Markus Rudolf Graf (born 24 July 1959) is a Swiss former ice hockey player, coach, and executive. Prior to a professional career in Switzerland, he represented his country internationally on the under-18 team and the men's junior team. In six seasons for SC Langnau in the Nationalliga A, he won a silver medal and was voted an all-time legend by the team's fans. He won the Nationalliga A championship twice with HC Lugano, then played for EHC Olten before transitioning into a player-coach in lower-level leagues.
Turning professional, Graf played six seasons for SC Langnau in the Nationalliga A from 1977 to 1983.[1] In his first season with Langnau, the team finished second in the league winning a silver medal, one point away from first place and the gold medal.[5] Wearing uniform #15, fans voted him one of the team's 75 "all-time legends" during Langnau's 75th anniversary season in 2022.[6]
Graf played for EHC Olten in the 1987–88 Nationalliga B season, where he scored 27 goals and 52 points in 36 games.[1] He helped EHC Olten to a third-place finish in the regular season, and playoffs series wins versus SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers and HC Ajoie to earn promotion to Nationalliga A for the next season.[13] He played the next four seasons in Nationalliga A, placing seventh in the 1988–89 season and fifth in the 1989–90 season, but saw first-round playoffs losses both seasons versus EHC Kloten.[14] In the 1990–91 season, EHC Olten finished in last place, but won the six-team relegation/promotion playoffs to remained in Nationalliga A.[15] Placing ninth in the 1991–92 season, Graf was unable to help EHC Olten avoid relegation again when the team placed third in the six-team relegation/promotion playoffs.[16] Competing in the 1992–93 Nationalliga B season, he helped EHC Olten place second of ten teams.[17]
While playing for EHC Olten, Graf became head coach of EHC Rheinfelden in the Swiss 2nd League in 1992.[2] He led them to 9 points in 18 games during the 1992–93 season, but a ninth-place finish of ten teams in the Central Division meant that the team was demoted to Swiss 3rd League.[17] From 1993 to 1997, Graf was the player-coach of EHC Rheinfelden.[1]
During the 1995–96 Nationalliga B season, Graf was named head coach of EHC Olten, replacing Fyodor Kanareykin in January 1996.[18] Graf coached the final 12 games in the regular season, winning three games, with EHC Olten placing ninth in the league. The team finished two points below the eight place team, and did not qualify for the playoffs.[19] He returned as head coach of EHC Olten for the 1997–98 season, and led them to 17 wins and 39 points in 40 games, and sixth-place standing in the league. His team lost in the first playoffs round three-games-to-one versus HC Thurgau.[20] In the 1998–99 season, he coached EHC Olten to 21 wins and 44 points in 40 games, and a third-place finish. He led his team to a first-round playoffs victory in three consecutive games versus SC Säntis, then lost in the second round three-games-to-two versus HC La Chaux-de-Fonds.[21]
Graf returned as a head coach in Nationalliga B, leading EHC Biel for the 2000–01 season. His team earned 26 wins and 57 points in 40 games, placing second in the league. He led EHC Biel to a three-games-to-one first-round playoffs victory versus HC Ajoie, a second-round victory versus Genève-Servette Hockey Club by three-games-to-one, then a loss in the finals by three consecutive games versus Lausanne HC.[22] He was released on head coach on 14 February 2002.[18] With only two games remaining in the 2001–02 season, Graf's team had 20 wins and 41 points, and was in third place.[23] According to Gino Cavallini who played for EHC Biel, Graf was big on fitness and had his players do two-hour runs in the mountains.[24]
Graf became the sports manager of the SCL Tigers for the 2002–03 Nationalliga A season, and subsequently as the team's director of player development for the 2004–05 and 2005–06 seasons.[18] He later played parts of eight seasons for EHC Rubigen in the Swiss 3rd League from 2006 to 2016.[1]
In training players, Graf emphasized that hockey is more than a game, and it can develop life skills. He created the "Foundation, Talent, Elite, Mastery" program adopted as the SIHF mantra.[2] He later created an "umbrella" program to foster local and regional support of players, and developed virtual training programs during the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] In discussing foreign import players in Swiss leagues, Graf felt that they could "strengthen the structure and boost competition", but felt that limits were necessary to give Swiss players a chance to develop.[26]
When Graf became the SIHF director of recruitment and education in 2022, his focus turned to the training of coaches.[e] He stressed that coaches needed the same level of training as players, to impart knowledge, and to gain the trust of the players. He felt that a coach's behavior as a role model, would shape the personality of players. He also sought more youth hockey coaches per player, and more assistant coaches in junior hockey to improve training quality.[32] He also developed a club management training course, which included increasing membership, gaining sponsors, and handling legal issues.[33]
Graf resigned as the director of recruitment and education on May 31, 2024.[18] He subsequently served on the SIHF board of directors, but postponed retiring in September to serve as the interim chief executive officer until the position was filled.[34][35] He retired at the end of October 2024, when Martin Baumann became the chief executive officer.[36][37]
In 2024, he received the Johan Bollue Award from the IIHF.[8][9] He was credited for his vision, communication, and IIHF programs to develop youth players.[2][27]
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