Reindl: “The whole competition whets our appetite for the 2017 World Cup”

No, last year Reindl also tackled the Team Europe project for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey with great passion and enthusiasm when Deputy NHL Commissioner Bill Daly called him and asked if he wanted to become president of the newly founded team.

"I felt like a freshly drafted player when Bill called me and asked if I wanted to be president of Team Europe," said Reindl, adding with a grin: "I also asked for a lot of time to think about it and said yes after 15 seconds."

And now, last Monday, he was sitting in the media center at the Air Canada Center in Toronto and confidently holding a lengthy press conference in English. But instead of having to justify why Team Europe had failed in the preliminary round, as many had expected, he was able to explain with passion and great joy why his team had surprisingly reached the final, leaving established nations like the USA, the Czech Republic and Sweden behind.

Reindl clearly enjoyed this moment, as was evident in the subsequent interview with NHL.com/de. The 61-year-old former national player has the DEB In his more than two years in office, he has clearly led to better paths and has visions that he himself has positively contributed to Team Europe.

“Mr. Reindl, how are you as DEBPresident satisfied with the performance of the German players in Team Europe?"

"All German players, even those who are not playing, contribute to this excellent team performance and what we have achieved, because if you had someone who was not pulling their weight, it would not work. So I can only compliment everyone. Our two goalkeepers Philipp [Grubauer] and Thomas [Greiss], who train hard every day and would be prepared in the event that [Jaroslav] Halak were to be out. What Christian [Ehrhoff] does is phenomenal. He scores points, plays strong defensively and is a constant in the team structure. Dennis [Seidenberg] does an excellent job. The more you need him, the more he is there. He plays hard and is present, an important factor for our team. And then in the offense, you don't have to say much about Leon [Draisaitl], because he can already decide games almost single-handedly. He has brought us to where we are now and is a constant threat to the opponents. Just like Tobi[as Rieder], who is incredibly fast and brave in the forward game. The perfect player for a shorthanded team because he causes unrest among the opponent. So, overall, we can be happy with every German player, which makes me DEBPresident is naturally very proud because it is a calling card and award for German ice hockey.”

“How do you see the age structure in the team, after the discussion beforehand about the high age in defense, where only Luca Sbisa and Roman Josi are under 30 years old?”

"I think Ralph [Krueger] and his team have found a perfect mix of young and old that Team Canada and Team USA did not have. Canada can compensate for this with its competitiveness, but with the USA you could already tell that this young element was missing. I had already described this as a disadvantage beforehand."

“Let’s just say it again: Team Europe is in the final of the World Cup of Hockey. What does this success mean to you?”

"I expect that we will be taken a little more seriously than in the past. I'm just happy about what has been achieved here. Of course, when your team presents itself like that, you walk into a room completely differently when meetings are taking place. It's a lot of fun. Today is the first time in my life that I'm attending an NHL, NHLPA Directory meeting and it's the first time that I'm going to a final meeting. For me, it's phenomenal. I've already been to a few quarter-final meetings and a semi-final meeting in 2010 and now I'm going in and there are only two teams left and you're there. I have to be honest, I feel totally fresh and young and I'm just excited."

"How important is the success for the public's effectiveness with regard to the 2017 World Cup in Germany and France? With Marc-Edouard Bellemare, there is also a Frenchman in Team Europe."

"The whole competition here whets a huge appetite for ice hockey when you see what is being achieved here and how high the quality of the game is. It simply gives an incredible foretaste of the World Championship. It looks like there will be 140 to 150 NHL players there. So the quality will be very high. And it's good that our partner France is represented here with Bellemare, who already plays a key role in this team."

“This particular player was one that few had on the list…”

"I'm glad that Ralph Krueger had an eye for who would fit into the team. He put it together perfectly and the momentum we have now could only have been achieved that way. It's a lengthy process that I've experienced for the first time in this form. How to observe players and how to select a team. We had 58 players in the selection, who had to be observed and spoken to. Before that, the scouts were selected, who were trained by Ralph himself. That was highly professional. 300 reports had to be evaluated and a detailed report had to be created for each individual player. That was a learning phase for me too and a great experience."

"To what extent does this success of Team Europe, in which German players are significantly involved, confirm your project 'POWERPLAY 26' to lead German ice hockey to the top of the world?"

"We have many, many pieces of the puzzle, many of which we have already fulfilled. We have ensured financial security. We have arranged for a round table. The DEL clubs are back on board, supporting the national team and seeing it as a top product. Because that is the only way ice hockey gets the national press, which attracts attention. Otherwise, DEL is only played in a few places, but we have been completely lacking the national aspect for a long time. Successes like those that Team Europe has now brought us into the national press. We can only do that if we have a vision, but vision also needs constant accompanying successes. We played a good World Championship under Marco Sturm, qualified for the Olympics and suddenly the clubs, the coaches, the young talent players are starting to believe that it is possible to realize the vision. Team Europe was also a vision, a smaller one, but you can see that it is the only way to achieve success. We have set ourselves the goal of going far. I'm not going to a tournament like this to be knocked out in the preliminary round, I've said that before. And even if the opponent seems too strong, like Canada now, you have to believe in it and do your best. Then you can look in the mirror in the morning. And all of this, including the success of Team Europe here, means that people in Germany are slowly growing in what is possible with 'POWERPLAY 26'. And as we all know, belief can move mountains. But without it, you will fail miserably."

“How do you view the NHL’s international engagement?”

"I think it's great when the NHL takes us seriously. And the fact that Team Europe is now in the final helps ice hockey globally. It's unbelievable how many countries and associations I've received messages from. From Georgia, even from Mexico. The NHL has internalized this and the exchange between the NHL and the international association has become much more intensive than before. The collaboration is incredibly important for both in order to advance ice hockey globally. The NHL is still the goal of all young players. This league therefore has incredible appeal; it is a brand that we must also use for the development of our players in Germany."