I'm happy with this season so far, and I believe I'll keep it up through the elimination stage and help the team, whether that's the playoffs or the Pohár nádeje.”

2. ⁠It was quite a wild game, but you got through it in the end and beat Black Wings 7:5. How would you rate your team's performance in this game?

Patrik: “It really was a wild game. We were quickly up 2:0, then we gave up 3 goals in 3 minutes and were trailing 2:3, we turned it around to 7:3 and in the end it finished a wild 7:5. It was that kind of up-and-down hockey with a lot of chances, which the goalies probably weren't happy about. But you have to give credit to the opponent too – honestly, we expected it to be easier, and they gave us trouble.”

3. ⁠For your team, this is the debut season in RAHL. How would you rate your showing so far as league newcomers?

Patrik: “At the start of the season we were still finding ourselves a bit, since we hadn't played together much. In some games we also had a problem with attendance, and we dropped points even in games we could have won. Over the winter break some quality additions joined us and it showed right away, and right now things look good both in how we play and in our results.”

4. ⁠You still have a small chance of moving up to fourth place in the group and so getting into the playoff battles. How do you see your team's chances in the last two games of the regular season?

Patrik: “Before Christmas we were 6 points out of the playoffs; right now it's only two behind HFA, and our next game is against each other, so that's where it gets decided. Even if the playoffs don't work out, we're looking forward to the Pohár nádeje, and based on the last few games I think we can go far there.”

5. ⁠At the beginning of January you took part in the RAHL ALL STAR GAME. How did you like the event?

Patrik: “The All Star Game is a great event where you get the chance to meet guys from other teams in the league off the ice and have fun while you're at it (and get nice photos for Instagram). I really like league activities such as the All Star or the Winter Classic, when we amateurs can feel like pros at least for a moment.”

Ice Punkers showed that they can also handle a game played “up and down.” Bučič openly admits that the goals also came from luck and from his teammates' work, but what matters is that the team won, took all the points and still has something to play for. The next game may decide the playoffs, and if it doesn't work out, they want to carry their confidence into the Pohár nádeje. From Patrik's interview you can tell that motivation is definitely not something they lack.