Ice hockey coach Marco Sturm has commented on his move to the North American professional league NHL. Sturm will serve the German national team for the last time at the German Cup from Thursday to Sunday. The farewell fell the 40-year-olds not easy. Of course it hurts too, we have done something wonderful and I will not forget that all my life, "said the future assistant coach of the Los Angeles Kings.
As national coach Sturm led the German national team for the first time to win Olympic silver medal. Now he leaves the German Ice Hockey Federation (DEB) and hires in the US professional league, in which he wanted to return after his time as a player. As a winger storm stood in 1006 NHL games for various teams on the ice and is thus German record player in the main ice hockey league in the world.
REUTERS
Marco Sturm (center) during the quarterfinals of the 2018 Winter Olympics
In January 2014, he had ended his active career. One and a half years later took over storm as successor to the Canadian Pat Cortina the post of the German national coach. His contract ran until 2022, but is now dissolved by mutual agreement.
"The NHL has always been my dream, both as a player and as a coach, it's the biggest thing I've played in the NHL for fifteen years, because you get to know a lot of people," Sturm told the "Sport Bild". , The question of whether the job as assistant coach is too little for him, denied storm. "In the NHL you can not start from zero and a hundred and immediately become head coach - just as European." Next Tuesday, Sturm will face the gang for the first time at the Los Angeles Kings in his new role.
What's next with the national team?
The DEB now deals with the question of how things will continue after the departure of Sturm. The further procedure in the search for a successor will be discussed on the margins of the Germany Cup in the DEB Presidium together with representatives of the German Ice Hockey League. In agreement with the DEL, a quick sounding out, a requirement profile and a candidate list should be created.
A permanent solution with a club coach in a double function was already ruled out by DEB President Franz Reindl. For the national team you need a face, a figurehead, "said the 63-year-old, but for a period of time, an option was left open:" As a temporary solution, I do not want to exclude that. "
After establishing itself in the extended world class, the silver medal at the Olympic Games in February had triggered growth rates among youth players in Germany. However, as a side effect storm also came as a coach in the focus of the NHL.