U20 World Cham­pi­onship squad finalised and ready for opening oppo­nent Japan

“It is always tough to make such decisions, but it is part of the job. We now have our 20 men (note: skaters), and I am very satisfied because we have depth,” explains U20 Head Coach Philipp Pinter, who had high praise for all the players who were cut: “Nobody did anything wrong. They are all great lads in terms of character, and they will all find their way.”

After the intensive preparation, the players have a day off today, Friday. They will return to the ice on Saturday before their opener against Japan on Sunday.

“All players are fit and healthy. I am convinced that we have found the right players for the right roles. We trust this group. There are several players involved from our U18 promotion and some who were already on the big stage at last year’s U20 Top Division World Championship. We are well placed in terms of experience,” Pinter states of his charges.

ÖEHV Sporting Director Roger Bader, who was on site both for the preparation camp in St. Pölten and for the World Championship warm-up match against Hungary, also gives the team a positive assessment: “I have a good impression of the team. They appear very compact to me. That means there are no superstars, but there is also nobody who falls off. I believe they have the qualities to play a successful World Championship. The entire coaching staff is working well. Now it is about putting the finishing touches in place before the start of the World Championship.”

For the World Championship itself, Philipp Pinter sees Kazakhstan as the favourites: “The group is incredibly tight. Kazakhstan are established as favourites; I see the other nations as being on the same level.”

The sole focus is now on opening opponents Japan, says Philipp Pinter: “We take it game by game. The Japanese are excellent skaters and technically excellent, very, very fast and tactically well organised; they play with discipline and have a good power play. We need to be disciplined ourselves, physically present and make sure we draw them into battles that we then win. I am confident heading into the opener.”

U20 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION IA, BUDAPEST (HUN)

Japan vs. Austria
Sun, 10 December 2023, 19:30, live on LIVE.eishockey.at

Austria vs. Hungary
Mon, 11 December 2023, 19:30, live on LIVE.eishockey.at

Austria vs. Denmark
Wed, 13 December 2023, 19:30, live on LIVE.eishockey.at

France vs. Austria
Thu, 14 December 2023, 16:00, live on LIVE.eishockey.at

Austria vs. Kazakhstan
Sat, 16 December 2023, 19:30, live on LIVE.eishockey.at

Squad