Justin Schütz attends the Red Bull Academy in Salzburg and was promoted to the top division with the U20 national team at the World Cup in Füssen in December 2018. He has with that DEB Top Team Beijing (U25) has just played its first two international matches under new national coach Toni Söderholm in Memmigen and Bietigheim.
Born in Kassel, the 18-year-old played in the school league for Iserlohner EC before moving to Salzburg to join the Red Bull Academy and has been playing in the Alps Hockey League (AHL) in Austria since 2014. His DEL debut with the three-time German champions EHC Red Bull München He played this season and had 3 games in which he was able to record an assist. There was also a game at SC Riessersee in the Oberliga.
He took part in the 18 U2017 World Championship as captain for the German national ice hockey team and was instrumental in its promotion with 7 points (2 goals / 5 assist) at the 20 U2018 World Championship in Füssen. He was chosen by Toni Söderholm for this DEB Top team Beijing nominated for the two international matches against Switzerland in Memmingen and Bietigheim. icehockey-online.com spoke to the Young Talent talent.
Justin, what is your summary of the first two international matches in Memmingen and Bietigheim?
Justin Schütz: In the first game we implemented the tactics better and, in my opinion, delivered a good performance. We were able to implement the coach's instructions quite well on the ice. Unfortunately, the second meeting wasn't as good, we made a lot of mistakes, maybe we weren't mentally at the same level as before and Switzerland was highly motivated and so we deserved to lose. But I'm quite happy with the two performances, it was a first important experience for me (us).
You were promoted to the top division with the U20 national team in December 2018. The first two senior international matches were certainly a big change, right?
Justin Schütz: Switzerland also played with a prospect team (U25), so you can't compare it with a normal national team, but the change was noticeable, there are a lot of players who have already played a few games at the professional level You'll notice that very clearly. The speed, hardness of the duels etc., but it was a lot of fun and above all you can learn a lot there.
The 2018/2019 season is the best in your young career so far. You played 3 DEL games for the Red Bulls Munich and 1 for SC Riessersee (Oberliga). Otherwise, you're at the Red Bull academy. What's a week like there like with school and training?
Justin Schütz: We have school all week, usually until 13 p.m., then there is training and the games are usually on Thursday and Saturday. Sometimes the lessons start later and we then have a training session in the morning, practically everything revolves around ice hockey. It is an Austrian school where you complete the Matura, comparable to our high school.
You play with the Red Bull Juniors in the Alps Hockey League, what do you think the team can do this season?
Justin Schütz: We have delivered good performances this season and are rightly in 4th place in the table. Let's see how far we can go, in any case we don't have to hide.
You are currently one of the biggest talents in German ice hockey. What about the DEL against the champions from Munich?
Justin Schütz: After my three games, the reaction in Munich was quite good and I'm also quite happy with the performance in Salzburg. Now I'll finish school first and then we'll see what happens next in the new season. I want to concentrate fully on the ice hockey business.
The interview was conducted by Christian Diepold / icehockey-online.com