Over 40.000 spectators watched the DEL Winter Game between the last weekend Kölner Haien and den Adler Mannheim in Cologne's RheinEnergie Stadium, where Cologne ultimately prevailed 4-2. Among them are the managing directors of the top European leagues (Hockey Europe) as well as IIHF President Luc Tardif and IIHF Senior Vice President Petr Bříza, who accepted the joint invitation from the DEL and the German Ice Hockey Federation (DEB) followed to Cologne.
After the meeting that had already taken place with Luc Tardif and Petr Bříza in Berlin The DEL Winter Game offered a very good setting for international competition between DEL, DEB and world association.
In addition to the informal exchange, everyone involved was able to see for themselves the first-class organization of the DEL Winter Games. “It’s a great event such as a Winter Game. Both for the spectators and for the players on the ice. I already know the atmosphere from before here in Cologne and Gelsenkirchen from the World Cup,” said Luc Tardif, who was consistently positive about the DEL Winter Game.
For the upcoming application of the DEB As the host of the 2027 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, he continued: “It is a sporting competition with Kazakhstan and Norway. I am of course neutral. I was recently in Berlin Talk to politicians to find out whether the application is supported. This is the case. There is no question that Germany can organize a World Cup in the best possible way.”
On January 10, 2023 the DEB submit the required documents to the IIHF and announce their application to host the 2027 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. “This year’s DEL Winter Game demonstrated the possibilities and strengths of German ice hockey. The very good organization and the great atmosphere Fans didn't just convince me. From my point of view, the DEL Winter Game was a very good advertisement for an ice hockey world championship in Germany - not just for a possible opening game in this form," said Dr. Peter Merten, DEB-President and concludes confidently: “I am sure that with our central geographical location in Europe, our existing top ice hockey arenas and our great ice hockeyFans will not only be a good and safe choice for the IIHF to host the 2027 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. That is why we are confidently facing fair competition with Norway and Kazakhstan for the location in May 2023.”
Interview by IIHF President Luc Tardif during the DEL Winter Games on MAGENTA Sport.