The Deutscher Eishockey-Bund, in collaboration with all ice hockey associations in Germany, is launching the “Back to Hockey” initiative in order to pave the way back to the ice, especially for young talent, as the corona pandemic is currently subsiding. Because of the various restrictions on public life in the past year, children in particular have often been unable to do any sport or only to a limited extent. In the DEB-Young talent leagues have been suspended since last November and there has been a complete standstill in popular ice hockey.
The initiative already included a large club survey, the results of which will be presented shortly. The survey, with the support of the state associations, aimed to record the status quo in the clubs after the extremely significant disruption caused by the pandemic. On this basis, the clubs should continue to be supported together in the best possible way with various offers.
The various projects will be embedded in the overarching young talent project “We are Ice Hockey” and the associated campaigns such as the “Urmel Badge” or the “Urmel Ultras”, the national teams' kids club. Against the background of the clubs' beginning season planning, the aim is to build on the momentum from the national team's successful World Cup performance and, on this basis, to sustainably strengthen young ice hockey talent and amateur sport.
Before the outbreak of the pandemic, the number of active ice hockey players had been rising steadily since 2016, and this trend is expected to continue in the medium and long term despite the current difficulties.
DEB-General Secretary Claus Gröbner: “Young talent is now more than ever the focus of our efforts. In the 'Back to Hockey' initiative, we are all pooling our strengths to get children back to the sport of ice hockey in as large a number as possible. Here we will be as DEB actively support the clubs and associations. The pandemic will have serious consequences in every area of sport, the after-effects of which will remain with us for a long time. “It is all the more important to promote our great sport after the long drought and to support the clubs in regaining stability and growth.”
Back-to-hockey supporter and SPORT1 expert Rick Goldmann: “It is extremely important that children find their way back to sport, not just for exercise and fun, but above all for social aspects. Sport itself and team sports in particular can convey so many values, teach how to interact in a group, how to work together and for each other. This is extremely important for personal and social development. It's about more than just the sport of ice hockey and that's why I'm happy to support the 'Back to Hockey' initiative. Seeing the kids on the ice again will bring us all great joy.”