The 2019 IIHF U20 Ice Hockey World Championship Div. IA in Füssen is just around the corner. From December 9th to 15th, 2018, the German ice hockey young talent will compete against France, Latvia, Austria, Belarus and Norway. Only the first-placed team makes it into the top division.
Seven years ago, the German U20 national team under coach Ernst Höfner in Garmisch-Partenkirchen last achieved promotion to the top division. Anyone who was excited about the German national team back then has since become familiar with names like Konrad Abeltshauser, Nicolas Krämmer, Marcel Noebels, Leo Pföderl and Tobias Rieder. These and many other young talents laid the foundation for their future careers during their time at the 2012 IIHF U20 Ice Hockey World Championship. But what are the heroes of that time doing today?
Konrad Abeltshauser
Current club: EHC Red Bull München / German champion with the EHC Red Bull München 2016, 2017, 2018
David Elsner
Current club: ERC Ingolstadt / NHL Entry Draft 2010 Nashville Predators
Richard Gelke
Current club: Heilbronner Falken / Three-time German DNL champion with the Jungadler Mannheim 2008, 2009, 2010
Henry Haase
Current club: Augsburger Panther / First DEL goal at the age of 20 Eisbären Berlin in the 3rd pre-play-off game against Ingolstadt
Jimmy Hertel
Current club: EHC Freiburg / Goalkeeper of the Year in the Oberliga Nord 2014, champion with the Hannover Scorpions 2015 in the OL Nord
Mirko Höfflin
Current club: Schwenninger Wild Wings / German champion with the Adler Mannheim 2015, squad World Cup 2018
Bernhard Keil
Current club: ERSC Amberg / Three-time German DNL champion with the Jungadler Mannheim 2008, 2009, 2010
Kilian Keller
Current club: Ravensburg Towerstars / DEL debut 2012/2013 at the Grizzly Adams Wolfsburg
Nicolas Krämmer
Current club: Adler Mannheim / Champion with the Landshut Cannibals 2012 in the DEL2, squad world championship 2018
Stephan Kronthaler
Current club: EV Landshut / Promotion to the top division at the U18 Junior World Championship Div. I 2010
Nickolas Latta
Current club: Grizzly Adams Wolfsburg / 1 goal & 1 assist in the American Hockey League on the New York Rangers farm team in 2014
Corey Mapes
Current club: Heilbronner Falken / Debut in professional league in 2009 (DEL2 at the Heilbronner Falken)
Thomas Merl
Current club: Ravensburg Towerstars / champions with the Kassel Huskies 2016 in the DEL2
Mathias Niederberger
Current club: Düsseldorfer EG / DEL Goalkeeper of the Year 2016, World Cup squad 2018
Marcel Noebels
Current club: Eisbären Berlin / Silver hero Olympics 2018
Andreas Pauli
Current club: Tölzer Löwen / champions with the Tölzer Löwen in the Oberliga 2012
Leo Pföderl
Current club: Nürnberg Ice Tigers / Silver hero Olympics 2018
Maximilian Renner
Current club: Straubing Tigers / Master with the Starbulls Rosenheim in the Oberliga 2010
Tobias Rieder
Current club: Edmonton Oilers / second place at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, three shorthanded goals in the rookie season with the Arizona Coyotes à best rookie in the NHL 2014/2015
Luke Steinhauer
Current club: Starbulls Rosenheim / Master with the Starbulls Rosenheim in the Oberliga 2010
Thomas Supis
Current club: Ravensburg Towerstars / German champions with the Eisbären Berlin 2012
Sebastian Uvira
Current club: Kölner Haie / DNL champion with the EV Landshut 2011, 2011/2012 season 13 goals for the Oshawa Generals in the Ontario Hockey League
Pascal Zerressen
Current club: Kölner Haie / Deutschland Cup 2018
