My Game of Life
Humble. Grateful. Curious.
For me, life is a game – not in the sense of superficiality or randomness, but as an invitation to shape it consciously, with curiosity and courage. A game thrives on movement, development and a willingness to try new paths.
That is precisely what fascinates me about life:
the opportunity to keep learning, to push boundaries and to discover new sides to ourselves. Not to win. But to grow.
My greatest joy in this game is inspiring people – and, in doing so, rediscovering myself time and again.
The starting signal
From an early age, movement, energy and team spirit were an important part of my life. I started playing hockey at the age of three – a passion that would stay with me throughout my life. At the age of 15, I moved to Canada on my own and attended high school there. That time taught me to take responsibility, make bold decisions and develop confidence in my own abilities.
Later, I was able to live out my dream as a professional athlete. My journey took me through various stages of international ice hockey and right into the world of the NHL.
But my path was never a straight one. I was able to celebrate victories, experience defeats and learn that the most important developments often arise precisely where we are challenged. The best moment wasn’t always scoring the goal myself.
Sometimes it was the moment just before – a small hint, a thought or a word of encouragement – and then seeing another person rise above themselves. In those moments, I began to understand what really drives me:
Not just my own success, but the opportunity to support people on their journey.
And so, little by little, the player evolved into a coach.
From the ice rink to the school of life
Sport was my first school of life. Over three decades, I was able to witness what people are capable of when passion, trust, discipline and personal development come together. For 17 years, I was able to live my dream as a professional ice hockey player.
After that, I spent 17 years as a coach, supporting individuals and teams at the very highest level. I was able to celebrate successes, experience defeats and realise:
Behind every achievement, there is always a person.
It’s not just talent that counts.
It’s not just technique.
It’s not just strategy.
It is trust, clarity and connection – and the ability to rise above oneself.
What development really means
Alongside sport, I began to discover the world through different eyes and to get to know different cultures and ways of life.
One particularly formative experience was my encounters with the Shipibo people in the Amazon region of Peru. These experiences showed me:
just how differently people can live – and yet, at the same time, how similar we are at our very core.
We are all searching for the same things: connection. Meaning. Freedom. And the feeling of truly being alive.
I have learnt that personal development does not begin with achieving even more. It begins with awareness.
Many of our limitations do not arise from the outside world, but from within ourselves – through experiences, beliefs and patterns that often unconsciously influence the way we think, feel and act. For me, personal development does not mean becoming someone else. It means uncovering, layer by layer, what is already within us. Because our greatest potential does not arise from more pressure – but from less inner resistance.
My vision
I am many things: Player. Coach. Guide. Explorer. Human being. Many roles. Many experiences. Many stories. But in the end, it’s always about one thing: having the courage to be completely myself.
No role defines who we really are. They are stages on our journey – they shape us, but they are not our core.
My vision is to pass on this joy of life – in sport, in coaching and in everyday life. To remind people that there is more to them than they often realise. That life doesn’t have to be completely controlled, but can be discovered. With trust, openness, courage and with the inner fire that arises when we begin to truly be ourselves.