The Deutscher Eishockey-Bund (DEB) and the German Ice Hockey League (DEL) have agreed to continue their collaboration for at least another eight years before the current cooperation agreement expires next year. Signed a corresponding agreement DEB-President Franz Reindl (Garmisch-Partenkirchen) and the DEL supervisory board chairman Jürgen Arnold (Ingolstadt) as part of the Deutschland Cups in Augsburg. The negotiations were made significantly easier by the fact that all 14 DEL clubs are now also in the DEB Enjoy member status.
As a central element, the document includes further intensive cooperation in matters of the national team and young talent work. The term is based on the DEB-Vision “POWERPLAY 26”, which aims to ensure that the national team can compete for international medals in a sustainable manner from this date.
“This is a very ambitious goal, but not impossible,” explained Franz Reindl in Augsburg and added: “Stability and continuity are important for our sport, both nationally and internationally. Regardless of this, we can of course implement our joint sports concept “POWERPLAY 26” much better if the general conditions are right. We therefore very much welcome the long-term nature of the new agreement.”
Jürgen Arnold: “We have already accomplished a lot together in recent years and are pleased to be able to continue working on this basis. What is important is the establishment and expansion of sustainable structures in the areas where DEB and DEL interfaces. This is the case when it comes to the national team and young talent work.”
According to Reindl and Arnold, cooperation on the national team has proven to be a successful model. Franz Reindl: “The close collaboration both on and off the ice makes a lot of sense. This also creates synergies in terms of better marketing.”
At the same time, Franz Reindl took stock of the cooperation so far: “The result from our three and a half years is good: structurally, organizationally, financially and sportingly. The collaboration with Daniel Hopp, Berthold Wipfler, Marc Hindelang in DEB-Presidium as well as Jürgen Arnold and the DEL supervisory board but also the DEL2 and the major leagues is remarkable. We have to continue on this path.”
Jürgen Arnold: “The cooperation with him DEB and the incumbent Presidium has developed extremely positively in recent years. Which is certainly what my supervisory board colleague Daniel Hopp is also aware of DEB-Vice President had a special role.”