Defender Frank Hördler from the Eisbären Berlin ends his career with the German national team after 124 games (9 goals, 22 assists) on the international stage. With the 34-year-old, another silver hero from PyeongChang is stepping down from the national team to make room for the young talent.
“It took me a while before I came to this decision. I've been thinking a lot over the last six months. We've had so much fun with the national team over the past few days, months and years, I would love to continue playing for another ten years. Sometimes you miss the moment to actually stop when it's most beautiful. “That shouldn’t happen to me here,” said Hördler after discussions with national coach Toni Söderholm and DEB-President Franz Reindl.
The seven-time German champion supports the ongoing upheaval in the German national team and wants to clear the way for a new generation.
“There are so many good young German defenders, including here Berlin. They should be given a reasonable chance to start a new era with the new national coach. From now on I will focus entirely on it Eisbären Berlin and focus on my family.”
Frank Hördler can look back on 124 appearances for his country with a total of 31 scorer points. The BerlinThe defender has been an integral part of the national team since the 2005 World Cup and has since taken part in nine World Cups and the 2018 Olympic Games. The silver medal in Pyeongchang, to which Hördler also contributed a goal, was the highlight of the defender's international career.
DEB-President Franz Reindl: “Frank is an absolute leader at the top international level, a total fighter who has always put himself at the service of the team. He can proudly look back on a great career and will hopefully stay with the Eisbären for a long time to come. We will miss him very much with the national team, but of course we fully understand his decision. We wish him and his family all the best.”