The Deutscher Eishockey-Bund (DEB) and National coach Harold Kreis They continue their successful collaboration. The contract of the 66-year-old, who has been in charge of the men's national team since March 2023, was extended by DEB Harold Kreis's contract has been extended for another year until the end of the 2026/2027 season. This means that he will also lead the national team at the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Germany, which will be held in Düsseldorf and Mannheim in May 2027.
Christian Kunast, Sports Board of the DEB“Harold Kreis has done outstanding work since taking office and was responsible for the outstanding success of German ice hockey with the 2023 World Championship silver medal. He is one of the faces of our sport and thus represents the national team to the outside world. The contract extension is a clear signal of continuity and trust; we in the executive team and with the supervisory board were in agreement on this.” DEB Agreed. Our focus is now entirely on the sporting challenges at the Olympics and the 2026 World Championships.”
Harold Circle, Coach of the men’s national team“I am very pleased about the trust placed in me by the DEB and the opportunity to continue the chosen path with the team beyond the current season. The collaboration with the coaching staff, the players, and the entire team. DEBThe environment is excellent. The home World Cup in 2027 is a great motivation for all of us – it's a special honor to support the German national team at a World Cup on home soil. We therefore want to present ourselves in the best possible light at the next major events like the Olympics and the World Cup, and we're approaching the upcoming challenges with this mindset.”
Successful collaboration since March 2023
Harold Kreis has since his official inauguration on March 15, 2023 to boast a successful record as national coach. In his very first year, he led the national team directly to the Silver medal at the 2023 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship In Riga and Tampere – the first World Championship medal for the German team in 70 years. This successful performance at the 2023 World Championship also meant qualification for the 2026 Winter Olympics, an important milestone for German ice hockey.
At the 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in the Czech Republic, the team, under his leadership, reached the quarterfinals and narrowly missed out on another semifinal appearance. Kreis also won the [unclear text] twice with the men's national team. Deutschland Cup (2023 and 2025).
The next major event is coming up in February. Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina. The IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship will follow in Switzerland in May 2026 – the fourth joint World Championship as part of the cooperation between Kreis and the DEB.
