Bader's contract extended

The Austrian men's national team resumed activity on 12 April after a long Covid-19-related break. As preparation for the final qualifying phase for the Olympic Winter Games, scheduled to take place in China in February 2022, 13 international matches have therefore already been planned for spring 2021.

In order to continue along the path taken, Roger Bader's contract as Men's Sporting Director and head coach of the national team has been extended early until 30 June 2022. "Roger Bader has been doing outstanding work within the ÖEHV for several years. He is highly professional, as can currently be seen in his daily work at the training camps. With this contract extension, we are committed to continuity and are also pursuing major objectives," explains President Dr. Klaus Hartmann.

The national team has two major events in its sights for the 2021/22 season. First, the final round of Olympic qualifying against Slovakia, Belarus and Poland will take place in Bratislava from 26 to 29 August. Only the winner of this group of four will secure a place at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing. In May 2022, the IIHF World Championship Division I Group A in Slovenia, which has been cancelled twice, is also set to take place. Here too, a top finish is intended to secure a place at the IIHF World Championship in Russia in 2023.

"I am greatly honoured by the trust placed in me by the Executive Committee. I greatly enjoy working with the players in the national team and achieving our objectives together. The next season will be a major challenge for us. We are already working hard to ensure we can successfully meet the tasks ahead," says Bader, who will enter his sixth season as Austrian head coach under the new contract.