Men’s youth teams: November break focused on World Championship preparation and scouting
From 10–16 December, Head Coach Philipp Pinter’s team will be fighting for promotion back to the Top Division in the U20 age group. Accordingly, the November break is entirely focused on World Championship preparation. At the 4-Nations Tournament in Vojens (DEN), they will face hosts Denmark, Norway and Latvia. At the same time, the U18 will play a 4-Nations Tournament in Bled (SLO) against Slovenia, Italy and Hungary.
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“The countdown to the World Championship is on,” says U20 Head Coach Philipp Pinter. In just under four weeks, promotion to the Top Division will be at stake in Hungary. They will face, among others, Denmark, hosts of the current 4-Nations Tournament, which is already part of World Championship preparation. Philipp Pinter: “This tournament will be very, very significant. It will be a close battle for World Championship places and we do not have much time left. We want to put the right characters in the right roles, and we already have a clear picture of what our power play and penalty kill should look like.”
They need to be ready for the tournament in Vojens, Denmark, as they will want to show good form there. “We expect a team that skates well and is physically fit, ready to go hard for 60 minutes,” says the U20 Head Coach.
Sporting Director Roger Bader stresses: “The November break is very important for a variety of reasons. All youth national teams are in action. For the U20, it is the final preparation camp before the World Championship. For the other teams, these are scouting camps from which the coaches will gain important insights.”
As with the U18, where Mathias Lange will serve as Head Coach and will be able to draw on Stefan Ulmer’s expertise for the first time. “I am pleased that Mathias has flown in especially from America. The boys are in the best possible hands. Stefan Ulmer will also be involved as a guest coach. He has seen a great deal in his career, has been very successful and knows what it takes to succeed at this age,” explains Philipp Pinter, who is in daily contact with the U18 coaching staff.
According to the Carinthian, a relatively inexperienced team will take to the ice in Bled (SLO): “We are leaving out a few players who, on paper, are certain starters for us. In addition, some are injured and others are away with the U20 national team. It is an opportunity for others to play themselves into contention.”
They will face familiar opponents in Slovenia, Italy and Hungary, whom Pinter considers to be evenly matched: “It will be good competition. For us, it is primarily about testing and seeing how quickly the boys can adapt.”
Fixture overview: U20 & U18 youth national teams 2023/2024
November break, U20 Men, Vojens (DEN)
Norway vs. Austria
Thu, 09 November 2023, 19:30
Live on Danskishockey.tv
Denmark vs. Austria
Fri, 10 November 2023, 19:30
Live on Danskishockey.tv
Austria vs. Latvia
Sat, 11 November 2023, 16:00
Live on Danskishockey.tv
2024 IIHF Ice Hockey U20 World Championship Divison IA
10 December 2023 – 16 December 2023, Budapest (HUN)
Japan vs. Austria
Sun, 10 December 2023, 19:30, Budapest
Austria vs. Hungary
Mon, 11 December 2023, 19:30, Budapest
Austria vs. Denmark
Wed, 13 December 2023, 19:30, Budapest
France vs. Austria
Thu, 14 December 2023, 16:00, Budapest
Austria vs. Kazakhstan
Sat, 16 December 2023, 19:30, Budapest
November break for the U18 men’s team, Bled and Jesenice (SLO)
Italy vs. Austria
Thu, 09 November 2023, 15:30
Austria vs. Hungary
Fri, 10 November 2023, 15:30, Jesenice
Slovenia vs. Austria
Sat, 11 November 2023, 16:05
