EHC Red Bull München: Austin Ortega in private in the big interview

Thursday, 09. February 2023 | EHC Red Bull München: Austin Ortega in private in the big interview

Father Mexican, mother Filipina: Our number 8 in a personal interview// INTERVIEWAlmost 10,000 kilometers and nine hours separate Austin Ortega from his home in California. Week after week, the 28-year-old proves that he feels right at home in Munich. The numbers speak for themselves.

Ortega is currently playing what is probably the most successful season of his professional career. 22 goals (44 scorer points) make him the Red Bulls' most successful scorer, and in the overall ranking of the German Ice Hockey League, our Californian whirlwind is in 4th place.

On Sunday (3:15 p.m. | LIVE in our blog), the next opportunity to add to your personal points account will be at the home game against the Kölner Haie. The seats are already sold out, so get your standing room ticket for the north or south curve now. But first you can experience "Tegs" in private in the big interview.

Austin, as is common in a team, each player is given a nickname. Please tell our fans what your teammates call you.

Ortega: "Most of the guys in the locker room call me Tegs. The nickname is relatively simple and has been with me for a few years. It could have gotten me worse (laughs)."

You're from Escondido, which is not far from the Pacific coast in the US state of California. What do you miss most about your home state?

"When the temperatures drop below freezing, as they are currently, I first realize how much I love the Mediterranean climate. However, after my time in Finland and a total of four years in Europe, I have now become somewhat accustomed to winter. I love the snow, but six weeks with this freezing cold would be enough for me. Otherwise, of course, I miss being close to my family and friends in California - and the great restaurants there."

Do you have a particular restaurant in mind?

"In-N-Out Burger, no question about it. No fast-food restaurant in the world can match it. When I'm in California on summer break, I go to In-N-Out about once a week. It has also become a ritual for me to eat there with my parents before my flight back to Europe. The simple reason is that it's on the way to the airport."

What does your order look like there?

"Two double-double burgers with fries. As far as the drink goes, I'm pretty boring. I'm not a big fan of soda, so it usually comes with water."

We now know your favorite restaurant in California. What was the food like in the Ortega home?

"My father is Mexican and my mother is Filipino. So there was always great food at home. My mom makes incredibly delicious tacos. I'm not that talented in the kitchen myself, unfortunately..."

You're all the more talented on the ice for that. Where does your passion for the sport come from?

"I got it from my father, he played baseball for a long time when he was young and also watched a lot of sports at home. But ice hockey was never number one with my parents - until I started. And lo and behold, they now only watch ice hockey (laughs)."

If you could wish for one professional to skate with you in the Red Bulls jersey from now on, who would it be?

"I would actually say Jake Guentzel because he's my best buddy. But Connor McDavid would be even cooler. Sorry, Jake (laughs)."

Jake has been under contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins since 2016, has already played over 400 games in the NHL and won a Stanley Cup. How did you get to know each other?

"We had played against each other a time or two in junior, but we didn't really know each other well before college. So when I found out we were going to be sharing a room at the University of Nebraska Omaha, I was excited to see what was in store."

The time doesn't seem to have been that bad, does it?

"(Laughs) It was a perfect fit from the first second. We have the same, sometimes idiotic humor. We've become best friends over the three years and now spend just about every summer together."

You were also a dream team on the ice....

"Oh yeah! We played in a line at the Omaha Mavericks. Jake was an incredible playmaker, these days he likes to score the goals himself. After a short time, our chemistry on the ice was so good that we probably would have known where each other was even if we were blindfolded. Coach expected both of us to be there in the important moments."

You're now 28 years old, and you've certainly experienced numerous unforgettable moments. Which one were you most proud of?

"That was in 2017, when I graduated with a degree in sports science. It meant a lot to my parents and me especially, I was only the second in the family to graduate. I missed my graduation ceremony, though, because I was already under contract with the San Diego Gulls at the time and had a game that day. I didn't mind, though, because I made my parents proud. And there's nothing that feels better."

Red Bulls-Schlägertypen mit Austin Ortega

// AKTUELLES