Sport Director Roger Bader restruc­tures youth national teams with Philipp Pinter, Florian Mühlstein and Peter Schweda

“I am a supporter of continuity. It was and remains important to me to retain a deserving staff. Philipp Pinter has proven himself in recent years. For Florian Mühlstein, the U18 is the next step in his development as a coach after his work as U16 Head Coach. The same applies to Peter Schweda. Having already led the U15 as Head Coach, it was a logical step for him to take on responsibility for the U16,” explains ÖEHV Sport Director Roger Bader.

33-year-old Florian Mühlstein has been responsible at ÖEHV since October 2022, in consultation and coordination with Roger Bader, for implementing the content of the A, B and C coaching licences. As Head of Youth Education & Development, he also oversees recruitment and the talent identification pyramid, and develops concepts to promote Austrian youth development.

At the start of the 2024/2025 World Championship season, the Villach native will take over the U18 men's ice hockey national team from Philipp Pinter.

With the U18, Mühlstein will begin preparations for the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship Division IA, which will be held from 20. to 26. April 2025 in Szekesfehervar (HUN). Austria's U18 national team will face hosts Hungary, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Denmark and Slovenia. At the most recent U18 World Championship Division IA, the ÖEHV selection sensationally won the bronze medal under Philipp Pinter.

Florian Mühlstein: “I am absolutely delighted about the new role. It has always been one of my goals to take charge of a youth national team as Head Coach and lead it to a World Championship. Over the coming weeks and months, the first priority will be to get to know the players and see how they have developed. My aim is for the players to improve every day they are with the national team.”

Philipp Pinter will continue to coach the U20 men's ice hockey national team in the new World Championship season. The 39-year-old from Villach will compete with his team at the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey U20 World Championship Division IA in Bled, Slovenia, as early as December. From 9. to 15. December 2024, Austria will face Norway, France, Denmark, Hungary and hosts Slovenia.

Philipp Pinter: “I am delighted and honoured to be entering my eighth season as a national team coach. The dual role with the U20 and U18 last season was, of course, demanding. With my new role in Graz, I am pleased that I can now concentrate fully on the U20. Great but also difficult tasks await us. The World Championship in December, in particular, with relegated Norway and promoted Slovenia, will be a major challenge. Until then, we need to find the right boys together with the coaching team. In terms of the senior national team, several players have developed outstandingly in recent years. As U20 Head Coach, the task is to prepare the boys for international hockey, so that they understand how much intensity is required and how much quality it takes.”

Peter Schweda, who is responsible for Competition | Game Operations at ÖEHV and has so far coached the U14 selection as well as led the U15 as Head Coach, becomes the new Head Coach of the U16 men's ice hockey national team.

Peter Schweda: “I know most of the players from the U15, which makes many things easier. Our major goal is the European Youth Olympic Festival in Georgia in February 2025. That is what we are working towards.”

The big picture

At the beginning of July, Sport Director Roger Bader brought the coaching staff together in Vienna for a kick-off meeting for the new season. The meeting provided in-depth insights into the work and processes of the senior national team, particularly at the 2024 World Championship in Prague. In doing so, the Swiss set the direction for work across all age groups and outlined the big picture for the senior national team.

“We discussed every aspect. There is a clear common thread from the U16 through to the senior national team. Our goal is to guide players from the youth national teams to the senior national team. It is therefore important that they become familiar with the customs and playing system of the national team at an early stage. There are certain principles that all teams follow, naturally with sufficient individual scope for the respective Head Coaches. In addition, I remain in close contact with all coaches throughout the year,” explains Roger Bader.

World Championship calendar 2024/2025 U20 and U18

2025 IIHF Ice Hockey U20 World Championship Division IA
09. December 2024 - 15. December 2024, Bled (Slovenia)
Participants: Norway, France, Denmark, Hungary, Austria, Slovenia

2025 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship Division IA
20 April 2025 – 26 April 2025, Szekesfehervar (Hungary)
Participants: Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Hungary, Denmark, Austria, Slovenia