Philipp Pinter brings a new team spirit to the U18 squad

Working up a sweat for shared success in the height of summer. Outside, it is 31 degrees in the shade in Austria’s southernmost town, while inside HTC Eissport’s new year-round ice rink it is pleasantly cool. Not so for the young players on the ice, however, as from the very first minute of the first on-ice session, Head Coach Philipp Pinter and his Assistant Coach Patrick Harand demand total commitment. The two coaches are supported by VSV goaltenders Jean-Philippe Lamoureux and Ali Schmidt, whose experience in specialised goaltending training is intended to provide the finishing touches for the young netminders.

The summer camp in Ferlach gives the new U18 coaching staff an initial opportunity to get to know the potential players for the team, which will from 10 to 16 April 2023 the WM Division IB in Bled from __OEHV_NUM_L_B__ to __OEHV_NUM_L_C__ April __OEHV_NUM_L_D__. After staying in the division at the last World Championship in Asiago, the focus is now on the future, with a new team spirit set to take hold in the dressing room: “There are many interesting players in this age group whom we will monitor closely and assess over the coming months. The aim is to put together a competitive group in which everyone is working towards the same goal,” said Pinter when he was appointed U18 Head Coach in June.

Fitness as the fundamental requirement for team success

And that is exactly what has been apparent in Ferlach from the outset. Before the first on-ice session, the selected players underwent a fitness test on the ATUS Ferlach football pitch to assess their fitness levels. Good fitness is the fundamental requirement for Pinter in order to compete internationally and to be able to implement his game plan for 60 minutes: “We are trying to find people who have the inner motivation to improve, who have a goal in mind and who understand that nothing works without fitness!”

The 37-year-old – a qualified Strength & Conditioning Coach himself – points to players such as Marco Rossi, Marco Kasper, Vinzenz Rohrer, Thimo Nickl and Benjamin Baumgartner, who were drafted by NHL clubs over the past two years and must serve as role models for the next generation of young players: “They all pursue their goals with ambition, work so hard on themselves and are prepared to put in extra shifts.”

Head Coach Pinter promotes a high-tempo game

Pinter’s philosophy for how his team should play ice hockey in future is based on developments within the U20 national team: “We want to play the same ice hockey as we have practised with the U20 over the past six years. It is also based on Roger Bader’s philosophy that we establish a common thread throughout the youth national teams. As is customary internationally, we want to apply pressure all over the ice, we want a very high-tempo game and we want to perform as a very hard-skating team.”

The new head coach wants to bring structure to the team in the coming months leading up to the World Championship: “We want a direct game. Naturally, we want to play with the puck, have puck control, dictate the tempo of the game and play refreshing ice hockey with plenty of heart and passion. But there must definitely also be a recognisable structure, so that we know we are a compact group!”

The Villach native, who won the Austrian championship once with VSV and twice with EC Red Bull Salzburg as a player, wants to prepare the U18 team for the World Championship in Slovenia with a good roadmap.

This also means observing new players: “Over the coming months, I will communicate a great deal with club coaches, naturally watch a lot myself, observe the players and assess which players have team potential. I also said at the opening meeting that this is a completely new opportunity for every player and that they can now prove themselves!”

Pinter and Harand are looking for the right characters

Pinter and his Assistant Coach Patrick Harand are looking for players with character who can also fulfil important roles within the team: “For us, the important thing when assessing players is whether they give it their all, embrace competition, want to win, and have that determination and passion.”

During training, Pinter and Harand repeatedly seek direct dialogue with the young players. Drawing on their many years of experience, the two former professional players provide brief instructions during the intense, sweat-inducing drills and use effective talks to communicate what needs to be done to make the step up from youth to professional hockey.

Although the World Championship in Bled, with opponents Slovenia, Italy, South Korea, Poland and Estonia, is still nine months away, it is naturally already on the new Head Coach's mind:

"These countries have developed well and some of them are moving ahead fast. They are not standing still; they are really putting their foot down. What we have learned at past World Championships is that you must not look too far ahead during the tournament. You have to prepare the team perfectly for every opponent, regardless of who they are, you have to stick to the game plan and take it one day at a time!"

The first step in the promotion mission – defined as the Head Coach's objective – is being taken in Ferlach, where conditions are excellent. Philipp Pinter is full of praise for the year-round ice rink: "Hats off to what has been created here. We have perfect training conditions: an ice surface, a gym, shooting practice facilities, and everything is close together, including the hotel. We feel very comfortable here and we also love the atmosphere!"

Immediately following the U18 summer camp, preparations for the U20 men's national team's U20 World Championship in Edmonton will begin at the Ferlach ice rink on Monday, 25 July. Due to numerous COVID19 cases, the IIHF cancelled the U20 World Championship 2022 last December and will stage it from 9 to 20 August 2022.

Philipp Pinter will deputise for Head Coach Marco Pewal in August. Pinter has been assistant coach of the U20 national team for the past five years, so he knows the processes and will be supported by his Assistant Coach Patrick Harand in August. The Men's Sporting Director will travel to both U20 World Championships this year, Roger Bader, and take on the role of General Manager. He will also provide advice and support to the coaching staff.

Further ARTICLE ON THE U18 national team

Philipp Pinter takes over the U18 national team