André Rankel will take over as head coach of the U18 national team with immediate effect. The former national player supported the men's young talent team at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in August alongside U20 national coach Tobias Abstreiter. He took over together with DEB-Development Coach Patrick Reimer takes on the role of assistant coach.
The 38-year-old is currently also working as a development & assistant coach Eisbären Berlin under contract, where he scouts and trains young talents and also acts as an assistant coach for the professional team.
Introduction of U18 sports committee
To effectively support young ice hockey talent DEB-Sports director Christian Künast has set up a U18 sports committee that will be in close contact with each other in the future when it comes to the selection, promotion and further development of talented young players, especially with regard to the U18 national team.
This committee includes Christian Künast himself, Tobias Abstreiter (U20 national coach), Karl Schwarzenbrunner (DEB-National trainer for science and training), Patrick Reimer (DEB-Development Coach), Helmut de Raaf (Director of Development Red Bull Academy), Eduard Lewandoski (Head Coach U20 DEG) Luigi Calce (Head Coach U20 Jungadler Mannheim), Jochen Molling (U20 Coach Eisbären Juniors Berlin) and Andreas Becherer (young talent trainer ESV Kaufbeuren) on.
DEB-Sports director Christian Künast: “With André Rankel, we have hired a young, aspiring coach for the U18 who can impart a lot of his own national and international experience to the players. The sports committee gives us more depth and quality, especially when it comes to squad selection and the further development of young players.”
U18 honorary national coach André Rankel: “I’m really looking forward to the tasks ahead and working with the boys on the U18 national team. I would like to support them as a trainer and take the next step in their development together with them.”