Germany men's national ice hockey team
German men's national ice hockey team, governed by the German Ice Hockey Federation.
The German men's national ice hockey team represents Germany under the direction of the German Ice Hockey Federation. Its first major international tournament was the 1911 European Hockey Championship. Following World War II, a separate East German national team existed until 1990; the following year, the West and East German programs and players were unified. Harold Kreis currently serves as head coach. The team has earned silver medals at the World Championships in 1930, 1953, and 2023, and also won a silver medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics.
West Germany's finest Olympic performance came in 1976, when the team posted a 2–3–0 record to claim bronze. That year, Sweden and Canada boycotted the Games to protest amateur rules that allowed Eastern Bloc nations to field their top players while restricting Western countries. West Germany’s victories in 1976 were against the United States (4–1) and Poland (7–4). In 1980, the team won only one preliminary-round game and finished 10th out of 12. West Germany was invited to the 1984 Canada Cup. By 1991, reunification brought players from the former East Germany into the national program.
Since reunification, Germany is considered just behind the traditional “Big Six” (Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Sweden, and the United States) and ranks 7th in the world (2026) according to the IIHF. Their best post-unification result is the 2018 Olympic silver medal, lost 4–3 in overtime to the Olympic Athletes from Russia—their first appearance in an Olympic gold-medal game. Other highlights include a 6th-place finish at the 2003 World Championships (losing a quarterfinal in overtime to Canada) and 4th place at the 2010 World Championships (losing the bronze-medal game to Sweden), their highest placement since 1953. At the 1996 World Cup, they finished third in the European group and reached the quarterfinals after a 7–1 upset of the Czech Republic. In the 1992 Olympics, they lost 4–3 in an overtime shootout to Canada in the quarterfinals.
Competition results include: at the Olympic Games and World Championships (various placements); the 1912 European Championship was later annulled because Austria was not an IIHF member at the time. In the World Cup of Hockey, Germany lost in the quarterfinals in 1996 and 2004, and won silver in 2016 as part of Team Europe. At the Canada Cup, they finished 6th in 1984.
Quick Facts
- Nickname
- Träger der Adler (Bearers of the Eagle)
- Association
- Deutscher Eishockey-Bund
- General Manager
- Christian Künast
- Coach
- Harold Kreis
- Asst Coach
- Mark French / Rob Leask / Alexander Sulzer
- Captain
- Moritz Seider
- Most Games
- Udo Kießling (321)
- Top Scorer
- Erich Kühnhackl (134)
- Most Points
- Erich Kühnhackl (224)
- Iihf Code
- GER
- Iihf Max
- 5
- Iihf Max Date
- 2021, 2023
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The West German team's greatest success came in 1976 at the Winter Olympics, when the team went 2–3–0 and won the bronze medal. The Swedish and Canadian teams had boycotted the 1976 Games in protest of amateur rules that allowed Eastern Bloc countries to send their best players while keeping Western nations from doing the same. West Germany's wins in the 1976 Games came against the United States (4–1) and Poland (7–4). In 1980, the team finished 10th out of 12, and in 1984 they were invited to the Canada Cup. By 1991, reunification meant the inclusion of players from the former East Germany.
Since reunification, the team's best result is silver in the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, when they lost to the Olympic Athletes From Russia 4–3 in overtime. It was the first time Germany had reached the gold medal game at the Winter Olympics. Other top results include 6th place at the 2003 World Championships, where they lost a close quarter-final match in overtime to Canada, and 4th at the 2010 World Championships, their best placement since 1953. In the 1992 Olympics, they lost to Canada 4–3 in an overtime shoot-out in the quarter-finals.
Reader's Guide
The German men's national ice hockey team is considered slightly behind the Big Six (Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Sweden and the United States) and is ranked 7th in the world (2026) by the IIHF. Its most notable achievement is the silver medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics, marking the first time Germany reached the gold medal game at the Olympics. The team has won three silver medals at the World Championships (1930, 1953, 2023). The West German predecessor team earned a bronze medal at the 1976 Winter Olympics, a success aided by the boycott of Sweden and Canada. The team also participated in the Canada Cup in 1984, finishing 6th, and in the World Cup of Hockey, losing in the quarterfinals in 1996 and 2004, and winning silver in 2016 as part of Team Europe. Domestically, the team has won multiple Deutschland Cup gold medals. The current head coach is Harold Kreis, and notable players include Leon Draisaitl (named captain for the 2026 Olympics), Moritz Seider, and Tim Stützle.
Did You Know?
- Germany first participated in serious international competition at the 1911 European Hockey Championship.
- The West German team won bronze at the 1976 Winter Olympics, with wins over the United States (4–1) and Poland (7–4).
- Germany's silver medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics was the first time the team reached the gold medal game at the Olympics.
- The team's head coach is Harold Kreis.
More in International and Olympic Ice Hockey 1-24
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