The German Ice Hockey Association extended the contract with U20 national team coach Christian Kunast for two years until 2019.

After a fifth-place finish in 2016, the U20 team improved and took second place at the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey U20 World Championship Division I Group A on home ice in Bremerhaven and was just two points behind Belarus in the race for promotion to the top-division IIHF World Junior Championship.

The Germans hope that this development will continue.

“I’m looking forward to the ongoing co-operation with the German Ice Hockey Association and to continue my work. My main focus will be the development of all juniors with our project Powerplay 26,” said Kunast, a former goaltender who represented Germany in the 2001 Worlds and the 2002 Olympics.

Kunast joined the association two years ago same as Stefan Schaidnagel, who was hired as a Federal Coach for Science and Education and will now serve as the new Sports Director.

“Stefan Schaidnagel brought in enormous commitment and knowledge. His competence in sports is well acknowledged and he played a significant part in the very positive development,” said German Ice Hockey Association President Franz Reindl.

“I’m looking forward to continuing the path taken with our master plan Powerplay 26. We have to be aware that we still have a long way with many changes to go but everybody should use this opportunity together and in a positive way,” Schaidnagel said.

MARTIN MERK