The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) is once again inviting participants to the Women's High Performance Camp from July 4 to 10, 2024 in Vierumäki, Finland. This measure is a crucial step in preparing the national teams for the 2026 and 2030 Winter Olympics. The participants are made up of IIHF member associations. The Deutscher Eishockey-Bund (DEB) is represented by players from the A-women’s and U18 women’s national teams as well as by a coach and an association official.
The focus of this year's measure is on developing leadership skills and improving communication. All participants will receive intensive training in this area. In addition, communication models will be introduced that are intended to have a positive influence on the interaction between athletes, coaches and associations.
Another important aspect of the training camp is strategic planning. Individual consultations are held with the IIHF member associations to evaluate the challenges in the qualification process for the 2026 Winter Olympics and to anticipate obstacles for the 2030 Games. In addition to theoretical training, comprehensive training opportunities on and off the ice are also offered.
The DEB it is important to be present with a wide range of national teams. That is why the list of participants includes a wide variety of athlete profiles, from national players with World Cup experience such as Ronja Hark and Svenja Voigt to young talents such as Hanna Hoppe, Hanna Weichenhain and Anastasia Gruß. The new U18 women's national coach Sebastian Jones and DEB Team Manager Julia Graunke will travel to the IIHF Women's High Performance Camp in early July.
Head of Team Management National Teams Julia Graunke: "This year's camp is my third time taking part in such an event. I'm very excited about the new content; my previous participations have been more focused on sporting aspects. I find the new focus on topics away from the ice interesting and future-oriented. It also offers us an opportunity to exchange ideas intensively with other nations and learn from each other."