Head Coach Philipp Pinter to lead the U20 National Team at the World Cham­pi­onship in Bled again in 2025

At U20 level, ÖEHV Sporting Director Roger Bader is opting for continuity. Philipp Pinter has led the U20 as head coach since the summer of 2023, having previously served as U18 head coach. In the summer of 2022, he also acted as interim head coach of the U20 at the World Championship in Edmonton (CAN), where the tournament was staged again after being cancelled in the winter due to Covid.

Austria’s U20 Men’s Ice Hockey National Team finished second behind Denmark at the U20 World Championship Division IA in Bled in 2024, ultimately missing out on promotion by a single goal. After four wins, they lost 4:5 to the Scandinavians in the decisive match. At the upcoming U20 World Championship, they will once again compete in Bled, Slovenia, where they will face Kazakhstan, Norway, Slovenia, France and Ukraine.

Head Coach Philipp Pinter approaches the task as highly motivated as ever: "Excitement for the new national team season is already very high. We have digested the great disappointment of the bitter ending against Denmark in Bled; missing out on promotion so narrowly is motivating us accordingly. The upcoming age group already performed very well at the U18 World Championship two years ago. Several exciting new players will also join the team. As the entire coaching staff, we are looking forward to working with the players and pursuing a major goal together!"

The Villach native can rely on tried-and-tested personnel: "As we have known and/or coached most of the players for several years now, it makes it a little easier for us when setting up the team tactically. They have all internalised our playing philosophy and our team identity, allowing us to focus on details of the game, special teams and, above all, our interpersonal approach with them. Only together can we achieve great things, so the focus is on creating a cohesive and close-knit team. We are very much looking forward to a new season, culminating in Bled. That venue has been good for us."