The votes are in

The introduction of the "Youth Coach of the Season" vote is intended to strengthen the position of youth coaches in Austria and place a particular focus on targeted coach education. "Developing the next generations of ice hockey players is enormously important to us. Coaches have a significant role to play in this. With the introduction of this award, we want to recognise this every year," explains ÖEHV President Dr Klaus Hartmann.

The winner will be honoured at the 76th ÖEHV General Assembly on 19 June in Krems and will receive a prize worth 1.000 euros, an invitation to a training camp with an Austrian junior national team, including travel, meals and accommodation, as well as a non-cash prize for their club team.

Günther Ropatsch, ÖEHV Vice-President for Sport: "A coach plays a major part in how a player develops. First and foremost, it is not about how many games I win as a coach with my team. Anyone who inspires children and young people through their commitment to ice hockey and helps these young players improve every day makes a major contribution to Austrian ice hockey. We want to highlight this with this award."

Following the online vote held this week (3 to 7 May 2021), a jury will assess the nominations received and select the "Youth Coach of the Year". This jury consists of the ÖEHV Executive Committee (Dr Klaus Hartmann, Dr Nicolas Stockhammer, Mag. Yasmin Stepina and Günther Ropatsch), the two regional association presidents Dr Peter Andrecs (Lower Austria) and MMag. Rainer Partl (Tyrol), as well as former player Dr Alexander Tomanek and current ICE Hockey League Young Star Lukas Piff.