Career & Milestones

An Interview with Former Professional Ice Hockey Player Marc Reichert

RB Baumgartner: 1,022 games at the highest level require an incredible degree of consistency. What was the key, Marc, to maintaining that physical and mental level over so many years?

Marc Reichert: One decisive factor is certainly having that necessary bit of luck to remain free from serious injuries. But the foundation is absolute discipline. You have to take care of your body and be willing to put in the hard work every single day. Just as important is having a stable environment that understands you and can support you during difficult moments.

RBB: Was there a turning point in your career when you realised: Now I have truly made it as a professional athlete?

Marc: That was around the age of 20, when my role within the team became noticeably bigger and I received my first call-up to the senior national team. At that moment, I realised that my passion could become something long-term.

RBB: How does your role within a team change over the years – from young talent to a leader on the team?

Marc: It is a natural process. As a young player, you are very focused on yourself in order to make that final step, while learning from the experienced players every day. As a 17-year-old “Giu”, I would never have addressed SCB legends such as Tosio or Howald by their first names without being invited to do so. It was only when “Toto” offered me the chance to use his first name that this barrier disappeared. Over the years, with experience, you gradually grow into the responsibility that you once admired in your role models.

RBB: Three championship titles at different stages of your career: Did your personal approach to success change over time?

Marc: I did not win my first championship title until I was 30. After such a long wait, it felt like a huge release. Over time, you realise that success can never be taken for granted. You learn that every effort counts and that opportunities are limited. This makes you appreciate the moment much more consciously and give everything you have for success.

RBB: Mentally, how do international tournaments such as the World Championships differ from the national league?

Marc: International hockey is even faster and more intense. At a World Championship, the amount of time you spend together as a team, day and night, creates an incredibly strong bond. The pressure is high because defeats can hardly be compensated for, and often just a short period of time determines whether you win or lose. In the league, on the other hand, the challenge is maintaining that level of intensity and focus over many months.

Decisions in Seconds – The Role of Time in Sport

RBB: You speak of hundreds of decisions per game – how do you systematically train timing and anticipation?

Marc: At the end of the day, it is all about constant repetition. After hundreds of repetitions, you no longer have to think about it; the movements and processes become second nature, allowing you to rely on your instincts. Communication with your linemates also helps. When you know how your teammate thinks, you are already one step ahead mentally.

RBB: When do you attack and when do you defend – is it instinct or learned pattern recognition?

Marc: A lot of it is instinct, complemented by the coach’s tactical instructions. If you have to start thinking about it on the ice, you are already one step too late. The best feeling is when you can simply play without thinking and fully trust your intuition.

RBB: How does your perception of time change during crucial phases of a game, such as the final two minutes?

Marc: Your perception can be completely different. When you are leading, the seconds seem to pass in slow motion. But when you are behind and urgently need a goal, time flies. You genuinely perceive the time remaining very differently depending on the score.

RBB: Was there a moment in your career when a single second made all the difference?

Marc: It was exactly 2.5 seconds. That was how much time remained on the clock when we conceded the decisive goal against ZSC in Game 7 of the 2012 final. There was no time left to react; it literally felt as if someone had pulled the plug. Even after 14 years, that pain still runs deep. But that is part of sport.

RBB: What does “patience” mean in a sport that is all about speed?

Marc: Despite all the emotions and the high speed on the ice, it is crucial to take a breath sometimes and not try to force things. It is about trusting your own strengths and consistently sticking to the game plan.

Discipline, Transition & Second Career

RBB: You completed a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration alongside your professional career – how do you organise your time at the highest level?

Marc: Organisation is the key word here. You have to plan your week precisely and always be conscious of why you are taking on this workload. If your motivation is right, the double burden is ultimately far less overwhelming than you might think.

RBB: Today, you head Work & Education at Hindelbank Prison. What parallels do you see between the locker room and executive management?

Marc: In both worlds, it is essential to take responsibility, but also to know when you can hand responsibility over to someone else. A clear understanding of roles is the foundation. Everyone needs to know what is expected of them and what role the people around them have.

RBB: How important is timing when making leadership decisions?

Marc: Timing is everything. Leadership is not just about knowing what needs to be done, but about sensing exactly when the right moment has come to make a decisive change. In theory, that sounds simple; in practice, it is the real art.

RBB: Are there principles from professional sport that you consciously carry over into your current role?

Marc: You have to like people and show genuine interest in them. Since no two people function in exactly the same way, it is essential for a leader to respond to people individually. Another important lesson from professional sport is to live in the moment and focus on what you can actually influence. Even when something goes wrong: analyse it, learn from it, draw a line under it – and then move on…

Time as a Value in Life

RBB: When did you realise that time is the most precious resource?

Marc: In theory, you always know it, but often you only truly realise it when you step out of the hamster wheel of everyday life. A key moment was my safari during my honeymoon. I wanted to photograph every animal immediately, until I realised that I was not actually enjoying the moment consciously. I put my phone away and simply allowed myself to experience the moment. That is something I try to incorporate into my everyday life today.

RBB: Has your relationship with time changed since the end of your professional career?

Marc: Today, I have more time that I can plan individually for myself and my family. As a professional athlete, you are largely driven by external factors – the schedule, daily training routines and constant travel. Even holidays and days off are strictly regulated by clear requirements.

RBB: What does quality time in your private life mean to you?

Marc: For me, quality time means travelling with my family and consciously living entirely in the here and now.

RBB: If you could give your younger self one piece of advice about time, what would it be?

Marc: You cannot force time through sheer determination. In the past, I was often mentally exhausted before the game had even started because I had anticipated the game too intensely in my head. My advice would be: trust your foundation and maintain the necessary sense of ease. You need to save your energy for when it really matters.

Brand Ambassador & Watchmaking

RBB: A mechanical watch relies on precision and perfectly coordinated components – do you see parallels between this and a well-functioning team on the ice?

Marc: That is a very beautiful comparison. A successful team only works when everyone knows their role, accepts it and fulfils it to the best of their ability, regardless of what that role looks like. Only together do all the individual parts form a whole. A watch also only works when all its components interact with precision and the movement is complete. Is the hand more important than the balance wheel? It does not matter. If either one is missing, the watch is incomplete.

RBB: What does being a brand ambassador mean to you – representation or identification?

Marc: I am very proud to be a brand ambassador and can fully identify with RB Baumgartner. It is a company that is approachable and puts people at the heart of everything it does. I am fascinated by this down-to-earth, authentic craftsmanship. I also think it sends a powerful message how committed RB Baumgartner is to supporting athletes, both women and men.

RBB: What role does consistency play in watchmaking – and how important was consistency in your career?

Marc: Consistency is the ultimate mark of quality in watchmaking, just as it was in my career with 1,022 games. A movement has to run precisely for decades – that was exactly my goal on the ice. The key was to function every day like a mechanical movement: with discipline, a strong support system and the good fortune to remain free from injury.

RBB: What qualities must a watch have for you to say: It suits my personality and my career?

Marc: Since I am not exactly a small guy, the watch can be a little larger as well. I appreciate classic watches that can be modern and complex on the inside, but do not need to be too “fancy”. On the ice, I was a worker, and in life I am a down-to-earth person. That same sense of authenticity and genuine craftsmanship is what fascinates me about RB Baumgartner.

Thank you, Marc, for your time, your openness and your personal insights. Your experiences in professional sport, your discipline and your authentic personality enrich our brand and give it a strong and credible face.